Hull, Keel, and Deck Layout
The 38 Cruiser's hull is less beamy than contemporaries, with beam drawing in noticeably toward the stern — a deliberate trade that favors sailing performance over maximizing interior volume. The fin keel is available in two configurations: the standard deep option at just over six feet of draft, and a shoal-draft tandem keel patented by Warwick Collins. The tandem keel reportedly offers greater controllability than conventional shoal-draft alternatives, which helps the shallow option remain credible for sailors who need it. The fiberglass construction is conventional, with a structural grid laminated to the hull that carries keel bolts through double-nutted, stainless-backed fittings — solid mid-production-boat engineering that holds up under inspection. The boat carries a CE Category A ocean rating, confirming that the builder considered it capable of winds above Force 8 and significant wave heights of four meters or more.
Deck and Cockpit Ergonomics
Bavaria gave the cockpit genuine thought. Forward seat backs offer geometry that gives support where needed — useful underway — even if the support tapers off moving aft. A console-mounted cockpit table is a near-universal fitment, and while convenient at anchor, its bulk can hamper freedom of movement during sailing maneuvers. The standout feature is the electric transom: rams tucked under the cockpit sole open the center section of the transom to expose a swim step and ladder. At the forward end of the cockpit, a low bridgedeck and low companionway sill form a practical barrier against water ingress. The anchor well is a proper deep well in the foredeck with a windlass mounted on a shelf rather than flush on deck, keeping chain management tidy.
Rig and Sail Handling
The fractional sloop rig carries a reported sail area just over 740 square feet with a standard main and 150-percent furling genoa, yielding a sail area-to-displacement ratio in the high eighteens — squarely in the range that produces reasonably good performance in moderate conditions without tipping into performance-boat territory. The mast stands roughly fifty feet above the waterline. Options include an in-mast furling mainsail or a fully battened main that adds meaningfully to the sail plan: the fully battened main stretches to 356 square feet compared to 310 for the standard version. Six winches are standard. The deck is reinforced to accept a wide range of options, including a double-ended mainsheet system routing both tails to the helmsman — a useful addition for shorthanded sailing. The backstay is adjustable as standard.
Accommodations Below
Bavaria's distance from the sea has not dulled the company's eye for offshore practicality below. The companionway descent is flanked immediately by sturdy galley fiddles to port and the nav desk to starboard, giving a descending crew member two secure handholds in a seaway — a detail that distinguishes genuine offshore thinking from showroom staging. The saloon settees run parallel to the centerline and long enough to use as sea berths, and partial bulkheads at the galley and nav desk include corner cut-out grabs for stability when working at sea. Headroom reaches just over six feet. The nav station is forward-facing with enough surface for paper charts, dedicated instrument-mounting area, and a dished seat for traction at heel. The galley carries a two-burner stove, a microwave, twin sinks with inboard drains, and ample stowage — the twin sink bottoms slope toward their drains, a practical touch undermined only by their shallow depth. In the two-cabin layout the forward V-berth occupies the full space forward of the mast with generous storage; the single aft head is notably spacious given the cabin count. The three-cabin version compresses the head and gives up some of the forward cabin's walkabout room in exchange for the third stateroom.
Performance Under Power and Motoring Manners
The Volvo Penta diesel with saildrive drives the 38 cleanly in calm conditions. Published tests documented 7.8 knots at maximum 2,800 rpm, with a quieter cruise of just under 6.5 knots at 2,000 rpm. The theoretical hull speed of 7.64 knots is consistent with a waterline just over thirty-two feet. Hard-over turning radius came in at one boat length, and backing behavior was reported as commendable — qualities that matter when entering a crowded marina. The saildrive configuration keeps the engine compartment simple but requires attention to the bellows seal as the boat ages.
Known Considerations and Refit Points
A few structural realities deserve attention on any example. The hull's flat bottom could make completely drying the bilge a challenge — water tends to collect in pockets that the drain cannot reach. The electrical panel uses touch-pad switches that illuminate when activated, with the circuit breakers mounted behind the panel rather than integrated into the switches themselves — an arrangement that requires panel removal for breaker access and may not age as well as conventional toggle-and-breaker layouts. The in-mast furling option, while convenient, sacrifices sail area and shape control compared to a conventional or fully battened main; buyers willing to manage hanks or a stack pack typically prefer the battened alternative. Water tankage varies meaningfully between configurations: an optional forward bow tank adds 150 liters to the standard 210-liter capacity, making the upgrade worth specifying for extended passages.
The Verdict
The Bavaria 38 Cruiser is an honest, well-resolved production cruiser from a builder that prioritizes function below as much as comfort. It does not attempt to be a bluewater passage-maker in the way heavier, narrower boats might, but its CE Category A rating, sensible offshore ergonomics, and a hull that sails rather than wallows give it genuine cruising range for coastal and near-offshore work. The J&J hull trades some interior volume for a cleaner sailing shape, and the result is a boat that moves better than its beam-to-displacement numbers might imply.
Pros
- Offshore-friendly handholds and parallel settees designed for use at sea
- Tandem shoal-draft keel option with reported controllability advantage
- Electric transom with integrated swim step standard
- Reinforced deck ready for expanded sail-handling options
- Solid structural grid with robust keel attachment
- CE Category A ocean classification
Cons
- Flat hull bottom traps bilge water and resists full drainage
- Touch-pad electrical panel places circuit breakers behind the panel, complicating access
- Two-burner galley stove underpowers a boat this size
- Cockpit table bulk interferes with sail handling
- In-mast furling (where fitted) reduces effective sail area and shape control
- Three-cabin layout shrinks the head and forward cabin significantly
