Bavaria C38 Buyer's Guide
The Bavaria C38, launched in 2021 as the smallest of Bavaria's Cossutti-designed C-Line, is a familiar face on the European brokerage scene. Ex-charter examples are common, and the boat's high-volume interior makes her a frequent candidate for families and syndicates shopping the used market.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin versions are the more common configuration afloat, but two-cabin boats are also available, and both originate from a four-layout matrix built around variable aft cabins. The three-cabin arrangement gives three king-size doubles — a rare trick in a hull only about 36 feet long — while the two-cabin setup trades the third berth for a storage zone and easier movement. A single midships head with semi-separate shower is the pragmatic choice on most, though two-head boats exist. Ex-charter history is widespread, so buyers should expect higher cycle counts on systems and soft goods regardless of cabin count.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most used C38s carry a bow thruster, teak decks, self-tacking jib, furling main, autopilot, chartplotter, heating, bimini, swim platform and cockpit shower as commonly fitted gear — the bow thruster paired with the deep rudder gives real control in harbour. Often-seen additions include inverter, hot water, solar and air conditioning, speaking to owners bolstering house power and comfort. Less common are AIS, a freezer or a life raft, usually owner upgrades rather than factory fit. For a shopper, the meaningful clusters are power and energy (inverter, solar), climate and canvas (heating, air conditioning, bimini), and navigation (chartplotter, autopilot, occasionally AIS) — verify the solar and inverter sizing against your anchoring plans.
What to Inspect
The mainsheet purchase has been noted as needing improvement, so check the traveler and block arrangement for owner remediation or lingering slack anchor. In the three-cabin version, stowage is limited by design, and some boats show exposed systems in lockers — inspect those lockers for chafe, unsupported runs and signs of previous moisture around the plumbing and electrical. None of these are structural, but they bear on livability and owner care.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the C38 are Croatia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Türkiye. For a buyer, the short checklist is: confirm layout (three-cabin limits stowage), verify charter history and wear, test the bow thruster and furling gear, and review locker systems for exposure or amateur work. She remains a spacious, fun-to-sail modern cruiser well suited to volume-minded used-boat shoppers.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Bavaria C38. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 15 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25 | 1 | $203,945 | — |
| Feb 25 | 3 | $268,042 | +31.4% |
| Mar 25 | 2 | $248,289 | -7.4% |
| Jun 25 | 3 | $273,869 | +10.3% |
| Sep 25 | 12 | $276,783 | +1.1% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $320,486 | +15.8% |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $278,240 | -13.2% |
| Jan 26 | 5 | $289,016 | +3.9% |
| Feb 26 | 3 | $273,869 | -5.2% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $203,945 | -25.5% |
| Apr 26 | 30 | $265,992 | +30.4% |
| May 26 | 20 | $331,117 | +24.5% |
| Jun 26 | 5 | $348,455 | +5.2% |
| Jul 26 | 5 | $314,092 | -9.9% |
| Aug 26 | 4 | $293,681 | -6.5% |
Where they're listed
Bavaria C38 listings appear across 14 countries. Croatia has the most listings with 22 (25.0%), followed by United Kingdom and Germany.
Country view
88 listings · 14 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croatia | $215,599 | 22 | 3 | 25.0% |
| United Kingdom | $331,117 | 21 | 3 | 23.9% |
| Germany | $288,437 | 9 | 0 | 10.2% |
| Denmark | $311,802 | 7 | 0 | 8.0% |
| Spain | $340,034 | 6 | 2 | 6.8% |
| Turkey | $300,674 | 5 | 0 | 5.7% |
| United States | $299,000 | 4 | 0 | 4.5% |
| France | $289,016 | 3 | 1 | 3.4% |
| Italy | $250,561 | 3 | 0 | 3.4% |
| Ireland | $384,583 | 2 | 2 | 2.3% |
| Portugal | $262,215 | 2 | 0 | 2.3% |
| Sweden | $330,619 | 2 | 2 | 2.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluewater Cruiser 38 | 40.35' | $ 81,007 | 197 | 44 |
| Bavaria Yachts C42 | 40.62' | $ 338,016 | 148 | 22 |
| Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 39 | 39.16' | $ 99,074 | 114 | 26 |
| Bavaria Yachts C38You are here | — | $ 299,859 | 88 | 14 |
| Beneteau Oceanis 38 | 37.73' | $ 163,607 | 72 | 20 |
| Bavaria Yachts 37 | 37.89' | $ 75,762 | 57 | 19 |
| Dehler 38 | 38.71' | $ 244,666 | 50 | 16 |
| Catalina 387 | 39.83' | $ 124,000 | 35 | 13 |
| Bavaria Yachts Ocean 38 | 39.04' | $ 102,497 | 30 | 7 |
| Freedom 38 | 37.92' | $ 71,227 | 18 | 7 |
| Morgan Morgan 38 | 38.42' | $ 67,200 | 12 | 5 |