Design and Construction
The 808 measures 26.51 feet overall, with a waterline length of 22.3 feet, a beam of 8.2 feet, and a draft of about 4.92 feet. Displacement is 5,350 pounds.
She has a solid fiberglass monohull, an iron fin keel, and a spade rudder. A period review of the near-identical 808 TC describes both hull and deck as fiberglass. It also describes the deck as a sandwich laminate said to improve the indoor climate.
The builder’s specifications give a displacement-to-length ratio of 215.37 and a comfort ratio of 21.27. Those figures place the 808 among moderate-weight coastal boats rather than heavy voyagers.
Rig, Stability, and Handling
The 808 carries a masthead sloop rig with 290 square feet of sail area on the hundred-percent rig. With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.21, the builder classes her as slightly under powered.
She is reasonably stable and stiff. Her capsize screening value of 1.88 indicates good righting capability if knocked down. A Danish review of the TC variant gives a theoretical displacement-hull speed of 6.4 knots, an immersion rate of about 642 pounds per inch, a motion comfort ratio ranging from 15.2 to 21.0, and a ballast ratio near 40 percent anchor.
The wetted bottom surface is about 204 square feet. Standard sheet lengths are 26.5 feet for the jib and genoa, 66.3 feet for the mainsheet, and 58.3 feet for the spinnaker, all in 3/8-inch diameter.
Accommodations, Engine, and Tankage
Factory figures list a single diesel engine, a fuel capacity of only six gallons, and a 23-gallon water tank. Together, those capacities give the boat a very short supply range underway.
The available records don’t document the interior accommodation counts. What they do show supports the 808’s role as a coastal cruiser. The TC variant’s quoted draft—about 4.2 to 4.5 feet, depending on load—allows access to modest marinas.
The Verdict
The Bavaria 808 is a compact Schröter-designed coastal sloop. Her strengths lie in stiffness, predictable righting behavior, and a draft that was relatively easy for her era. Her weaknesses are equally clear: very limited fuel and water capacity, a rig that is slightly under-canvased for her displacement, and an interior that the available records don’t describe.
She is a straightforward weekender, not a long-range cruiser.
Pros
- Reasonably stable and stiff, with good capsize righting capability
- Shallow-enough draft for access to small marinas
- Solid fiberglass hull with an iron fin keel and spade rudder
Cons
- Very small original fuel and water capacities
- Slightly under powered according to the builder’s specifications
- Interior accommodation counts aren’t documented in the source data
