Bavaria 36 (2002-2004) Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Bavaria 36 means looking at a 2002–2004 J&J Design cruiser built in Germany, a 37-foot-4-inch fractional-sloop volume boat with iron ballast and a single 19-horsepower Volvo Penta MD2020. These are common ex-charter and private boats on the European brokerage circuit, and the practical buyer's question is less about rarity than about which layout and upgrade package fits the intended use.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available, and ex-charter examples are common. The three-stateroom version places mirror-image double berths aft with the head forward; the two-stateroom version moves one stateroom aft with the head aft to starboard. In that two-stateroom format the forward stateroom space is reduced and part of the lazarette is consumed. The galley, nav station, and dining area are unchanged between versions, so the choice is really about berth count versus forward-room and storage volume.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Well-equipped examples commonly carry an autopilot, heating, teak decks, chartplotter, bow thruster, hot water, and AIS — a cluster that speaks to comfortable European coastal cruising with shorthanded docking help. Less universal but seen as owner additions are an inverter, gennaker, freezer, bimini, cockpit shower, and life raft. For a buyer, the bow thruster and heating are the highest-consequence items in colder climates, while AIS and chartplotter define the navigation baseline; a gennaker is a useful light-air addition but not a structural concern.
What to Inspect
Period reviews note the Bavaria marque's value positioning attracted a perceived snobbery, and the model has had keel problems mentioned without detail anchor. Any survey should include close inspection of the keel-to-hull joint and surrounding structure. No other defect categories are noted for this model.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats typically appear in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Italy. For the shopper, the short checklist is: confirm keel-hull integrity in survey; decide three-cabin volume versus two-cabin forward room; verify the autopilot, heating, and AIS suite; and treat teak decks and bow thruster as common rather than exceptional. The Bavaria 36 remains a sensible, unpretentious family cruiser where the main diligence is structural at the keel, not cosmetic or systemic.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Bavaria 36 (2002-2004). The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 10 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25 | 1 | $78,652 | — |
| Sep 25 | 6 | $74,282 | -5.6% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $14,884 | -80.0% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $58,144 | +290.6% |
| Jan 26 | 2 | $76,456 | +31.5% |
| Feb 26 | 1 | $62,921 | -17.7% |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $67,291 | +6.9% |
| May 26 | 2 | $71,427 | +6.1% |
| Jul 26 | 2 | $63,766 | -10.7% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $73,991 | +16.0% |
Where they're listed
Bavaria 36 (2002-2004) listings appear across 5 countries. Netherlands has the most listings with 8 (44.4%), followed by Germany and United Kingdom.
Country view
18 listings · 5 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | $76,904 | 8 | 2 | 44.4% |
| Germany | $65,252 | 7 | 1 | 38.9% |
| United Kingdom | $14,884 | 1 | 0 | 5.6% |
| Greece | $62,921 | 1 | 0 | 5.6% |
| Italy | $58,144 | 1 | 0 | 5.6% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluewater Cruiser 38 | 40.35' | $ 80,982 | 197 | 44 |
| Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 34 | 35.14' | $ 115,799 | 192 | 28 |
| Catalina Yachts 36 | 36.33' | $ 35,700 | 182 | 33 |
| Bavaria Yachts 36 | 37.89' | $ 69,513 | 119 | 27 |
| Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 39 | 39.16' | $ 99,043 | 114 | 26 |
| Bavaria Yachts 40 | 40.9' | $ 88,287 | 81 | 21 |
| Dufour Classic 36 | 36.33' | $ 79,133 | 77 | 14 |
| Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 33 | 32.78' | $ 87,391 | 63 | 15 |
| Bavaria Yachts 37 | 37.89' | $ 75,739 | 57 | 19 |
| Sabre 36 | 36' | $ 47,500 | 21 | 7 |
| Bavaria 36 (2002-2004)You are here | — | $ 68,747 | 19 | 3 |