Design and Construction
Peterson's hand in the 38 Match shows in a hull built from hand-laid fiberglass by Bavaria Yachtbau, with a solid laminate and a fin keel whose early documentation cites an iron casting in some records and a lead keel in the launch specifications. The deck is solid fiberglass. A racing open transom gives efficient self-draining in heavy weather, and the lowered toe rail aft lets the crew sit out comfortably when the boat is heeled. Below the waterline, a deep elliptical balanced rudder turns on a stainless duplex shaft with self-adjusting pendulum bearings, a setup that rewards precise helm feel. The boat's proportions place her among light racers by displacement-length measure, and her beamy hull ranks roomier than roughly two-thirds of comparable designs.
Rig and Handling
The 38 Match carries a fractional rig with a choice of aluminium or carbon-fibre keel-stepped mast and rod rigging throughout. Harken Quatro winches and deck gear, Spectra halyards, and Spinlock halyard stoppers outfit the deck, and a carbon wheel sits ahead of an ergonomic helmsman's seat giving clear sightlines past the crew. An uncluttered cockpit was deliberately laid out for easy sail handling and crew work, and the comprehensive racing specification extends to a folding propeller that minimizes drag under sail. With a sail-area-to-displacement stance that ranks her faster than the vast majority of similar designs, she is built to move.
Accommodations
Inside, owners could choose two- or three-cabin arrangements sleeping up to eight, with the two-cabin version documented at six berths and a mahogany interior. The saloon holds a comfortable settee around a removable table, and the navigation station provides a full chart table with generous instrument space and stowage. A galley, fresh-water capacity near 40 gallons, a toilet, and an 80-liter waste-water tank round out the cruising baseline, while optional comforts such as teak decks, hot water, showers, and refrigerators were offered from the factory. The open, practical interior balances the boat's race-ready deck.
Propulsion and Performance
Power comes from a Volvo Penta diesel, either the MD2030 at 29 horsepower or the later D1-30 at 28, both through a saildrive with a folding propeller. Either installation drives her at a six-knot cruise and eight-knot top under power, while the theoretical displacement-hull speed sits near 7.8 knots. A capsize-screening value near 1.95 and a motion-comfort ratio in the low 20s place her firmly in the lively, performance-oriented end of the cruiser-racer spectrum rather than the pillow-soft cruiser class.
Refits and Ownership
Because the 38 Match was offered with both aluminium and carbon masts plus a deep performance rudder, prospective owners should confirm which rig and keel configuration a given boat carries, as these materially change handling and value. The saildrive and folding propeller are service-sensitive items worth tracking, and the open transom's drainage should be kept clear. Factory options like refrigeration and heating were owner-selected, so fitted equipment varies hull to hull.
The Verdict
The Bavaria 38 Match is a purposeful racer-cruiser that brought genuine race-breeding to a volume builder's range, with a Peterson-designed hull, thorough deck gear, and a roomy, practical interior. She rewards sailors who want speed without abandoning cruising amenities, though her light-racer character and saildrive upkeep are not for the purely casual.
Pros
- Peterson-designed light-racer hull with strong relative speed performance
- Uncluttered cockpit and race-grade deck hardware (Harken, rod rigging, carbon wheel)
- Roomy beamy interior with two- or three-cabin flexibility
- Efficient self-draining open transom and low drag under sail
Cons
- Saildrive and folding prop require disciplined maintenance
- Light-racer motion and low comfort ratio versus softer cruisers
- Configuration variance (mast, keel, options) demands careful individual inspection
