Bavaria Easy 9.7 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Easy 9.7 is, at its core, a Cruiser 33 with features removed rather than a clean-sheet design. Bavaria created it by stripping out some features from an existing model without compromising on the quality of the vessel itself, and the result rides on the same 9.75-meter hull with a 3.42-meter beam and 5,200kg displacement backed by 1,300kg of iron ballast. The hull is a little narrower than some of Bavaria's competition, which should reduce wetted surface area and make the boat more easily driven than a beamier rival of similar length. Above the waterline the most obvious deletion is the fold-down transom bathing platform of the Cruiser 33; its absence gives a slightly sportier open transom appearance and an open stern that reads as more athletic than the cruiser it descends from. The material is GRP throughout, and the deck layout is tidy, with simple handling and functional design above and below decks.

Rig and Handling

On the water, the Easy 9.7 promises reasonable performance by the standards of out-and-out cruising yachts thanks to a reasonably generous sail area of 51 square meters and a close-sheeting headsail. The mainsheet is handled from a stainless steel hoop at the forward end of the cockpit table — a position that has the disadvantage of not being clear of the working area but makes it easier to maintain more efficient sail trim, which in turn pays off in easier steering. The helmsman sits within easy reach of the headsail winches, and the tidy deck layout makes handling simple, precise, and efficient for single or double-handed crews. Standard deck gear is basic but functional, and the boat carries only a single wheel, eschewing the current fashion for twin wheels; a folding wheel is a better option to allow easy access to the transom without the weight and complexity of a twin installation. To extract the full potential from the hull, quality sails and improved deck gear would be needed.

Accommodations

Inside, the accommodation plan is similar to the Cruiser 33 and you still get the same volume, including a spacious aft cabin, though the door for that cabin is an option. A considerable amount of expense was saved in the semi-open plan accommodation without significantly reducing interior quality, and the lack of a forward bulkhead means the decent-sized forecabin area merges with the saloon, creating a feeling of space and light normally encountered on a larger yacht — Bavaria itself regards the interior as feeling like a 37-foot yacht. Practical deletions are visible: the lockers behind the settee berths have been replaced by deep shelves, the galley is a basic unit with a single sink and a non-gimballed cooker, and there is a front-loading fridge. Both saloon and cockpit tables lack drop leaves. The standard layout includes bunks in the stern and bow, a saloon coffee table, a small galley, and an easy-care bathroom unit, catering for weekending or longer trips away with overnight accommodation for four.

Known Issues

The known compromises on this model are easy to spot but are not fundamental to the operation, enjoyment, or safety of the boat. The most consequential is the non-gimballed cooker in a basic galley — a real limitation for anyone cooking at sea rather than in port, since the stove cannot swing with the motion. The deletion of lockers behind the settee berths in favor of deep shelves reduces secure stowage below, and the absence of drop leaves on both tables limits usable surface area when the boat is at rest with guests. That mainsheet lead is not clear of the working area, a minor trip-and-tangle hazard under sail. None of these rise to structural or safety defects; they are cost-saving choices laid bare.

Refits and Ownership

Owners are not locked into the pared-down specification. It is possible to buy packages to upgrade the fit-out to more or less match that of the Cruiser 33, either at initial purchase or later. Looking at the ownership arc, the Easy 9.7 looks likely to be a more economic boat to own in terms of depreciation five or ten years down the line, and it would not be surprising if used prices of the Easy 9.7 and the Cruiser 33 start to converge relative to their original price when new. For weekenders and port-hopping cruisers it remains an attractive prospect, and it stands as the lowest-priced model in Bavaria's main sailing yacht range by a significant margin apart from the much smaller B/One sportsboat.

The Verdict

The Easy 9.7 is a clever piece of product engineering: a genuine Cruiser 33 hull and interior volume sold at a sharp discount by deleting hardware rather than cutting corners on the boat itself. It rewards the buyer who can live without a gimballed stove, lockers, and a drop-leaf table but wants the space and handling of a larger yacht.

Pros