Design and Construction
The hull and deck are both fiberglass, and the keel is lead on a fin profile, giving a ballast ratio of 49 percent — a figure higher than 96 percent of all similar sailboat designs anchor. That deep ballast commitment, combined with a length-to-beam ratio of 3.23 and a wetted surface of about 61 square meters, places her firmly among the beamy, stable cruising hulls. The capsize screening value comes in at 2.00, which by the standard test would bar her from ocean racing, underscoring that she was tuned for comfort and steadiness rather than offshore competition.
Rig and Handling
She carries a fractional rig and a saildrive transmission behind a Volvo Penta inboard of 59 hp, a typical modern cruising drivetrain for a boat this size. The immersion rate is about 434 kg per centimeter, or 2,433 pounds per inch, meaning she sits heavily and changes trim slowly with load — consistent with the high ballast ratio and the 260-liter fuel and 610-liter fresh water capacities that support long self-sufficient stretches away from a dock.
Accommodations
Inside, the Bavaria 46 Exclusive is laid out with six cabins and ten berths, a galley, a toilet facility, and mahogany joinery throughout the interior. The fresh water capacity of 610 liters supports the berth count on extended cruises. Period comparison data found her roomier than 76 percent of all similar sailboat designs, which matches the six-cabin footprint and the broad 14-foot-7 beam carried into the hull form.
Known Issues
The known facts center on her design limits rather than failures: the capsize screening value of 2.00 means she would not qualify for ocean racing, and the heavy immersion rate means load management matters more than on a lighter hull. These are characteristics, not faults.
The Verdict
The Bavaria 46 Exclusive is a straightforward, high-volume cruising yacht from Bavaria Yachtbau: beamy, heavily ballasted, and laid out for groups or charter-style living with six cabins and ten berths. She is stable and roomy but not an offshore racer, and her saildrive and lead fin keel are conventional for the type.
Pros
- Exceptionally high ballast ratio (49%, above 96% of peers) for steadiness anchor
- Six cabins and ten berths with 610 L water capacity for extended cruising
- Roomy hull — roomier than 76% of comparable designs
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.00 excludes her from ocean racing anchor
- Heavy immersion rate (434 kg/cm) makes her load-sensitive in trim
