At just under 37 feet overall, the 37 Cruiser has a round-bodied, seakind displacement hull with a V-shaped bow entry. It’s a heavy, solid cruising platform rather than a lithe racer. In YACHT’s test, it cut through moderate waves with only slight pitching.
Design and Construction
J&J Design specified sandwich construction with a foam core above the waterline. The hull was laminated with isophthalic acid resin and a powder-bonded mat for good resistance to osmosis, while aramid fabric reinforces the bow area.
The floor assembly braces the hull from stem to stern and is laminated over a large area rather than merely glued. The beams of the jetties and the angle laminate of the main bulkhead appear rock solid. A stepped stern with no stern flap closes the hull form. The boat carries CE design category A certification.
Visible interior construction is solid and durable, with robust mouldings, solid edges, and plenty of real wood. GRP frames and covered ceiling panels provide access to bolt nuts and cables.
Rig and Sail Handling
The standard sail plan combines a high-set genoa with a conventional battened mainsail. Bavaria also offered a furling mainsail, though it trims performance back somewhat. The test boat and others had an in-mast furling mainsail and a first-generation Furlex genoa furler, with a Seldén mast and rigging.
A derivative of the German Cupper system sits on the coachroof as a 1:4 sheared tackle led forward on both sides. Some boats also lead the mainsheet there. Winches for the mainsail, furling, and reefing lines sit on the coachroof on either side of the companionway, while the genoa winches are mounted on the coamings.
The period Furlex genoa furler required a trip to the mast to flip a switch between “in and out” and “just reefing.” YACHT measured a sail-carrying capacity of just 4.3, even with the battened mainsail, and found the boat only limitedly suited to single-handed sailing without an autopilot.
Performance and Steering
The Bavaria 37 Cruiser can achieve more than 6.5 knots on a reach while maintaining good tacking angles. Eight knots comes up quickly on rougher courses. Under engine, the test boat reached 7.5 knots at a tolerable noise level with the more powerful 40 hp Volvo and three-bladed folder.
The steering system feels somewhat sluggish. Its 100-centimetre wheel, mounted on a massive pillar, suits the rounded cockpit; a 120-centimetre wheel would make passage too awkward.
A 1.60 metre keel was available as an alternative to the standard 1.95 metre keel. The test boat’s 40 hp Volvo and folder also provide a worthwhile reference for repowering or propeller upgrades.
Cockpit and Deck
The cockpit is a throwback: narrow, enclosed by high coamings, and not especially spacious. Even so, the side benches carry massive teak, and the benches are a comfortable 1.90 metres long. A substantial GRP table base lets the crew wedge safely between the table and benches in violent motion, although the folding teak tabletops still provide only small surfaces.
The rounded bench ends prevent anyone from leaning against them while facing forward or aft, and the coamings are too narrow to sit on comfortably. With full tanks, boxes stowed in the forepeak, and an occupied cockpit, the 37 Cruiser sits markedly down by the stern.
The original sprayhood had tight-fitting, robust bars that showed superior quality to later examples.
Accommodations
Below decks, massive wooden details, rounded edges, and real, glossy-painted veneers—not imitation Alpi—set the tone. The substantial grab handles are useful, and the saloon is narrow enough to provide plenty of handholds when the boat rolls heavily.
Bavaria offered two- and three-cabin layouts. In the three-cabin version, the head is forward. The two-cabin layout moves the head aft and pairs it with a huge locker. The bow bunk is a full 2.00 metres wide, while the stern bunk measures just under 1.50 metres. With two stern cabins, the forward compartments become shallow and small.
Quite large windows, hull windows, two panoramic panes, and a centre hatch bring light below. The superstructure windows open, and ventilation slots are built into the cupboards. Headroom ranges from 1.90 to 2.04 metres in the saloon and measures 1.86 metres in the aft head.
A steep companionway ladder and simple hooks for securing the doors are period details. The drop-board rack is mounted behind a cabin door. Cabinet hinges aren’t corrosion-resistant.
Lighting is functional rather than atmospheric. There are few light sources, no indirect comfort lighting, and only a scarce number of electrical sockets.
The Verdict
The Bavaria 37 Cruiser is a genuinely solid, well-moulded coastal and offshore cruiser with category A certification and a hull structure braced thoroughly from end to end. Its accommodations are bright and practical, with a real-wood finish. Against that, the cockpit is dated and tight, the cabinet hinges and weight distribution need attention, and the standard rig limits ease of single-handed sailing.
Pros
- Sandwich foam-core hull with aramid bow reinforcement and a full-length laminated floor structure
- Real-wood veneers, substantial grab handles, and a bright interior with plenty of windows
- Strong light-air and moderate-sea performance for a heavy displacement cruiser
Cons
- Narrow cockpit with high coamings, unusable bench ends, and no comfortable coaming seat
- Non-corrosion-resistant cabinet hinges and stern-heavy trim when loaded
- Sluggish steering and limited suitability for single-handed sailing without an autopilot
