Bavaria Cruiser 33 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Farr Yacht moved the keel and the rig a couple of inches forward on the Bavaria Cruiser 33, which helped the boat's balance under sail. The hull itself carried over the proven form from the Cruiser 32, a shape that had set a new standard in its class three years earlier. Above the waterline, the most visible change was the replacement of the predecessor's notably small and strictly angular windows with larger, rounded units. A long dark visor disguises those windows along the cabin top, a treatment that reads well with the lines and lifts the saloon visually. The cockpit coaming was shortened considerably against the earlier boat, opening a more commodious helm station, while the thwarts bend around aft of the wheel and connect flush to the side deck. The helm pedestal was redesigned and is now more massive, and the steering mechanism and autopilot are integrated in the console rather than housed in a GRP box under the cockpit table.

Rig and Handling

The fractional sloop rig places the halyards near the companionway, while genoa and gennaker sheets lead to winches on the coamings. The mainsheet pulley attaches to a stable steel bar integrated into the cockpit table, creating a good sheeting angle that only partially compensates for the absence of a traveler. Bavaria's decision to include a pulley to trim the backstay with the standard rigging package drew particular praise from period testers. Because the chainplates are attached to the outside of the hull, the genoa's overlap is limited to 106 percent, and the cars for the adjustable jib leads moved from the side deck to the cabin top, leaving the side decks unobstructed. Test sailors found the rudder's size, position, and water flow across the blade impeccable, and with a two-blade fixed prop maneuverability was excellent in close quarters.

Performance Under Sail

In winds that exceeded 20 knots at times, the boat sailed to weather at a consistent 6.5 knots (GPS verified) at a true wind angle of 42 degrees. Surfing down waves at close to 12 knots was a new experience for the builder's product manager, who called it record-breaking for the marque. The boat carries CE Category A (Offshore) certification, and its 11.22-foot beam with a 25 percent ballast ratio gives a stable platform for a 33-foot cruiser.

Accommodations

Bavaria stuck to two cabins and one lavatory, but the interior was re-proportioned. Moving the main and aft bulkheads 10 centimetres farther back, paired with a new floor liner that is flatter and wider overall, freed space below. The forward berth is much larger now and satisfies the comfort requirements of two adults. Height restrictions in the aft cabin under the cockpit floor were mitigated as well, measuring 43 instead of 25 centimetres, a meaningful gain for anyone using that berth. Handholds are no longer steel but made from massive wood, a tactile change from the prior generation.

Known Issues

On the test boat the block of the bridle was too low, which interfered with steering, a factory placement fault that a buyer should check for at the helm. The noise level of 77 dB in the aft cabin measured at cruising speed exceeds the limit permitted by YACHT's definition, a consequence of the engine installation and compartment layout rather than a fixable trim item on the tested hull.

The Verdict

The Cruiser 33 is a thoughtfully reworked small cruiser that traded its predecessor's cramped angles for a brighter, better-balanced package. Farr's forward-shifted rig and the flush side decks make her easy to handle and pleasant to steer, while the enlarged berths address the old boat's weakest accommodations. The bridle block placement and aft-cabin noise are real caveats, but neither undermines her as a capable offshore-rated coastal cruiser.

Pros