Why are Bavarias so unloved??

Hey ho.

I see Quandary has wondered off ... looking at merchant shipping threads ... I DO hope that he likes my winch pics. and answers my question:)
 
reddragon44 said:
The reason that its easily said .Is that BEN JenS and Bavs have destroyed the market for British built boats. As they are better.
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If they are better, how come they are also so much cheaper. You'd think they could charge extra for the quality.

On a slightly more serious note, I think the reason Bavarias cause comment - and perhaps the reason their owners are so sensitive - is that they upset the traditional social hierarchy based on length.

For those who care about such things, longer has always looked down on shorter. Fifty footer owners looked down on forty five footer owners looked down on forty footer owners looked down on ... looked down on twenty footer owners. That hierarchy arose, by and large, because a bigger boat meant a more expensive boat: someone who could afford a Nicolson 32 was clearly more loaded than someone who could afford a Centaur.

Bavarias have changed this. The money that buys a traditoinal 30 footer buys a Bavaria 40 footer. As a result, the Bavaria buyer is seen by the traditional hierarchy as rather nouveau riche, rather arriviste. "He may have a forty footer" they say, "but we all know it's one of these modern ones. Not quite the ticket."

Of course this has happened many times before. Owners of French boats in the eighties and nineties got precisely the same response from the Centaur owners, who in turn were looked down on by eastern european Folkboats and Honeybees ("Plastic, old boy?") who in turn never really cut the mustard with owners of handy little ten tonners ("Mass produced, old boy?")

It's not just confined to yachts. Jaguar E-Types were ridiculously cheap when they came out, and in consequence anathema to those who knew that proper sports cars had to cost twice as much. I'm sure many readers (asuming there are any readers) will be able to think of other examples in other fields.

It's all jolly silly. I've spent years sailing around in a 21 foot boat and the fun I have in her is completely unrelated to what other people think. Of course if part of the reason for buying a bigger boat was to impress people (look deep into your heart, Bavaria owners) then complaining that people aren't impressed enough is playing the same snobbish game.

If Bavaria owners just shrugged at the comments, confident in their own choice, the teasing would soon stop. As it is, the over-the-top reactions of a few of them just fuel the flames.
 
Ubergeekian said:
On a slightly more serious note, I think the reason Bavarias cause comment - and perhaps the reason their owners are so sensitive - is that they upset the traditional social hierarchy based on length.

Bavarias have changed this. The money that buys a traditoinal 30 footer buys a Bavaria 40 footer. As a result, the Bavaria buyer is seen by the traditional hierarchy as rather nouveau riche, rather arriviste. "He may have a forty footer" they say, "but we all know it's one of these modern ones. Not quite the ticket."

If Bavaria owners just shrugged at the comments, confident in their own choice, the teasing would soon stop. As it is, the over-the-top reactions of a few of them just fuel the flames.
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Isnt it great when two threads come together??? This is all about cultural capitol... and the exclusive nature of our sport... even those who participate face social barriers, as outlined by yourself... so even though the Bavaria owner has the economic ability to participate... he lacks the cultural capitol to progress to full acceptance.


So, why do these threads attract such a following..... well it may be that Bavaria owners are attempting, unconciously, to increase their cultural capitol... or it could be that they just like to talk about boats. And no one seems to talk about anything but Bavarias.

:D
 
Unloved Bavs

Two reasons seem to surfaces regularly: snobbery & jealousy.

Me - a snob? Quite possibly.
Me - jealous of a Bav? Never.
No matter how bad things get with Guapa (and we've had more than our fair share of setbacks) a lot of comfort is derived from the thought 'at least I haven't got a Bavaria'.

I've done a couple of Bav deliveries over the years and all needed work before the owners could sail them away. I've deliverd 3 HRs too, and they needed work too, be it minor. The last few years the delivery cruise has become a part of the HR QC process.

Anyway, true story...
Three years ago, July, we come into Ostend - RSNYC dock. As usual for that time of year, the place is packed to the rafters. Forecast for the night (and next day) NW 7-8.
Only place left for us, alongside a Bav46 by the fish-mine. Those who know the place will know that a NW-ly in that spot means you will get it full on the beam.
We're a heavy boat, so in view of the forecast, I offer the Bav skipper to swap places and go alongside the pontoon and have him outside of us. Mrs Bav objects - if we swap places their shore power lead won't reach and they won't be able to use the microwave. Fair enough, but at least I offered.
We go to bed early, it's been a long day. Just before I nod off I hear the wind through the rigging - not long now. Three o'clock in the morning, we're woken by shouting and screaming and knocking on our hull.
It's our neighbour - he wants to get out - quickly. Bang on HW, we're taking 45kts+ bang on the beam and we're squashing him. The Bav deck is flexing like I've never seen before.
An hour later, we've swapped places and go back to bed.

Chat in the morning - Bav skipper angry with himself for listening to his wife. Damage: forward cabin bulkhead split in half.

I'm sure they have their uses, but I would not want one. Not now, not ever.
 
Guapa said:
Only place left for us, alongside a Bav46 by the fish-mine. Those who know the place will know that a NW-ly in that spot means you will get it full on the beam.
We're a heavy boat, so in view of the forecast, I offer the Bav skipper to swap places and go alongside the pontoon and have him outside of us. Mrs Bav objects - if we swap places their shore power lead won't reach and they won't be able to use the microwave. Fair enough, but at least I offered.
We go to bed early, it's been a long day. Just before I nod off I hear the wind through the rigging - not long now. Three o'clock in the morning, we're woken by shouting and screaming and knocking on our hull.
It's our neighbour - he wants to get out - quickly. Bang on HW, we're taking 45kts+ bang on the beam and we're squashing him. The Bav deck is flexing like I've never seen before.
An hour later, we've swapped places and go back to bed.

Chat in the morning - Bav skipper angry with himself for listening to his wife. Damage: forward cabin bulkhead split in half.

I'm sure they have their uses, but I would not want one. Not now, not ever.
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Yours is not the first story I have heard of excess flexing in the 46..... let me guess.. oh 2004-6 or so.... they had a problem with that boat....

But then a whole batch of Starlight 35's had gelcoat failure... and didnt the Centaurs have a bunch of rudder failures as well??

By contrast.. this summer I was the inside boat for a number of days on th eupper pontton at NF... with a Parker 325 and a UFO 34 outboard of us.... we had a couple of days of f6/7 coming down the river pinning the two against us... and this combined with the tide of course... I never had any concerns... except for the fenders.

Egad. I am becoming defensive.


I wouldnt have a mid noughties 46 either..
 
Why are Bavarias so unloved??

They're not, except by a strange little clique of people who obviously know very little about boats but know a bandwagon when they jump on one. Not worth wasting time on them. End.
 
Bav34 said:
Hey ho.

I see Quandary has wondered off ... looking at merchant shipping threads ... I DO hope that he likes my winch pics. and answers my question:)
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Was putting up some blinds in the kitchen, saw your pics. now, lovely, 40s too, though its a pity the way those Harken drums lose their shine.
I am not sure how to answer your question without taking tongue out of cheek.
But you know you really love these threads, great chance to brag about the equipment too.
Started my spring boat list this morning so if the weather holds you may have to get along without my encouragement for a day or two.
 
Quandary said:
great chance to brag about the equipment too.
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Gottit.

YOU say '' so are less interested in other things like deck gear, sail controls or pointing ability ''

I point out that I am interested in my deck gear and give examples ... and .... and ... I'M BRAGGING !

Oh, I forgot, you're the chap who has previously posted

OK Time to put my cards on the table

I HATE BAVARIAS

Nuff said.:)
 
padipaddy said:
I thought we had agreed no jokes about hanse boats ha ha ha ha

Rab
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I have been baffled by all this, so I decided to have a look at a Bav site.

Now I know what they are...:D

I have seen many of them and never felt inclined to venture to ask, but mistook them for a strain of Benetau. I have seen a lot of them as charter boats in the Med, and in flotillas.
 
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