Bavaria 808 Buyer's Guide
The 1978 Schröter-designed Bavaria 26.5-foot sloop remains a modest coastal cruiser on the used market, built by Bavaria Yachts with a single diesel, solid fiberglass construction, and a fin keel. She is a straightforward late-seventies German boat for weekend shelter and short hops.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 808 carries a beam of 8.2 feet and a draft around 4.9 feet, with a waterline length of 22.3 feet and 5,350 pounds displacement. The builder's record leaves cabin, berth, and head numbers blank, so buyers should treat the interior as undocumented and inspect each boat individually. The TC variant reviewed elsewhere shows a draft of roughly 4.2 to 4.5 feet dependent on load, which helps explain the model's appeal in shallow berths.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Original equipment centers on a single diesel and very small tankage: six gallons of fuel and 23 gallons of water, the latter giving a short supply range. Buyers should focus on energy and sail-handling upgrades rather than creature comforts. A larger battery bank or solar input addresses the limited fuel range for auxiliary use; a replaced mainsheet and genoa sheet (standard lengths 66.3 and 26.5 feet in 3/8 inch) matter more than stereos or galley extras. Navigation and canvas upgrades are common owner choices but should be judged on condition, not assumed.
What to Inspect
The deck on the TC variant is a sandwich fiberglass construction rather than solid, so check for soft spots or delamination where fittings penetrate anchor. The iron keel should be examined for corrosion at the hull joint, and the six-gallon fuel tank and 23-gallon water tank inspected for age and contamination given their original small size. The wetted surface of about 204 square feet means bottom condition deserves a close look.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
No regional market data is stated for this model. For a shopper, the checklist is short: confirm the undocumented interior suits your needs, verify deck sandwich integrity, check the iron keel attachment, and budget for tank and electrical upgrades given the original minimal range. She is a coastal boat — buy her as one.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Bavaria 808. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $13,920 | — |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bavaria Yachts 300 | 31.33' | $ 35,844 | 29 | 8 |
| Compromis 888 | 28.54' | $ 26,508 | 17 | 5 |
| Bavaria 960 | 31.5' | $ 35,844 | 4 | 1 |