Design and Construction
Bavaria built the 46 Holiday on a hand-laid laminate that combines stitched-biaxial and chopped-strand mat in isophthalic polyester resin, with an Airex foam core above the waterline and reinforced Coremat below anchor. The hull itself came from Farr Yacht Design, and the twin-rudder arrangement is a defining characteristic of the design rather than a cosmetic add-on. Notably, post-2009 production reflects a quality improvement program that meaningfully shifted how experienced cruisers regarded Bavaria's build standards. Against the Jeanneau 479, the 46 Holiday is generally seen as offering a superior live-aboard interior layout and stronger post-2009 construction, even if some sailors grant the Jeanneau a slight edge in pure upwind ability.
Rig and Handling
The standard rig uses an in-mast furling mainsail, and the boat employs a German sheeting system in which twin independent mainsheets run to the cockpit sides rather than a conventional boom traveler. Test sailors on the Chesapeake Bay described her as fast, close winded and fun to sail, and crews consistently report 7.5 knots on a beam reach in 10 knots of true wind with a pointing angle near 40 degrees off the true wind. Light-air performance is modest, and the boat works best with 10 or more knots of true wind. Under power, the 75hp Volvo saildrive delivers 6.5 knots at 2,200 RPM and a maximum of around 8.5 knots at full throttle, with a motoring range near 500 nautical miles at cruise.
Accommodations
The standard four-cabin layout sleeps eight in cabins plus two in the saloon for a total of ten berths, and every berth exceeds two meters in length. The aft quarter cabins are some of the most spacious ever fitted in a boat of this size, while the three-cabin owner's version places a queen or king centerline berth forward with a dedicated en-suite head. The U-shaped dinette seats eight, and the port-side L-galley carries two refrigeration boxes, double sinks, and a three-burner stove. Outside, the cockpit serves eight seated or twelve standing, and the fold-down transom platform effectively adds the usable space of a 50-foot yacht to this 46-foot design.
Known Issues
The in-mast furling mainsail makes sail handling effortless but trades away ultimate upwind efficiency and close-hauled shape because the sail is battenless. The inner coamings are relatively steep, which seats extra crew forward but grows less comfortable on long offshore passages. The faux teak deck and cockpit sole look smart yet grow uncomfortably hot underfoot in Mediterranean midsummer sun, and the fixed cockpit table can obstruct movement between the twin helm stations when fully set up. Ventilation in the wet areas is singled out in multiple independent tests as inadequate, and personal storage in the heads is limited. On the structural side, stanchions on many Bavaria models of this era are somewhat wobbly, though multiple owners confirm the deck bases stay secure and the movement is purely cosmetic.
Refits and Ownership
For owners who prioritize upwind work, upgrading to a fully battened mainsail with lazy jacks is consistently recommended as the single most effective performance improvement available for the design. The boat's standard hardware suite — Lewmar winches and Spinlock jammers — and a 1,200W electric windlass with forward sail locker give a solid baseline, so most refit attention naturally centers on the rig and ventilation rather than fundamentals.
The Verdict
The Bavaria 46 Holiday is a volume-rich cruiser that sails better than its accommodations-first brief suggests, and its post-2009 build quality earned real respect among seasoned cruisers. The tradeoffs are concentrated in hot-climate deck comfort, weak wet-area ventilation, and a standard rig that sacrifices upwind shape for handling ease.
Pros
- Farr-designed hull with twin rudders and a genuine 7.5-knot beam-reach pace in 10 knots
- Exceptionally roomy aft cabins and a ten-berth interior that beats the Jeanneau 479 as a live-aboard
- Fold-down transom that expands usable cockpit space to 50-foot levels
- Improved post-2009 construction quality across the fleet
Cons
- In-mast furling main limits close-hauled efficiency and shape
- Inadequate ventilation in heads and shower spaces
- Faux teak surfaces get painfully hot in summer sun
- Steep inner coamings and a fixed table that intrude on long passages and twin-helm movement
