Design and Construction
Below the waterline the hull is solid laminate, while above it becomes an Airex-cored sandwich, a construction split that keeps structural mass low where it matters and saves weight aloft anchor. Glassed-in hat-section frames stiffen the shell, and in the bow area Kevlar reinforcement improves impact resistance against mooring mishaps and debris. The cast-iron ballast keel is attached with stainless-steel keelbolts, double-nutted and backed by washers, a methodical fastening detail that inspires confidence in the structural chain to the hull. The spade rudder and fractional-sloop rig with 890 square feet of working sail complete a profile built for predictable cruising rather than extremes.
Rig and Handling
Test sailors found her prone to rounding up strongly in gusts when close-hauled, persisting even with full rudder applied until the crew reduced sail area considerably anchor. Once reefed, however, the boat still sailed quickly and responsively, suggesting the tendency is a matter of sail balance under full canvas rather than a fundamental vice. The Volvo engine with saildrive and 55 gallons of diesel give a sensible power reserve for a hull of this displacement, and the 95-gallon water capacity supports extended anchoring without constant reprovisioning.
Accommodations
The three-cabin layout places two cabins aft and one forward, an arrangement that in a 39-footer naturally dictates an along-the-side galley in the saloon anchor. That galley geometry leaves room for a full-size nav table, a genuine bonus for passage planning, and a roomy aft head. Forward, the master cabin offers all kinds of space with a large berth, a dressing seat, and a private head, making the boat feel larger than her length suggests. The cruising focus is equally evident on deck, with substantial double anchor rollers on the stemhead and a large steering console sized to hold modern big-screen navigation aids.
Equipment and Cockpit Detail
Access forward from the transom entryway would be difficult without the Lewmar folding-wheel option, which Cruising World noted as a practical necessity rather than a luxury anchor. The cockpit layout thus balances a serious helming station with a clear walk-through to the bow, and the substantial ground-tackle provision up front signals that the design was meant to anchor out routinely rather than shelter-hop.
The Verdict
Writing in Cruising World, reviewers described the Bavaria 39 Cruiser as a purpose-built cruiser with a roomy, well-organized interior and a hull construction approach that pairs solid lower laminate with cored topsides and Kevlar bow reinforcement. Her close-winded rounding-up under full sail is the one handling caveat, easily managed by earlier reefing, and the rest of the package reads as a considered family coastal cruiser.
Pros
- Three-cabin layout with large forward master berth, dressing seat, and private head
- Full-size nav table and roomy aft head in a 39-foot footprint
- Solid below-waterline hull with Airex coring above and Kevlar-reinforced bow
- Double-nutted stainless keelbolts on the cast-iron ballast
- Folding wheel and large cockpit console suit modern cruising electronics
Cons
- Rounds up strongly in gusts under full sail until reefed
- Along-side saloon galley dictated by cabin count, less sociable than an island
