Bavaria Cruiser 49 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The Bavaria Cruiser 49 was offered in more than one interior configuration, and charter four-cabin layouts are the more common arrangement encountered on the used market, though the five-cabin, three-head owner's version surfaces regularly enough that buyers with a preference should not feel constrained. In the four-cabin charter fit, the forward cabins are typically symmetrical doubles, the aft cabins are generous queen-berth compartments, and the saloon is dominated by a wide U-shaped dinette with a chart table to starboard. The five-cabin variant sacrifices some saloon space to add a cabin amidships, which suits liveaboard families or long passages with rotating watches. The galley is positioned aft of the saloon across all layouts, with a double sink, a double fridge, and an oven as standard equipment. Headroom throughout is generous, and the large deckhouse windows make the saloon feel far brighter than most boats of this era. The double-wheel cockpit with its folding table and wide transoms was a Bavaria signature; the layout is social and practical, with both helm stations giving a clear view of the rig.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Boats coming out of charter or active Mediterranean ownership tend to arrive well equipped. A bow thruster, bimini, autopilot, chartplotter, teak side decks, radar, and a cockpit shower are commonly fitted across the fleet, with heating and an inverter appearing on the majority of examples that have seen northern European or year-round use. Solar panels and electric winches are also widely seen, particularly on boats that have had recent refits or long offshore passages where self-sufficiency matters. An AIS transponder, furling mainsail, and life raft are often present, though buyers should verify age and certification on safety gear regardless of its presence on the listing. Air conditioning, dinghy davits, a wind generator, a dodger, and a hot-water calorifier are owner upgrades found on a meaningful share of boats — the dodger in particular is a practical addition that many long-passage owners have added given the cockpit's exposure. Epirbs are sometimes fitted and should be inspected for registration and expiry regardless. Lithium battery banks appear on a smaller but growing proportion of the fleet, typically as part of a comprehensive electrical refit.

What to Inspect

The Bavaria Cruiser 49's light displacement and beamy hull carry a capsize screening value that places it outside ocean-racing acceptance thresholds, and its motion comfort ratio sits below average for its class — numbers that reflect a hull built for Mediterranean sailing rather than deep-ocean passages. For buyers intending bluewater passages, this is worth discussing with a delivery skipper or offshore-experienced surveyor before committing.

The saildrive installation on the Volvo Penta D2 75HP deserves close attention. Saildrive bellows are a consumable item with a finite service life, and a failed bellows is a flooding event: the condition and service history of the saildrive bellows and seal ring should be a non-negotiable part of any survey. Confirm when the bellows were last replaced and by whom, and factor a replacement into your offer if the documentation is absent or the interval is approaching. Engine hours matter considerably on a boat that may have logged substantial time under power in light Mediterranean airs — request the logbook and maintenance records if they exist.

Teak decks, widely fitted, are attractive but demand scrutiny. Check for soft spots around fastenings, delamination along the caulking seams, and any areas where the teak has worn thin enough to allow moisture ingress into the deck core. Deck core moisture is a common finding on heavily used charter boats of this vintage, and a moisture meter reading across the entire deck surface should be standard procedure. The chainplates and mast step deserve similar attention: check for cracking or staining in the headliner around the shroud bases, and inspect the deck fitting for signs of movement or weeping. Running rigging on any boat from this production run is likely overdue for replacement unless documented, and standing rigging should be checked for broken strands, swage cracks, and toggle wear. The furling genoa and any furling mainsail should be inspected for UV damage along the leach and foot, as these are expensive items to replace. Galley and head plumbing — seacocks, hose runs, and through-hull fittings — should be operated and inspected by the surveyor; neglected seacocks on a boat of this age can seize or fail.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Bavaria Cruiser 49 is widely available on the used market, with the strongest concentrations in Italy, Greece, Croatia, and France reflecting its decades of Mediterranean charter and private use. A healthy secondary market exists across the United States and the US Virgin Islands, where boats that crossed the Atlantic or were delivered new for Caribbean charter duty now circulate through brokers familiar with the type. The boat's popularity in the charter world is a double-edged asset: it means parts, service knowledge, and rigging specialists are easy to find at most Mediterranean and Caribbean bases, but it also means a significant proportion of available boats have led hard commercial lives.

Before making an offer, work through this checklist:

• Obtain the complete service history including saildrive bellows replacement records
• Commission a full out-of-water survey with a moisture meter sweep of the entire deck
• Test all seacocks, through-hulls, and bilge pumps
• Inspect standing rigging, chainplates, and mast step for corrosion or movement
• Verify age, certification, and registration on life raft, EPIRB, and flares
• Assess teak deck condition for worn-through sections and soft spots around fastenings
• Run the engine to operating temperature and check raw-water impeller service history
• Review the sail inventory for UV degradation and check both furling systems under load
• Confirm battery bank condition and age, and audit the DC electrical system
• Ask for logbook records to understand actual usage pattern and passage history