Lots going on on board and on the stand - that's what we know from Bavaria, and it's the same with the latest model, the Cruiser 36, a cruising boat with what is currently probably the best cabin layout in the eleven-metre class, designed for owners and charterers alike.
The 36 is therefore aimed at the centre of the market. The yacht, which is available as a two- and three-cabin version, is impressive in every variant. Large berths, plenty of and above all very usable storage space, one of the best heads compartments currently available, as well as a saloon with ample seating space and many clever details - including a fold-away chart table, a lid in the table that serves as a trivet when turned upside down, or a bottle locker in the main bulkhead - all this attracts visitors by the dozen.
If you want to familiarise yourself with the boat in peace and quiet, you should therefore come first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon. Otherwise, it can get cramped below deck even on this spaceship during the peak times of the trade fair.
The attention to detail and the perfectly chosen cabin layout are a pleasure, as is the workmanship. Everything fits, everything fits. The laminated main bulkhead is just as pleasing as the extremely firm anchoring of the fittings. This contributes to the noticeable rigidity of the construction, as does the extremely solid floor assembly.
Versatile and spacious, the Farr design is also convincing under sail: she logged a solid six knots under sail in the test in light winds (see YACHT 23/2010), and over nine knots under 5 to 6 Beaufort on the beam, whereby the ship always remained well controlled. This means that even longer sea routes can be completed quickly and effortlessly.
The shortcomings identified during the test in mid-October - leaks in the foredeck and a rudder system that was too tight - were examined in detail by the shipyard and rectified immediately. The water ingress had occurred because a shrink hose had been incorrectly attached to the cable feedthroughs of the mast electrics during rigging. A work instruction for correct rigging should remedy this in future.
The procedure for eliminating the stiffness of the steering, which was caused by a chain that was too tight, was just as consistent: the steering column now has an additional reinforcement so that the sprockets and chains are always precisely aligned and friction does not occur in the first place.
"We are always grateful for such tips. If you take quality seriously, and Bavaria does, the product has to constantly improve," says Meik Lessig, Sales Manager at Bavaria. The shipyard proves that quality is not just a slogan through the involvement of the particularly critical Germanischer Lloyd as a certification organisation for the CE standard.
Despite the performance on offer, the Cruiser 36 remains extremely affordable at 97,460 euros ex shipyard. Nobody builds a boat like this cheaper. To be found at the Hanseboot, Hall A1 Stand C140 or in the current issue of YACHT.
