Bavaria 43 Cruiser Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Bavaria built the 43 Cruiser as a big cruising yacht with a classic layout and rig that is a breeze to sail, and the hull reflects a considered structural approach. The fiberglass laminate is laid up by hand, solid beneath the waterline and foam-cored in the topsides, with the bow area reinforced with Kevlar. Rigging loads are fed into the hull grid by tie-rods connecting the chainplates to a stainless steel ring frame which girds the hull, and that grid is glassed in. Around the keelbolts the builder describes the hull as 35mm thick, with ten locknutted keelbolts and steel backing plates epoxied in place to help spread the load into the hull anchor. The standard fin keel draws 1.85 meters, while a lead keel option extends draft to 2.10 meters.

Rig and Handling

The mast-forward rig does double duty: it keeps the sail plan mainsail-dominant, which holds the headsail to a comfortably manageable size for a boat of this length, and it opens the saloon to a clear sightline from the port-side in-line galley to the U-shaped dining lounge opposite. On deck, the German mainsheet system leads the two-part sheet down both sidedecks to a winch immediately ahead of the helm stations, and the helmsman can reach the mainsheet winch from the helm position with good foot support when the boat heels. Genoa cars carry control lines adjustable from the cockpit, and the winches prove up to the task of handling a big headsail toward the top of its wind range. Test sailors found no quirks to her handling; she goes where she is pointed in a breeze gusting well over 20 knots, and with main and jib on a deep reach she has shown a top of 8.5 knots in 15 to 20 knots of true breeze anchor. The standard Volvo Penta 40-horsepower engine (a 55-horsepower unit was fitted as the Australian standard) pushes the hull to 7.3 knots over ground at a relaxed 2,500 rpm.

Accommodations

Below, the lasting impression is of space, light and air. The mast-forward arrangement partitions off a large forward owner's cabin with ensuite head, while aft are two guest cabins served by a second, sizable head with a separate shower stall. A movable longitudinal bulkhead between the aft cabins lets the owner reconfigure them into one large and one small space. The settee caters for as many people as can sleep on board and an optional pedestal drops the table to form a vast double berth; storage is everywhere — saloon, galley, and cabins. The saloon carries five opening ports and three hatches, ventilation is terrific, and a car-style fabric headliner lends a finished feel. The forward berth is wide enough for a tall sailor to stretch out sideways, and the navigation station is a proper full-sized area with a moveable stool that slots into holes in the cabin floor.

Cockpit and Deck

Twin steering wheels open the transom to a large swim platform, and contoured helm seats with deep backrests give the skipper lumbar support on a long passage. Teak in the cockpit is standard, and the engine control is mounted on top of the gunwale — a logical placement the reviewer wished every boat adopted. A good bimini with windows clear enough to see the masthead was fitted to the test boat, useful when sailing in gusty, unfamiliar conditions.

The Verdict

The Bavaria 43 Cruiser is a thoughtfully laid-out volume cruiser whose structural grid, configurable aft cabins, and cockpit-forward sail handling suit a couple or family cruising with occasional guest crews. She sails cleanly off the wind and is undemanding to steer in strong breeze, though her attractions are living space and easy handling rather than sparkling light-air performance.

Pros