Hull Design and Dimensions
The 32 Cruiser carries a fine entry that spreads into generous beam carried well aft, a genuinely modern underbody that trades the blunt shoulders of older production cruisers for a shape that rewards both upwind angles and reaching speeds. At 32 feet 9 inches overall, with an 11-foot-2-inch beam, the numbers are wide relative to length, and the designer has made that volume work rather than fight it. Construction below the waterline is solid GRP, with foam core used above the waterline and on deck, and a laminated grid stiffens the bilges. The result is a hull that is approximately ten percent heavier than comparable 32-footers — a statistic the yard wears as a badge of substance rather than a concession to weight penalty. Standard draft is 6 feet 4 inches on the deep-fin keel, with a shoal-draft alternative drawing 4 feet 11 inches for shallower cruising grounds.
Rig and Sailing Performance
In-mast furling comes as standard fitment, an arrangement that simplifies single-handed or short-handed sailing but limits mainsail options. One reviewer noted that in-mast furling on a boat this size is something he would not personally recommend, the implication being that a full-battened, slab-reefed main would extract more from the Farr hull. The swept-back spreaders restrict the lowers across the side deck, complicating movement forward in a seaway and something owners going offshore should factor into jackstay planning — the standard jackstays reportedly do not reach all the way to the bow, a gap worth addressing before venturing offshore. On the water the boat performs creditably: under test in 5 to 10 knots the boat held 4.7 knots sailing as high as 35 degrees apparent and reached 5.2 knots easing to 40 degrees. The 30-horsepower engine delivered 6.4 knots at 2,300 rpm in flat water. Downwind reaching rewards a cruising chute on the optional bowsprit; without it, broad-angle running is limited.
Cockpit and Deck Layout
The cockpit is a genuine strength, scaled well beyond what 32 feet of waterline normally permits. Bench seats are long enough to sleep on, and coamings are high enough for real security. A fixed table with folding leaves doubles as the mainsheet attachment point — Bavaria dispensed with a traveller entirely and sheets the main directly onto the cockpit table, a pragmatic arrangement for cruising that trades precise trim for simplicity and socialising space. The cavernous locker to port accommodates a dinghy or water toys. The signature touch is the fold-down transom controlled by gas struts, which drops to create a wide swimming platform; the helm seat pivots down like a drawbridge to complete the swim-step arrangement, lending the boat a superyacht flourish that owners consistently praise.
Accommodations
Below decks the BMW-designed interior is, by any reasonable standard, phenomenally light and spacious for a boat of her size. Nearly six feet of headroom runs through the saloon, galley, and heads. The two-cabin layout puts a V-berth forward and a substantial double aft that extends under the cockpit sole — portlights in the hull and cockpit sole feed light into the aft cabin. Berth dimensions are honest: the forward V-berth has a somewhat pinched foot, and the aft double has generous horizontal area but limited vertical clearance, constraints that matter for taller crew sharing the bunk. The saloon table is large enough to seat six, with cutlery drawers and a central locker for glasses built in. The heads compartment consistently draws comparisons to larger boats: it is a full wet room with an independent shower and a dedicated wet locker for damp sailing gear. The holding tank is accessible at waist height rather than buried in the bilge — a detail that reflects genuine thought about maintenance rather than cosmetic design. The galley is modest but includes an integral rubbish bin under the sink, one of those small touches that signals the designers paid attention to daily life aboard.
Known Shortcomings
The interior finish reflects a build-to-budget reality that the boat's exterior presence can obscure. Plastic panelling next to the bunks and in the saloon looks wooden at first glance but is quite flimsy on closer inspection, and plywood joinery edges appear sanded but unsealed in places, with sealant used to finish several edges. These are issues that tolerant owners shrug off and fastidious ones manage, but they can become conspicuous on boats that have seen charter use or less attentive maintenance. Engine access is generally workable, but the seacock sits behind the engine, an awkward reach if the engine is warm and something has fouled the strainer — exactly the moment when quick access matters most.
Refits and Upgrades
Factory-ordered upgrades make the biggest quality difference. The Avantgarde specification included upgraded engine, Webasto heating, and an electric windlass as factory installations, and the quality of those installations is generally superior to owner-added retrofits. Buyers considering a slab-reefing mainsail in place of the standard in-mast furling will find the deck hardware largely ready for the conversion, and the improvement in sail shape and reefing flexibility is expected to materially improve windward performance. Adding the optional bowsprit for a cruising chute addresses the one obvious gap in the downwind inventory. Jackstay runs that extend fully to the bow are a sensible safety modification for anyone planning passages beyond coastal day-sailing.
The Verdict
The Bavaria 32 Cruiser succeeds at something difficult: it takes the compressed arithmetic of a 32-foot waterline and delivers accommodation, cockpit space, and on-the-water behaviour that genuinely serve family sailing. The Farr hull is no marketing flourish — the performance is real, even if the standard rig constrains it. Where the boat shows its budget origins is in finish details and a few ergonomic lapses that matter more as passages get longer. For coastal cruising, weekend family getaways, and the occasional small-crew offshore hop, the 32 Cruiser makes a compelling and honest argument.
Pros
- Modern Farr hull delivers genuine upwind performance despite cruiser displacement
- Cockpit space and gas-strut swim platform outperform the LOA
- Heads compartment and wet locker rival boats of 40 feet
- BMW-designed interior is light, airy, and well-ventilated
- Solid GRP below waterline with foam-core topsides; heavier and more substantial than many rivals
- Holding tank at waist height — practical access for maintenance
Cons
- In-mast furling standard rig limits sail shape and reefing options
- Interior panelling and unsealed plywood edges show the build budget under scrutiny
- Seacock positioned behind engine — awkward access under duress
- Swept-back spreaders obstruct side-deck passage; jackstays do not reach the bow as standard
- V-berth has a pinched foot; aft double has limited headroom — cramped for tall crew sharing
