Writing in boats.com, the reviewer described it as an entry-level boat intended to offer excellent value for money. The figures behind that claim are concrete. Its pared-down specification and interior fit-out save around twenty thousand pounds compared with the Cruiser 33, bringing the base price to about fifty thousand pounds and the typical on-the-water cost to seventy thousand pounds including VAT.
Design and Construction
At heart, the Easy 9.7 is a Cruiser 33 with selected features removed rather than a clean-sheet design. Bavaria stripped equipment from an existing model without compromising the quality of the vessel itself. The Easy uses the same 9.75-meter hull, with a 3.42-meter beam, 5,200kg displacement, and 1,300kg of iron ballast.
The hull is slightly narrower than those of some Bavaria competitors. That should reduce wetted surface area and make the Easy more easily driven than a beamier rival of similar length.
The most obvious change above the waterline is the absence of the Cruiser 33’s fold-down transom bathing platform. This gives the Easy a slightly sportier, open-transom appearance that looks more athletic than the cruiser from which it was developed. Construction is GRP throughout, while the tidy deck layout emphasizes simple handling and functional design above and below decks.
Rig and Handling
A reasonably generous sail area of 51 square meters and a close-sheeting headsail promise respectable performance by the standards of out-and-out cruising yachts.
The mainsheet runs to a stainless steel hoop at the forward end of the cockpit table. It isn’t clear of the working area, which is a disadvantage, but its position allows more efficient sail trim and, in turn, easier steering. The helm is within easy reach of the headsail winches, and the tidy deck layout supports simple, precise, and efficient handling by single- or double-handed crews.
Standard deck gear is basic but functional. The Easy has a single wheel rather than following the current fashion for twins. A folding wheel is a better option for easy access to the transom, without the weight and complexity of a twin-wheel installation. Quality sails and improved deck gear would be needed to extract the hull’s full potential.
Accommodation
The accommodation plan closely follows that of the Cruiser 33, so the Easy retains the same interior volume, including a spacious aft cabin. The door to that cabin is optional.
Bavaria saved considerable expense through the semi-open-plan accommodation without significantly reducing interior quality. There’s no forward bulkhead, so the decent-sized forecabin area merges with the saloon. The resulting light and space are more often found aboard a larger yacht; Bavaria itself regards the interior as feeling like that of a 37-foot yacht.
The cost-saving measures remain clearly visible. Deep shelves replace the lockers behind the settee berths. The basic galley has a single sink, a non-gimballed cooker, and a front-loading fridge. Neither the saloon table nor the cockpit table has drop leaves.
The standard layout provides bunks in the stern and bow, a saloon coffee table, a small galley, and an easy-care bathroom unit. It’s intended for weekends or longer trips away, with overnight accommodation for four.
Compromises and Known Issues
The Easy 9.7’s compromises are easy to identify, but they aren’t fundamental to the boat’s operation, enjoyment, or safety.
The most consequential is the basic galley’s non-gimballed cooker. It’s a genuine limitation for anyone who wants to cook at sea rather than in port, as the stove can’t swing with the boat’s motion. Replacing the lockers behind the settee berths with deep shelves also reduces secure stowage below.
The lack of drop leaves on the saloon and cockpit tables limits usable surface area when the boat is at rest with guests. Under sail, the mainsheet’s position within the working area creates a minor trip-and-tangle hazard.
None of these amounts to a structural or safety defect. They’re cost-saving choices left in plain view.
Upgrades and Ownership
Owners aren’t locked into the pared-down specification. Upgrade packages can bring the fit-out more or less in line with the Cruiser 33, either when the boat is first purchased or later.
Over five or ten years, the Easy 9.7 looks likely to be a more economical boat to own in terms of depreciation. It wouldn’t be surprising if used prices for the Easy 9.7 and Cruiser 33 began to converge relative to their original prices when new.
For weekend sailing and port-hopping cruises, the Easy remains an attractive prospect. It is 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. It offers the Cruiser 33’s hull and interior volume at a substantial discount by removing hardware and comforts rather than cutting corners on the boat itself. It suits buyers who can live without a gimballed stove, lockers, and a drop-leaf table but still want the space and handling of a larger yacht.
Pros
- Same hull volume and quality as the Cruiser 33 at a significantly lower price
- Narrow hull should reduce wetted surface area and make the boat easier to drive
- Efficient mainsheet position supports better trim and easier steering
- Tidy deck layout makes single- or double-handed sailing straightforward
- Upgrade packages can restore more or less the Cruiser 33’s fit-out
- Likely to suffer gentler depreciation than typical new boats
Cons
- Non-gimballed cooker limits galley use at sea
- Deep shelves replace secure lockers behind the settee berths
- Mainsheet isn’t clear of the working area
- No drop leaves on the saloon or cockpit tables
- Open transom lacks a fold-down bathing platform
