Stop knocking Bavaria .... lets pick on the French!

[Nostrodamus]

There are many on here who will remember when Skoda cars were the standing joke of the motor industry.

It would seem that Bavarias seem to be the same in the boating industry.

On several occasions we chartered boats in the Med and some of those were Bavarias. I found them to be pretty good and really fun to sail. Never once did I have a problem with them and nothing went wrong which wasn't bad considering how many inept skippers like myself charter them during the year. When you consider how many Bavarias there are out there just one or two with major problems isn't bad. Come on.. we Brits built a boat with far bigger problems (starlight I think that de laminated) and the boat was far more expensive in comparison.

To be honest I think you get a lot of boat for your money and we all want to sail as much as possible for the least amount of money. I just think Bavaria looked at the old way boats were built and changed production techniques to make building them quicker and cheaper. Mr Ford was hailed a hero of the common folk when he did the same with cars.

Of all there various makes of boat we have met along the way most Bavaria owners are more than happy. Strangely enough the boat make that the owners we have met complain about the most is Southerly owners. They seem to be like Marmite. They either love their boats or hate them.

I have nothing against the Germans so lets stop knocking Bavarias. We Brits have built some real pigs in our time. Now, If you an tell me any French boat that is a total dogs ear I would quiet happily knock it...

 

[nathanlee]

Mr Ford was hailed a hero of the common folk when he did the same with cars.

The two worst cars I've ever owned, by such a very long way, have been Ford and Vauxhall.

Just because it's popular, doesn't mean its good.

 

[Nostrodamus]

The two worst cars I've ever owned, by such a very long way, have been Ford and Vauxhall.

Just because it's popular, doesn't mean its good.

People listen to reputations as well. Last night on two occasions we had people looking at the boat and then said .. they are excellent boats. I doubt very much if either of them has sailed a boat like ours but they know of them by reputation. They may be wrong or they may be right (personally I think they were right but I would say that).
Each boat is different, even amongst the same make.
Ford make a lot of cars and a few will have problems but generally you get a decent car for your money. Compared to our boat Bavarias give you an amazing amount of boat for your money.

 

[jordanbasset]

There are many on here who will remember when Skoda cars were the standing joke of the motor industry.

It would seem that Bavarias seem to be the same in the boating industry.

On several occasions we chartered boats in the Med and some of those were Bavarias. I found them to be pretty good and really fun to sail. Never once did I have a problem with them and nothing went wrong which wasn't bad considering how many inept skippers like myself charter them during the year. When you consider how many Bavarias there are out there just one or two with major problems isn't bad. Come on.. we Brits built a boat with far bigger problems (starlight I think that de laminated) and the boat was far more expensive in comparison.

To be honest I think you get a lot of boat for your money and we all want to sail as much as possible for the least amount of money. I just think Bavaria looked at the old way boats were built and changed production techniques to make building them quicker and cheaper. Mr Ford was hailed a hero of the common folk when he did the same with cars.

Of all there various makes of boat we have met along the way most Bavaria owners are more than happy. Strangely enough the boat make that the owners we have met complain about the most is Southerly owners. They seem to be like Marmite. They either love their boats or hate them.

I have nothing against the Germans so lets stop knocking Bavarias. We Brits have built some real pigs in our time. Now, If you an tell me any French boat that is a total dogs ear I would quiet happily knock it...

Certainly our experience, when we buy another boat we have already decided it would definitely be a Bavaria, our last one was a good boat, no problems in our 4 years of ownership (apart from generic parts such as the tacho), lots of room, handled okay and kept us safe.

 

[Tomahawk]

.....

I have nothing against the Germans so lets stop knocking Bavarias. We Brits have built some real pigs in our time. Now, If you an tell me any French boat that is a total dogs ear I would quiet happily knock it...

Once had a Fontain Pajot... it developed osmosis in less than three years.... Sailed like a brick... was huge but laid outso it was difficult to move about in...

 

[Nostrodamus]

Once had a Fontain Pajot... it developed osmosis in less than three years.... Sailed like a brick... was huge but laid outso it was difficult to move about in...

Now that's better... The make even sounds French.... the equivalent of a floating skip!

 

[Sailfree]

Had lots of problems with two of the new French boats I bought and poor response. Boat Dufour - problems Volvo Penta. At various times had to replace folding propeller, clutch, sail drive seals, and worse an engine at 13 months old.
Next boat want a jeanneau with all yanmar parts - no problems in 8 yrs of charter use.

 

[Budgieboy]

Hear a lot about this as well , as a Bavaria owner for 4 yrs I cannot knock them at all , sail well and you get so much for your money , they are used a lot in charters and if they can handle that you have to sit up and listen , have sailed the Atlantic in one as well with the only thing breaking was a sheet !! Know a friend with one that went to buy a Moody at a boat show and ended up buying a Bav as he couldnt get past the money / value side of them .........

 

[nigelmercier]

I have nothing against the Germans so lets stop knocking Bavarias. We Brits have built some real pigs in our time. Now, If you an tell me any French boat that is a total dogs ear I would quiet happily knock it...

Why not just knock the French in general.

 

[flaming]

I was just totting up countries of origin who's boats I have sailed.

British
French
German
Danish
Swedish
American
Italian
Slovenian

In terms of being rewarding to sail, the Italians probably came out best, closely followed by the Slovenians, Americans and French. The Germans and the same French prop up the table (with a different boat), with the Germans taking the very bottom spot due to a ridiculous backstay that I still can't believe actually got built. However, the designer is probably more key in that respect, and I think only the French and American boats were designed by "home talent".

In terms of build quality I'd put the Swedes at the top, and the French, Americans and Germans at the bottom, only just behind the Slovenians. Some different Americans would be much higher up, and some different Germans would too. There's a pretty big correlation with price though. Which is not totally surprising as most of the build quality issues I've seen (though by no means all) relate to underspeccing deck gear. The absolute worst I've seen relates to entirely forgetting to install a mast support post for a deck stepped mast during construction. That was French.

 

[michael_w]

The most problematic boats I've owned were all Scandanavian.

Elderly Swedish built Ballad suffered severe structural failure when the mast step rusted away.

Swan 40 with rotten bulkheads, idiotic plumbing and a very strange engine installation, by the previous owner.

X yachts X302 Truly dreadful ergonomics. The only place you could steer and see the jib induced cramp in both legs. The head seacocks positioned so close to each other, the poo recycled. Rudder split and it was nigh impossible to get at the engine's dip stick.

The high cost of employment is reflected in the boat's price, not their quality.

Oh, and I know of at least 3 Halbergs with poor build/commissioning issues.

 

[Blueboatman]

Thats interesting. The boat I have is perceived as quality. I bought it cos it needed a refit, as all boats do after a few years. I knew the hull was good cos I have experience of the fishing boat factory that made em, the rest was two blokes in a shed with some wood skills. And everything will go in and out of the boat through the hatch, there are no hidden areas, double liners, inaccessible grids, engineered keelbolt assemblies..
So I bought it cos it is easy to work on.

And that, perhaps, is not the case with all boats. So reputation is more than skin deep, you will find

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

In my case Volkswagen-mechanically fell apart. My last Ford had done 175000 miles when I sold it and my current Vauxhall has done 117750. Just because it's popular doesn't mean it'sbad either.

The two worst cars I've ever owned, by such a very long way, have been Ford and Vauxhall.

Just because it's popular, doesn't mean its good.

 

[FullCircle]

I have had a Jeanneau from new.
I had multiple problems, mainly sorted out eventually, but enough defects to make me never want another new boat.
It still leaks, a bit. But that is 8 years now, and 1 litre a month is now contained in its own little compartment.
Floor boards are now very tired, thin teak/holly veneer, high use by us.

I still believe this is the boat I am going to set off in, just a few years from now. Have not changed my mind at all for all the reasons I set out in the first place.

 

[photodog]

I have a Bavaria and a Skoda. Am I the anti-brand???



Ps.... 8 Seasons now with the 14 year old Bavaria. no issues beyond normal wear and tear... Interior still looks great, everything works, and a with this years new foresail she is going much better... ( gosh those cheap elvstroms had a short life... Only 13 seasons !)

 

[tidclacy]

I have a 1998 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32.2 acquired 2010 with Yanmar engine, don't think she did much before we got her. Just come back from 5 weeks to North Brittany and the Channel islands. Hit some rough weather a couple of times Force 7 gusting 8 and she really looked after us and took everything in her stride. Was pleasantly surprised how well she coped.

 

[Koeketiene]

as a Bavaria owner for 4 yrs I cannot knock them at all

Why would you knock a Bavaria? Bits might fall off.

Sorry - couldn't resist.

 

[ANDY123]

In my case Volkswagen-mechanically fell apart. My last Ford had done 175000 miles when I sold it and my current Vauxhall has done 117750. Just because it's popular doesn't mean it'sbad either.

I had two V/W vans - first the gearbox went after 1000 miles, the other the drive shaft broke after 35000 miles - My Vauxhall went around the clock twice before I p/e it.

 

[Tranona]

Why would you knock a Bavaria? Bits might fall off.

Sorry - couldn't resist.

So, guess you would be recommending the purchase of a so-called "quality" boat that was so badly built that at only 15 years old the deck was so rotten that it had to be replaced. Plus of course all the other things that needed replacement to make it usable and seaworthy. Perhaps you can remind us again how much it all cost.

Sorry could not resist!

 

[CoVianna]

I have a Bavaria and a Skoda. Am I the anti-brand???

No. Just Canadian.