Bavaria Cruiser 45 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The collaboration between Bavaria, Farr, and Designworks produced a hull that departs meaningfully from the marque's older lineage. Laminating bulkheads to the hull and deck, fitting abundant sturdy handholds gave the structure a reassurance that earlier Bavaria cruisers lacked. New tray moulds contribute to structural stiffness, encapsulating the keel top, and the laminating process is described as markedly more detailed than what preceded it. Exaggerated freeboard feeds directly into the towering headroom below and the flush hatches and windows carry a build cost, yet Bavaria managed to keep the end price down — a balance that defines the model's commercial proposition. The fold-down transom lowers electronically to produce a huge swim and bathing platform, one of the most commented-upon features of the entire Cruiser range.

Rig, Sails, and Handling

Upwind in a Force 4 gusting 5, the Cruiser 45 settled into early 7-knot speeds at 40 to 45 degrees to the true wind, a creditable figure for a 14-metre production cruiser. What the boat trades in tactile feedback it returns in seakindliness — she kept consistent speed without slamming through a 1.5 to 2-metre swell, a quality that becomes especially apparent off the wind and down below. Cracked off to a reach, commendable passagemaking speeds of 8.5 knots in 15 knots of wind confirm the Farr hull's offshore intent.

The standard sail plan is a Seldén in-mast furling main with vertical battens, which — aided by good luff tension from the Seldén mast profile — produces impressive roach and shape for an in-mast sail. Twin rudders give good tracking and an improvement in rudder angle over the original design for the 55 makes the 45 feel tidier in manoeuvres. Under engine the boat is obedient, though the steering doesn't feel direct despite using a steel-link system — a characteristic owners learn to work with rather than around.

Cockpit and Deck

The flat, low coachroof delivers clear views forward from the helm position, and lift-up sole plates give the helmsman secure footing. Cockpit stowage is a genuine strength: a deflated tender could fit in any of the three large lockers, with the central under-sole locker particularly capacious. The helmsman's seat lifts to expose engine controls, and an optional Gori overdrive prop lets the boat rack up good speed under power. One ergonomic penalty is the split backstay arrangement, which restricts seated comfort in the after quarters of the cockpit — worth noting before configuring the stern area for extended passagemaking watches.

Accommodations

The Cruiser 45's interior is its defining achievement. Headroom throughout runs to 6ft 10in in the aft cabins and 6ft 8in forward — a pro basketball player would be quite content in any of the cabins. The aft doubles are genuine doubles with room to move, and excellent machinery space and good engine access between cabins is an unusual bonus at this size. Each cabin carries its own en-suite, where a 6ft 3in person can stand upright under the shower — a luxury that reshuffles the competitive set for charter operators and liveaboards alike.

The saloon merges galley, dining, and navigation into a single open-plan level with no steps, giving the space an apartment feel that appeals to less salty buyers. The linear galley gains practicality from an L-shaped aft end and sturdy bracing against the saloon seat, and the combined fridge arrangement is generous. The forward master can be configured as a grand double or as optional twin doubles, with the berth big enough to sleep a couple athwartships as well as fore and aft.

Known Shortcomings

Interior stowage is a persistent criticism across every cabin. Lockers throughout are wanting — particularly notable in the aft cabins and the forward cabin where open layout substitutes visibility for practical storage. The galley musters only a two-burner stove with limited room to gimbal and a handful of small raised lockers. More pointed is the absence of a dedicated navigation seat: losing a dedicated navigation area to the heads on this size of boat speaks volumes about its market. The nav area exists, but it is an afterthought rather than a workstation, which will matter to anyone planning extended offshore passages. The large bulwark panel surfaces below make for a rather monotonous appearance regardless of veneer choice, and the companionway is narrow and steep.

The Verdict

The Bavaria Cruiser 45 does precisely what it sets out to do: deliver a serious amount of boat — volume, headroom, en-suite heads across all cabins, and a respectable offshore hull — at a price the competition has difficulty matching. The Farr pedigree is real, the construction improvements over earlier Bavarias are tangible, and the sailing manners are honest if not inspiring. Where the design makes concessions, it does so transparently and in service of a specific buyer who values living space and ease of handling over navigation-station ergonomics and locker count.

Pros