In mid-October, the Cruiser 36 had to prove herself off Palma de Mallorca in torrential rain and occasionally strong winds. Apart from leaks in the foredeck and a rudder system that was too tight, she did very well.
Bavaria's latest model impressed in the YACHT test with its high rigidity and good sailing performance above 8 to 10 knots of wind. Only the very direct ratio and sluggish wheel steering reduced the fun of sailing.
The Cruiser 36 demanded very concentrated rudder control. Due to the lack of sensitive feedback, it is otherwise easy to stall, especially in light winds. A shortcoming that the previous new developments from Farr Yacht Design with wheel steering, the 55, 45 and 40, did not show and that the shipyard wants to remedy.
Below deck, the cruising boat shines in almost all respects. Only a few points of criticism, such as the lack of a handrail in the saloon or the cool box hatch that cannot be locked open, are offset by an overall very successful layout and finish.
Only leaks in the foredeck, which became apparent due to the heavy rain during the test, diminish the consistently good to very good quality impression. Here, too, Bavaria has announced a remedy. In future, all boats will be subjected to a comprehensive leak test before delivery, as the new Managing Director Jens Ludmann assured us.
As the price structure at Germany's largest sports boat yard has not changed and the 36 is still the cheapest yacht on the market, the conclusion is positive. Never before has Bavaria offered more boat and more substance for the money in the eleven-metre class. Anyone looking for a modern, spacious cruising yacht should not only shortlist the new model from Giebelstadt. They should.
You can read the detailed test with all measured values and the comprehensive strengths/weaknesses profile in YACHT 2372010, available from newsagents from 27 October.
And coming soon on YACHT tv: the video of the Cruiser 36 test!
Jochen Rieker
Herausgeber YACHT
