Would you take a Bavaria 32 across the Atlantic

JumbleDuck said:
Perhaps a small light boat would use a windvane, a trailing log and preserved food. I am pretty sure that small boats managed, and still manage,quite long trips without every electrical gizmo available.
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I totally agree with you; 500l+ of fuel on a Bav32 is nuts!!! - I was just responding to a previous post.
 
maby said:
Doubt you can get that much into a Bav32 (or other 32, quite honestly) - you'll certainly need a lot of jerrycans strapped on!
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At 2 litres per hour one would need 160 litres - (if one did not run the engine at full revs but enough to generate a charge that could even drop to 1.5 litres per hour)
A typical tank on a 32 ft boat is 50 litres
On top of that one would need 6No. 20 litre jerry cans
I think that if one did not motor any more than needed to charge batteries it would be do'able
How about a Watt & Sea generator fitted to the transom or an immersed Duo gen ?
one could cut down considerable on fuel needed then
 
Thanks everyone for all your contributions.

I am looking at buying one next year, mainly for floating around the solent, with the odd cross chanel France/Chanel Islands sortie. However I have allways wanted to sail the Atlantic and dont really want to buy a boat that is at least 30 years old just so it will handle possibly 2 trips.
 
Daydream believer said:
At 2 litres per hour one would need 160 litres - (if one did not run the engine at full revs but enough to generate a charge that could even drop to 1.5 litres per hour)
A typical tank on a 32 ft boat is 50 litres
On top of that one would need 6No. 20 litre jerry cans
I think that if one did not motor any more than needed to charge batteries it would be do'able
How about a Watt & Sea generator fitted to the transom or an immersed Duo gen ?
one could cut down considerable on fuel needed then
Click to expand...

Oh, there are ways of doing it - friends of ours have recently sailed across - but I'm still not convinced that it is feasible to run a power autopilot close to 24/7 - ours seems to have a noticeable effect on our battery charge in just a few hours. The people I know that have done ocean crossings all seem to rely primarily on wind vanes.
 
I seem to recall a Beneteau First 31 did the ARC a few years ago & won the race division on handicap
Crew comprise 2 males, 2 females & 2 very young children

Two of them were experienced racers ( Olympics I am told)-- [No!! not the kids-- idiot!!!!]

Still it shows that the size of the boat is not an issue --provided you can remain friends
 
farquart said:
Thanks everyone for all your contributions.

I am looking at buying one next year, mainly for floating around the solent, with the odd cross chanel France/Chanel Islands sortie. However I have allways wanted to sail the Atlantic and dont really want to buy a boat that is at least 30 years old just so it will handle possibly 2 trips.
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There is a massive jump from " wanting" to "doing" & I am sure there are an awful lot of us in the first category
I cannot help but admire those that actually have a go
But be honest- unless you are really - & i mean "really"- in the second camp your boat buying priorities will be greatly different & it is not even worth letting the the "dream" spoil your selection of boat
 
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maby said:
all seem to rely primarily on wind vanes.
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Trouble is that wind vanes are not at their best on a light displacement boat, like a Bav 32, when running, or with the wind on the aft quarter
I have a Hanse 311 with an Aeries. In some conditions it is excellent, but on a Bav 32 I would not be convinced it will work down wind reliably unless the Bav is really directionally stable ( which a Hanse 311 certainly is not)
 
Daydream believer said:
At 2 litres per hour one would need 160 litres - (if one did not run the engine at full revs but enough to generate a charge that could even drop to 1.5 litres per hour)
A typical tank on a 32 ft boat is 50 litres
On top of that one would need 6No. 20 litre jerry cans
I think that if one did not motor any more than needed to charge batteries it would be do'able
How about a Watt & Sea generator fitted to the transom or an immersed Duo gen ?
one could cut down considerable on fuel needed then
Click to expand...
A Bavaria 32 has 90l tank as standard. With Volvo 2020 gives a range of between 50-60 hours motoring.
 
maby said:
Oh, there are ways of doing it - friends of ours have recently sailed across - but I'm still not convinced that it is feasible to run a power autopilot close to 24/7 - ours seems to have a noticeable effect on our battery charge in just a few hours. The people I know that have done ocean crossings all seem to rely primarily on wind vanes.
Click to expand...

See my post 47. I ran a very power-hungry hydraulic autopilot 24/7 using a combination of solar panels and a fuel cell. I think I budgeted one 5-litre can of methanol every 4 days or so. A less power-hungry electric drive unit should easily cope without too much difficulty and without excessive drain on the batteries. It is the fridge that will draw a lot of power.
 
bbg said:
A less power-hungry electric drive unit should easily cope without too much difficulty and without excessive drain on the batteries.
Click to expand...

An ST2000 draws up to an amp in use so you need around 24 watts of wind or solar to cover it.

You'd need an umbrella as well of course.
 
Tranona said:
A Bavaria 32 has 90l tank as standard. With Volvo 2020 gives a range of between 50-60 hours motoring.
Click to expand...

Please don't spoil this thread with facts ...

Anyway - Bav32 across the Atlantic - would I ? No. Could it? Yes ...

Why wouldn't I?
Because the boat is least stable with the wind from astern, it's the motion I hate most & a beefed up autopilot would be beneficial to keep it on course!

Could it?
With the correct preparation and crew then yes - I've sailed 30-38'ers in some large choppy seas and whilst they're uncomfortable, they are still manageable. A Bav37 (for sale) or Bav34 with shallow keel is fine in such seas - providing you put the right sail up. I'd be more concerned about living on the boat though - having only encountered those conditions for short periods of time and being able to prep, cooking food & general living in those conditions would finish me off. I would think a Bav32 would fair similarly.
 
farquart said:
Fairly straight forward question. Would you take a Bavaria 32 across the Atlantic. This is aimed mainly at people who have competed some distance sailing.
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Yes if boat in good order (particularly with ref to rudder and rigging) but not my first choice largely due to concerns with rudder type/strength and robustness of rigging given that it is a largely downwind passage and gusts of 35 knots are not unusual. Talking to those who arrive in the Caribbean many find the downwind very uncomfortable but my perception is that few these days have devised a good downwind sail set up. This always used to be advised but now is seldom mentioned. I have found a twin reef able headsail rig utilising a twin groove forestay (and it needs a bit of cunning to set up!) coupled with a 3 reef main or try sail (for anti roll) has worked well for me.
Spade type rudders are at risk of damage from debris or even whales. A skeg is a big plus for some rudder protection and most ocean voyagers would prefer this. An alternate method of steering : emergency rudder or hydrovane is good insurance.
Solar panels are helpful for power and wind gens are a further asset once in the Caribbean (if that is to be the destination).
I found it necessary to have only a little extra fuel and am frequently amazed by the plethora of extra fuel tanks carried on deck (unsafe and unsightly as well as unnecessary to my mind). Over 5 months of Caribbean sailing I used less than 15 gallons of fuel.
Getting back to Europe is a more challenging experience. A more robust boat is desirable. Exchanging warmth albeit with wind for the cold and yet more wind of the North Atlantic demands more resilience!
 
So, let's add this all up then...

Firstly you upgrade your battery bank with something like 4 x T105s, uprate the alternator, and fit something like and A2B charger - £1,500?
Then you get your sails checked over, double-stiched, and have a 3rd reef put in, and you buy a storm jib - £1,500?
Then you fit AIS, buy an EPIRB, lots of engine and boat spares, etc... - £1,500
Then you buy £500 of fuel, £500 of food and water.

So you've just spent about £6k. You can put it on a ship for that and it'll be there in a fortnight.

Which brings me back to my comment that if you WANT to do it, the boat will do it (with the right fit-out), but if you just want to move it there, put it on a ship.
 
Bobc said:
...if you WANT to do it, the boat will do it (with the right fit-out), but if you just want to move it there, put it on a ship.
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And surely, if a group of people actually want to sail a boat across the Atlantic, some of them might like to steer her, for several hours per day?

The fuel/battery-charging/fridge/self-steering calculation seems an extraordinary over-complication, if we may assume the journey is made for the rewarding experience of doing it, rather than as some dreadful, unenviable, necessary voyage which mustn't oblige the wretched crew to do anything except demand icy beer.

If you only want to arrive, Bavarias are available new in the States, the 33ft is under $150,000, delivered: http://www.bavariayachts.com/bavaria-cruiser-33.php
 
bbg said:
See my post 47. I ran a very power-hungry hydraulic autopilot 24/7 using a combination of solar panels and a fuel cell. I think I budgeted one 5-litre can of methanol every 4 days or so. A less power-hungry electric drive unit should easily cope without too much difficulty and without excessive drain on the batteries. It is the fridge that will draw a lot of power.
Click to expand...

Ah, a fuel cell! I fancy one of those, but they are very expensive! I do agree, the fridge is the real killer.
 
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