Design and Construction
The Cruiser 49 measures just over fifty feet overall, with a beam of nearly fourteen and a half feet. Displacement is around 24,200 pounds, including 8,580 pounds of iron ballast, while draft is just under six feet.
Both the hull and deck are fiberglass, with a foam-cored sandwich deck that provides stiffness without excessive weight. The boat has a low, very extended deckhouse, high bulwarks that visually wrap the hull, a wide transom, and comfortable side decks that make it easier to move forward.
J&J Design gave the Cruiser 49 a length-to-beam ratio of 3.44 and a displacement-length ratio of 136. Survey literature places it among "light racers", a category in which 86% of comparable designs are heavier. The roomy hull is also said to be more spacious than 58% of similar designs. Together, those figures help explain how the boat provides considerable interior volume without being a heavy-displacement slug.
The stability figures are less flattering. A capsize screening value of 2.03 falls outside the accepted range for ocean-racing participation, marking the Cruiser 49 as a coastal and offshore cruiser rather than a sanctioned racer. Its Motion Comfort Ratio of 22.9 is modest—more comfortable than only 12% of similar sailboat designs. Although the boat is stable, that metric doesn’t place it among the gentlest riders in a seaway.
The theoretical hull speed is 8.8 knots, and the immersion rate is about 2,198 pounds per inch. These figures complete the picture of a boat that loads predictably and carries plenty of volume without extreme draft.
Rig, Deck, and Handling
The deck-stepped mast carries a medium-sized sail plan built around a large furling genoa. Twin cockpit winches handle the standard genoa, while two winches per halyard and a deckhouse-mounted mainsheet organize the sail controls for a cruising crew.
The twin-wheel arrangement and welcoming cockpit, fitted with a folding table and bimini top, suit the boat’s role as a 100% cruising sailboat and one of the more enduring models in the Bavaria range. The high bulwarks provide protection on deck, though they also add to the boat’s substantial windage.
Accommodations
Below deck, the Cruiser 49 has five spacious cabins, good headroom, and berths for ten to twelve people. Three heads serve the accommodation plan, which clearly targets charter fleets and family cruising.
Fine wood furniture finishes the sleeping areas. In the saloon, a large dining table is surrounded by a U-shaped settee, with a single settee opposite. The practical galley includes an oven, double sink, double refrigerator, and icebox. A comfortable chart table is positioned to starboard.
The cockpit also works as a social space. Its folding table and bimini make it well suited to warm-weather lounging.
Known Issues and Trade-Offs
The main caveats come from the design’s classification figures rather than specific reported defects. The capsize screening value excludes the boat from accepted ocean-racing parameters, while its Motion Comfort Ratio places it in the lower tier among comparable designs. A buyer should weigh those figures against the boat’s intended use rather than treat them as faults.
The Verdict
The Bavaria Cruiser 49 is a roomy, lightly built cruiser with a practical deck-stepped rig and a volume-driven interior that outperforms most comparably sized designs for space. It’s best understood as a fair-weather and coastal-offshore cruiser rather than a bluewater racer. Its comfort metrics are unremarkable, but its accommodations are generous.
Pros
- Spacious five-cabin, three-head layout with good headroom
- Light-displacement hull with more room than most similar designs
- Practical cruising rig with a furling genoa and twin genoa winches
- Deck-stepped mast and extended deckhouse
- Protected, open cockpit
Cons
- Capsize screening value falls outside ocean-racing acceptance
- Motion Comfort Ratio is below that of most similar designs
- High bulwarks increase windage
