Design and Construction
Mohnhaupt’s design combines a solid-fiberglass hull with a hand-laid fiberglass deck in a sandwich layup. Bavaria used this construction to insulate the cabin against cold water and reduce condensation below; the sandwich construction of the hull and deck improves the indoor climate.
The keel is a fin with a bulb, cast in iron, and draws between 5.41 and 5.71 feet depending on load. That draft is shallow enough for most marinas.
Displacement is around 7,500 pounds, with a ballast ratio of 41 percent—more ballast than half of comparable designs. A length-to-beam ratio of 3.05 makes the Bavaria 300 roomier than 58 percent of similar boats. Wetted surface is about 312 square feet, while an immersion rate of 929 pounds per inch points to a moderately loaded hull that sits sensibly in the water.
Rig and Handling
The Bavaria 300 has a fractional rig and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.29. That figure is modest by modern light-air standards, but it fits the boat’s classification as a “light racer” on the displacement-length scale: 85 percent of similar designs weigh more.
Theoretical hull speed is 7 knots. Maximum speed under power is also 7 knots with the optional 18-horsepower Volvo Penta 202 diesel and saildrive.
Period sail plans specify 30-foot jib and genoa sheets with a half-inch diameter, a 75-foot mainsheet, and a 66-foot spinnaker sheet. The mainsheet and spinnaker sheet are both listed as 12 mm. Together, those dimensions indicate manageable, standard cruising hardware rather than grand-prix equipment.
Accommodations
Below, the Bavaria 300 has three cabins and six berths, along with a galley and toilet facility. Like many boats of her period, she is finished in mahogany.
Fresh-water capacity is 36 gallons. Diesel capacity is 21 gallons, carried in a stainless tank. The insulating sandwich structure also helps keep the cabin drier and warmer in cold conditions than a single-skin hull would.
Performance Profile
The capsize screening value is 2.01, which would exclude the Bavaria 300 from ocean racing under that metric. Her Motion Comfort Ratio of 19.6 makes her more comfortable than only 27 percent of similar designs. That’s useful context for anyone comparing her with heavier bluewater boats.
By the numbers, she is a light-displacement coastal and lake cruiser-racer rather than a heavyweight passage-maker.
The Verdict
The Bavaria 300 is a thoughtfully packaged small cruiser from Mohnhaupt’s Bavaria era. She combines insulated sandwich construction and a practical three-cabin interior with a light, handy hull and marina-friendly draft.
Her numbers identify her as a coastal performer rather than an offshore racer. For her size, however, she offers space and cabin comfort that many larger boats of the period did not.
Pros
- Sandwich hull and deck reduce condensation and insulate the cabin
- Iron bulb fin keel draws 5.41–5.71 feet, suiting most marinas
- Three cabins and six berths in a 31-foot hull
- Ballast ratio higher than that of 50 percent of similar designs
Cons
- Capsize screening value excludes her from ocean racing under that metric
- Motion Comfort Ratio is better than that of only 27 percent of similar boats
- Light-racer classification indicates less load-carrying capacity than 85 percent of comparable designs
