Buying a used boat: Bavaria 30 - the spaceship put to the test
The Cruiser 30 tested has been in charter operation since 2006, for an average of 20 weeks per year. The tester expects an interior that is, to put it mildly, worn out. But it is not. Well, the companionway steps have suffered, but that's a matter of a few hours with a random orbital sander, varnish and brush. The veneer on the wooden parts, which is often criticised for being too thin, has held up perfectly, with hardly any scratches or even holes to be seen. The floor is also in good condition, although the first signs of wear are often unsightly. However, the Bavaria has certainly not had an easy life, as you will see from the badly battered deck layout in the next part.
Berth dimensions
Ergonomically, the Franconian has almost no weaknesses. All berths are long and wide enough at mattress height. Probably due to the high freeboard, a stringer runs from front to aft on both sides of the ship for stabilisation. You don't usually notice it; in the foredeck it is camouflaged on both sides as a shelf. Unfortunately, however, it takes up a lot of the otherwise generous width of 1.75 metres at shoulder height. In the end, there is only around 1.20 metres left between the shelves, which is tight. But there is space for a real sat nav, and the galley and washroom are also spacious in comparison. The headroom of around 1.80 metres is sufficient. Plenty of ship!
The Bavaria 30 is part of a used boat comparison test:
You can easily find an ideal yacht for 40,000. But: buy cheap and invest or would you rather spend it all and set off straight away? We tested five yachts to find out:
Not a racer, but perfectly sailable
One bug works better than the other. This is not unusual, but was very pronounced during the test. The reason lies in the mainsheet: The sail can simply be pulled further into the centre on starboard. On a hectic handover day at the charter base where the Bavaria had been employed for 13 years, just any old block was fitted when the original one from Rutgerson gave up the ghost. As a result, one part is missing and the sheet lacks traction. Most customers will not have noticed this - but the testers certainly did. But even without this defect, the little Franconian would not be a racing yacht. Heavy, with a lot of wetted surface and completely worn sails, it doesn't have the best chances. The 30 is known for getting stuck at the stern, as the test also shows. Weight aft is therefore poison. Otherwise, it doesn't feel so bad despite the poor starting conditions.
The older Bavarias run somehow and give a very good feeling thanks to the rudder pressure. With fresh cloths and new fittings here and there, this Bavaria would also be a joy to sail. In terms of fittings, the 30 benefits from the common parts strategy. The stopper, for example, which is too small on the 37, fits perfectly here.
As is typical for Bavaria, the mainsheet is run on the superstructure; this can be a problem for the usually small crew. However, it is possible to convert to an aft-facing solution with two stoppers.
After 13 years in charter, the deck is a building site. The fittings need to be maintained or replaced and the gelcoat repaired. However, some of this can be done by yourself.
The Bavaria 30 in detail
Technical data of the Bavaria 30
- Designer: J&J Design
- Quantity: approx. 500
- Torso length: 9,45 m
- Width: 3,29 m
- Draught/alternative: 1,80/1,40 m
- Weight: 4,2 t
- Ballast/proportion: 1,1 t/26 %
- sail area: 48,6 m²
- Sail carrying capacity: 4,3
- Machine (Volvo): 13 kW/18 hp
Hull and deck construction
- Hull: Solid laminate
- Deck: Sandwich
Hand lay-up, tempering. Floor assembly GRP, cast iron keel
Market situation
- From the charter with construction sites from 25,000 euros*
- Maintained by the owner, prices go up to 60,000 euros*
- Strong demand
* Status 2024
YACHT rating of the Bavaria 30
Lots of space, ergonomically good, not very demanding to sail. A good entry-level boat for the whole family. A lot of boat for the money
Design and concept
- + Suitable bunk lengths and standing heights
- + Solid design
- - Visually a little clumsy
Living and finishing quality
- + Amazing quality of the interior fittings
- + Very large wet room
- + Good headroom throughout
Video comparison of the Bavaria 30
The big YACHT used boat special:
- New, used or chartered - here's what to consider
- Which type of boat is the right one? Decision-making aids
- Buying a used boat: Your guide through the online jungle
- Own inspection or surveyor? What you need to look out for
- How to avoid traps in the purchase contract
- The boat is bought - what's next? The first steps
- What insurance do I need for my boat?
