Bavaria Cruiser 33 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

The earlier Cruiser 32 contributed its hull shape and swim platform. For the 33, Bavaria added a reworked deck, coachroof, and interior, addressing long-standing criticism of the predecessor’s cramped accommodations and angular styling.

Design and Construction

The Cruiser 33 retained the Cruiser 32’s proven hull form, which had set a new standard in its class three years earlier. Farr Yacht moved the keel and rig a couple of inches forward, helping the boat’s balance under sail.

Above the waterline, the most obvious change was the glazing. Larger, rounded windows replaced the predecessor’s notably small, strictly angular units. A long, dark visor disguises the windows along the cabin top. It works well with the boat’s lines and visually lifts the saloon.

Bavaria also shortened the cockpit coaming considerably, creating a roomier helm station. The thwarts curve around behind the wheel and meet the side decks flush. The redesigned helm pedestal is more substantial, with the steering mechanism and autopilot integrated into the console rather than housed in a GRP box beneath the cockpit table.

Rig and Handling

The fractional sloop rig places the halyards near the companionway, while the genoa and gennaker sheets lead to winches on the coamings. The mainsheet pulley attaches to a stable steel bar integrated into the cockpit table. This creates a good sheeting angle, though it only partly compensates for the lack of a traveler.

Period testers particularly praised Bavaria’s decision to include a pulley for trimming the backstay in the standard rigging package. Because the chainplates attach to the outside of the hull, genoa overlap is limited to 106 percent. The adjustable jib-lead cars were moved from the side decks to the cabin top, leaving the side decks unobstructed.

Test sailors considered the rudder’s size, position, and water flow across the blade impeccable. With a two-blade fixed prop, the boat also showed excellent maneuverability in close quarters.

Performance Under Sail

In winds that at times exceeded 20 knots, the Cruiser 33 sailed to weather at a consistent 6.5 knots, verified by GPS, 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. Its 11.22-foot beam and 25 percent ballast ratio provide a stable platform for a 33-foot cruiser.

Accommodations

Bavaria kept the two-cabin, one-lavatory layout but changed the interior proportions. Moving the main and aft bulkheads 10 centimetres farther aft, together with a new floor liner that is flatter and wider overall, freed up space below.

The forward berth is now much larger and meets the comfort requirements of two adults. Height beneath the cockpit floor in the aft cabin increased from 25 to 43 centimetres, easing the restrictions there—a meaningful gain for anyone using that berth.

The handholds are no longer steel. Instead, they’re made from massive wood, a tactile change from the previous generation.

Known Issues

On the test boat, the backstay bridle block sat too low and interfered with the steering. This was a factory placement fault that buyers should check for at the helm.

At cruising speed, the aft cabin registered 77 dB, exceeding the limit permitted by YACHT’s definition. This noise resulted from the engine installation and compartment layout rather than a trim item that could be corrected on the tested hull.

The Verdict

The Cruiser 33 is a thoughtfully reworked small cruiser. It trades its predecessor’s cramped angles for a brighter, better-balanced package. Farr’s forward-shifted rig and the flush side decks make the boat easy to handle and pleasant to steer, while the enlarged berths address the older boat’s weakest accommodations.

The low bridle-block placement and aft-cabin noise are real caveats, but neither undermines the Cruiser 33 as a capable, offshore-rated coastal cruiser.

Pros