Design and Construction
With an 11-foot 5-inch beam and a 27-foot 9-inch waterline, the Bavaria 34 is a beamy, comparatively light modern production cruiser rather than a heavy-displacement traditionalist. She displaces 9,900 pounds and carries 3,080 pounds of ballast, giving a 31 percent ballast ratio.
The Bavaria 34 has the typical ballast ratio of a modern production cruiser with a bulbed, cast-iron fin keel. At 9,900 lb she is no lightweight slug, but her 31 percent ballast fraction and 20.96 sail-area-to-displacement ratio put her squarely in the predictable, undramatic cruiser camp rather than at the race-oriented end of the spectrum. Below, the yard gave her a finish that looks woody and well built.
Rig and Handling
The Bavaria 34 has a well-laid-out deck and above-average gear. Two-speed Harken 48ST primary winches and single-speed 16ST halyard winches suit short-handed sailing. The cockpit also works well when sailed by one person, although the primaries are set so far aft that anyone other than the helmsman may find them a little tricky to grind.
Most Bavaria 34s left the factory with in-mast mainsail furling. She is probably a little quicker with a slab-reefed mainsail because of its greater area.
Under sail, the boat is well behaved and predictable, with light, positive steering and very little weather helm even when driven hard. If she’s over-canvased in gusty conditions, however, the rudder can lose grip. She is acceptably stiff under normal cruising conditions but wants her first reef at around 15 knots.
Her shallow forefoot helps keep her reasonably quick. In rough seas, though, it can lead to slamming that slows progress unless the crew bears off.
Accommodation
Below, the Bavaria 34 favors a practical, no-frills layout. Straight settees double as decent sea berths, while lifting seatbacks widen the berths and provide a place to hide bedding during the day. She sleeps six easily, with beam and headroom contributing to livability that is rare in a boat of this size.
A forward-facing chart table gives the navigator a usable workspace. The heads is at the foot of the companionway—ideally with a wet locker inside—so wet gear and drips stay away from the saloon. Headroom is good, ventilation and natural light are plentiful, and stowage is better than on many yachts of this era.
The galley is well equipped to prepare a meal for six and works at sea, but it is a little too narrow. The cook also can’t easily reach the fridge while preparing supper.
Offshore Suitability and Known Limitations
The Bavaria 34 would not suit long offshore passages without considerable upgrading. The main limitation is a lack of room for the additional equipment and machinery that most offshore sailors want. This is particularly apparent in the three-cabin version, which has only two shallow cockpit lockers.
For less ambitious cruising, the boat’s strengths are clear. She remains an ideal starter boat for a young family and an easy-to-handle cruiser for a mature couple who often sail alone.
The Verdict
The Bavaria 34 is a sensible, low-drama coastal and weekend cruiser that offers more livability than her length might suggest while remaining manageable for two. Her deck gear and cockpit geometry favor short-handed sailing, and her interior is practical rather than lavish.
The compromises are equally clear. She isn’t an offshore boat without considerable work, and the narrow galley and limited cockpit stowage—especially in the three-cabin version—reflect the compromises of a volume-driven production design.
Pros
- Light, positive steering with minimal weather helm
- Practical, no-frills interior with good stowage and usable sea berths
- Well-laid-out deck with above-average winches and a cockpit suited to short-handed sailing
- Beam and headroom provide six-berth livability that is rare at this size
Cons
- Shallow forefoot can cause slamming and slower progress in rough seas
- Rudder can lose grip when the boat is over-canvased in gusts
- Narrow galley restricts the cook’s movement and makes the fridge difficult to reach
- Not suited to long offshore passages without considerable upgrading
