Bavaria Cruiser 30 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The hull carries the era's visual cues: a slight rake to the stem and a sugar-scoop transom anchor. Below the waterline, Bavaria offered deep and shallow fin keels as well as a tandem configuration, the latter pairing two vertical foil sections with a bulb beneath and drawing just 4 feet 6 inches against the fin's 6 feet 5 inches anchor. One test boat carried an optional high-tech keel with twin foils joined by an iron bulb anchor. The spade rudder runs the same depth regardless of keel choice. Interior structure follows Bavaria's standard method: joinery units are bonded directly to the hull, while the deckhead is reached through removable vinyl-covered plywood panels anchor. Owners describe the woodwork as chunky, substantial, and well finished, and it has worn well over the years anchor.

Rig and Handling

The mast is stepped well forward, as was Bavaria's habit at the time, which produces a notably skinny foretriangle anchor. Supporting a fairly tall, slim, single-spreader mast are unusual semi-intermediate shrouds running from the spreader tips to a midpoint below the hounds. The genoa carries moderate overlap with an inboard shroud base for a narrow sheeting angle, and towing cars were fitted to the test boat. Mainsheet geometry is unconventional: the line runs from mid-boom to deck strong points forward of the companionway, then to the mast and aft to a coachroof winch, applying a different pull angle on each tack anchor. Sail plans seen include a roller-furling genoa with Seldén in-mast furling main trimmed to a cabin-top winch, while a full-batten in-mast rig and standard rig were also available anchor.

Under way, the boat proved dry and lively. Sailing closehauled in puffy northeast winds off Marblehead, the tester could not get her to splash a drop into the cockpit anchor. In 10 knots with higher gusts she surged at 5.5 to 6 knots with a smooth motion and tacked easily through about 105 degrees anchor. She turned on a dime under both the 18-horsepower Volvo saildrive and sail, with only a slight initial starboard prop walk when backing that was quickly overcome anchor. Despite fixed two-bladed prop drag and a known slight stern-heavy trim, light-air performance is more than respectable for a high-volume cruiser and she sails pretty well overall anchor.

Accommodations

Below, the Cruiser 30 is roomy and nicely woody, with headroom near 6 feet almost everywhere anchor. Double berths sit in fore and aft cabins, with sensible-length berths and good stowage. The galley is to port, conventional and peninsular with generous fiddles; opposite is a nav desk with a decent chart table, and forward of the galley a foldout table sits between settees anchor. The heads is exceptionally roomy for a 30-footer and includes a holding tank. The cockpit is a decent size though much of it is taken by the helm console and table; the wheel helm sits right aft to maximize that space, with self-tailing Lewmar 30 primaries at the coaming ends within easy reach anchor.

Refits and Ownership

Construction details matter for owners planning a windlass: part of the anchor-well moulding is changed during the build if a windlass is specified, a point surfaced in online owner research anchor. The standard engine is the 18-horsepower Volvo saildrive with 25 gallons of diesel and 40 of water; the tested boat's saildrive and fixed prop reflect the base specification anchor.

The Verdict

The Bavaria Cruiser 30 is a thoughtfully laid-out small cruiser that punches above her production weight under sail. Her forward-mast rig and tandem-keel option broaden her cruising range, while the interior's worn-well joinery and roomy heads make liveaboard time pleasant. She is not a performance thoroughbred, but she is a capable, dry, and maneuverable family coastal yacht.

Pros