10 metre family yachts part 2: Now it's all about the inner values
- Technology on a small scale
- Battle for centimetres on the family yachts
- Room to rest
- What else is available: current models in the 10 m class
- Space for lounging and stowing on the family yachts
- Measured values in comparison
- Conclusion after part 2
- Data and prices of the family yachts in detail
- Video of 10 metre family yachts below deck
In the test:
- Bavaria Cruiser 33
- Delphia 34
- Dufour 350
- Hallberg-Rassy 310
- Sun Odyssey 349
All parts of the comparison of the 10 metre family yachts:
They are under particular scrutiny by many potential buyers and are considered the most important market segment: touring yachts around ten metres in length mark the usual size for entry-level yachting. Potential customers scrutinise the features, performance and prices particularly closely. This class is therefore ideal for a detailed comparison test. And after all, the manufacturers are looking for potential new customers who they want to retain in the long term. That's why YACHT invited five family yachts to the test bench in the Ancora Marina in Neustadt on the Baltic Sea.
The Bavaria Cruiser 33 from Germany, the new Delphia 34 from Poland, the two French boats Dufour 350 Grand'Large and Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 as well as the Hallberg-Rassy 310 from Sweden accepted the invitation.
Technology on a small scale
In Part 1 of the comparison test, the YACHT test editors analysed the competitor boats in terms of their sailing characteristics, handling, layout and deck equipment - in other words, everything on the outside. The conclusion in a nutshell: There was no clear winner after the first round.
The two French boats Dufour 350 and Sun Odyssey 349 with their modern hull constructions and high-quality wardrobes have advantages in terms of performance under sail, especially in stronger winds. The boats from Bavaria, Delphia and Hallberg-Rassy, on the other hand, scored points for handling and equipment. There was a draw after the first round.
Part 2 now deals with living and touring comfort below deck, storage space, functionality in the individual areas and the quality of the interior. Everything on the inside. And last but not least, the pricing is relevant.
The family yachts offer more volume, more variance
With hull lengths of less than ten metres, the interior layout options are quite limited, even in the entry-level models. Nevertheless, versions with two or even three cabins and a wet room are now considered standard in the class. Ten years ago, this variance was unthinkable. In the current comparison, the newer models Delphia 34, Dufour 350 and Sun Odyssey 349 can already offer this option. Incidentally, the Sun Odyssey 349 from Jeanneau is the only ship that was represented in the comparison test in the version with three cabins.
Battle for centimetres on the family yachts
The Cruiser 33 from Bavaria is only available as a two-cabin model. The Hallberg-Rassy 310 also has a layout with two separate compartments. The pretty Swede is to a certain extent the outsider, she is the smallest and also by far the slimmest boat in the comparison. An extension with three cabins is unthinkable with her.
The family yachts are moored side by side in the Ancora marina in Neustadt. An ideal starting point to directly compare the boats in terms of comfort, space and equipment standards.
Functional or cosy
The Dufour 350 Grand'Large has the largest volume in the comparison of family yachts, and not just in terms of feeling, but also in terms of testing. The Frenchwoman is the widest boat in the comparison and has a living space of 2.90 metres in the saloon, measured between the side fittings. This dimension is significantly smaller in the boats of the competition. The double door to the front also contributes to the very generous impression of space on the Dufour 350. When both wings are open, the saloon and forward living areas merge into one another. The Dufour is also the only one to offer a large panoramic window on the cabin superstructure and additional windows in the hull - plenty of light that benefits the interior.
The interior of the Bavaria Cruiser 33 has a simpler and more modern look, as does that of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349. In both yachts, the functionality of the interior seems to play a more important role than cosy nautical comfort. The Delphia 34 and especially the Hallberg-Rassy 310 successfully combine these two themes, with the Swedish yacht displaying the classic and high-quality Scandinavian interior style with the usual Nordic cosiness.
Here's an observation: on the Swedish boat, the YACHT testers immediately sit down on the comfortable, inviting sofas for the discussion. On the competitors' boats, on the other hand, the group remains standing.
Borderline berths on the family yachts
All boats in the comparison offer sufficient sleeping comfort for two adults in the forward cabin. The dimensions of the berths are well above the minimum requirements according to the YACHT definition. Once again, the voluminous Dufour 350 Grand'Large comes out on top. It has the largest sleeping area with a length of over two metres and a width of 1.86 at shoulder width.
None of the family yachts can be criticised for the inadequate dimensions of the double berths in the aft cabins either. In the case of Delphia, Dufour and Bavaria, however, the dimensions of the berths depend on whether the boat is ordered in the version with two or three cabins; the berth area is more generous in the two-cabin version. Bavaria gives its two-cabin Cruiser 33 the largest berth area in the aft section. The bed is over two metres long and 1.80 metres wide at shoulder width. It therefore has a king-size format.
Room to rest
All test boats also offer welcome sleeping options on the sofas in the saloon. On the Dufour 350, however, the additional single berths are only 1.90 metres long and are therefore not suitable for tall sailors. Depending on the version of the Delphia 34, you can only sleep on one side of the saloon. The Poles have developed an extremely smart system for converting the single berth into a larger double berth. An additional folding bunk board closes the gap to the saloon table, while the backrests of the sofa become matching cushions. This widens the bunk area to 1.20 metres at shoulder height. Although this is still not wide enough for two adults, it is sufficient for children.
The Hallberg-Rassy 310 offers the most beautiful and comfortable saloon berths, on which the backrests can be folded up completely in a single movement and locked in place at the top by means of a push strap. This provides an exemplary 80 centimetres of lying space in width at shoulder height.
Very different pantries
An important topic when cruising: Cooking on board. Accordingly, the manufacturers pay particular attention to this area. Jeanneau leads the way: the kitchen area on the Sun Odyssey 349 is more spacious than on the other four boats. There is more work space and more usable storage space. Those who cook a lot on the boat will also find plenty of opportunities to store their kitchen equipment neatly. This even applies to bulky items such as large pots and pans.
What else is available: current models in the 10 m class
The galley block on the Delphia 34 is beautifully designed and very functionally arranged, and also offers plenty of usable storage space in the galley. However, anyone interested in the three-cabin version of the Polin should be aware that the galley shrinks to a minimal size in this version.
The pantry modules from Bavaria and Dufour are comparable in type and size. In both cases, however, there is a lack of storage space for less handy items.
Although the galley on the Hallberg-Rassy is small, it is very practical. Because there is no third cabin on the Swede, the galley can be set far back. Here, you can stand well and safely in a bay with your back to the flanks of the companionway - even in rough seas and heeling.
Sometimes big, sometimes small
Like the kitchens, the wet rooms also offer the necessary room for manoeuvre for the designers to plan the interior layouts with two or three cabins. In all cases (except Hallberg-Rassy), the size of the bathrooms is heavily dependent on this. Based on a two-cabin layout, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 offers by far the largest bathroom in the comparison. It can even score points with a separable shower area. On all other boats, however, the shower facilities are limited.
If the family yachts are extended with three cabins, the space available in the toilet rooms is greatly reduced everywhere, even on the Sun Odyssey 349. Another issue with the bathrooms: Air and light. All ships have only a small ventilation hatch in the toilet room, cross-ventilation is impossible. On the Delphia, the hatch is even smaller than on the competition and is also concealed behind the panel on the cabin superstructure. Artificial light is therefore permanently required in the wet room of the Polin. More or less functional ventilation is only possible via the open door to the saloon. This can be uncomfortable for fellow sailors.
Space for lounging and stowing on the family yachts
When it comes to ventilation in the saloon, the Bavaria 33 and even more so the Hallberg-Rassy 310 get good marks. The smallest boat in the comparison has two larger hatches on the cabin superstructure. In addition, all the windows in the saloon can be opened. The Swede's ventilation options are exemplary.
The situation is different on the Delphia 34, where there is only a single dorado fan in the saloon. However, it can only provide weak ventilation when the companionway is open. The Polin has a large light window in the roof of the cabin superstructure, but unfortunately it cannot be opened.
When it comes to navigation, the shipyards involved have very different philosophies. At Hallberg-Rassy, it is assumed that work with nautical charts, if at all, takes place at the saloon table - there is no longer any navigation in the conventional sense on the Swede. In contrast, the Dufour 350 has a proper navigation corner where you can sit properly and work with a chart and compass even when the boat is heeling and travelling in the direction of travel.
Enough storage space
There is a comparable range of wardrobes for clothing in all cabins, as well as other open shelves where you can store things. The spaces below the berths are ideal for larger items such as travelling bags, provided these are not already occupied by the tanks for fresh water and fuel.
Only Hallberg-Rassy installs the reservoirs under the sofa berths in the saloon. They are nicely centralised there, which is good for performance under sail. However, this is at the expense of the usually very welcome storage space in the saloon, where cruising sailors like to store provisions and drinks. On the other hand, the Swede has more space under the berths in the fore and aft sections. A compromise solution.
Measured values in comparison
On the Delphia 34, the stowage spaces below the berths and in the saloon are easily accessible. Well-organised hatches with hinges and gas struts to hold them open ensure perfect accessibility. On the Sun Odyssey 349, the side overhead lockers in the saloon are missing.
All the other boats in the comparison offer additional options for packing away small and large items within easy reach. However, most of them lack sling rails.
Careful or careless
Looking at the quality of the interior fittings, Hallberg-Rassy once again lives up to its special role. Her high standards prove that she is in a different, higher league. The craftsmanship of the yacht builders in Ellös is impeccable and the quality of the workmanship is beyond reproach. Of course, this quality does not come for free.
The two boats from Bavaria and Delphia are remarkably well equipped. The work on the interior fittings has also been carried out cleanly and with obvious care. The gaps are okay and the furniture fits. The fittings, such as the hinges in the storage compartments or the water supply fittings, are also from the higher-quality ranges.
The Dufour 350 and Sun Odyssey 349, meanwhile, show minor flaws in the quality of the interior fittings. If you take a closer look, you can recognise excessive gaps and some unsightly workmanship in the details. A circumstance that is repeatedly and apparently not entirely unjustifiably blamed on French large-series yacht construction in particular. Too bad, it wasn't always like this.
Conclusion after part 2
Even after part 2 of the family yacht comparison test, the question of a superior winner remains difficult. The Bavaria Cruiser 33 offers the most balanced and harmonious range overall. It has the fewest points of criticism, is characterised by decent performance under sail, has a clean construction and, last but not least, is available at a very attractive price. The more modern boats come from France, the more traditional from Sweden and the alternative from Poland.
Overall, the competition is strong. This also applies to the boats that did not take part in the test, such as the Hanse 345 and the Oceanis 35, and the other attractive used boat market. All the boats listed have character. The customer looking to buy has a big - and difficult - choice.
Data and prices of the family yachts in detail
Bavaria Cruiser 33
Price and shipyard
- Used boat price:40,000 to € 110,000 (as at 01/2024)
- Shipyard:Bavaria Yachtbau, 97232 Giebelstadt; www.bavaria-yachtbau.de
YACHT rating
Clear concept, good equipment. Considering all the criteria in the comparison, the Bavaria is slightly ahead
- Living comfort below deck
- + Functional layout
- + Clear, unadorned interior design
- + Largest aft berth in comparison
- Finishing quality and details
- + Solid workmanship
- + High-quality fittings and add-on parts
- - Little storage space in the pantry
Delphia 34
Price and shipyard
- Used boat price:69,000 to € 79,000 (as at 01/2024)
- Shipyard: Delphia Yachts Kot, 19-400 Olecko (Poland); www.delphiayachts.eu
YACHT rating
Beautifully designed interior with many exciting details and clever solutions
- Living comfort below deck
- + Plenty of headroom in the saloon
- + High flexibility in expansion
- - Limited possibility for ventilation
- Finishing quality and details
- + Careful processing even on a small scale
- + Easily accessible storage compartments
- - Little light in the aft cabin
Dufour 350
Price and shipyard
- Used boat price: (as at 01/2024)
- Shipyard: Dufour Yachts, 17187 Périgny (France); www.dufouryachts.com
YACHT rating
The boat with the largest perceived volume below deck. Light, airy interior thanks to many windows and hatches
- Living comfort below deck
- + Maximum room volume
- + Largest forward berth in comparison
- - Little headroom in the foredeck
- Finishing quality and details
- + Access to the forecastle only through the wet room
- + Very functional navigation
- - Partly unsightly gap dimensions
Hallberg-Rassy 310
Price and shipyard
- Used boat price: 135,000 to € 170,000 (as at 01/2024)
- Shipyard: Hallberg-Rassy Vervs AB, 47431 Ellös (Sweden); www.hallberg-rassy.com
YACHT rating
The HR, with its special role, has an impeccable Scandinavian interior quality. However, it is also significantly more expensive than the other four yachts
- Living comfort below deck
- + Ship-like cosy interior design
- + Wide sofa beds in the saloon
- + Very comfortable upholstery
- Finishing quality and details
- + High-class finishing quality
- + Perfect ventilation options
- - No navigation
Sun Odyssey 349
Price and shipyard
- New price ex shipyard: 199,900 € as an anniversary offer
- Shipyard: Chantiers Jeanneau, 85505 Les Herbiers (France); www.jeanneau.com
- Distribution: www.gruendl.de / www.aquamarin-boote.de
YACHT rating
Modern ship concept with a sober but very functional interior design
- Living comfort below deck
- + Clearly structured interior design
- + Largest pantry in comparison
- + Large bathroom with shower compartment (only two cabins)
- Finishing quality and details
- + Fold-up navigation
- - No choice of wood
- - Partially inadequate processing
Video of 10 metre family yachts below deck
The comparison test first appeared in YACHT issues 16 and 17/2015 and has been revised for the online version.
