Bavaria Ocean 38 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The Ocean 38 was built in essentially one interior configuration, though small detail variations exist across the production run. The arrangement centers on the full-beam aft stateroom accessed via a short companionway beneath the center cockpit — the defining feature of the design. Forward, a V-berth cabin serves as a second stateroom, with a filler piece converting the V to a double. The saloon runs along the centerline with a fixed dining table and facing settees, the galley and navigation station positioned amidships near the companionway. The head with an adjoining shower stall is to starboard, accessible from both the saloon and the aft cabin, a practical arrangement for a liveaboard or passage-making couple.

Examples on the brokerage market commonly appear with the aft stateroom laid out in charter-friendly style, with ample hanging locker space and the centerline berth remaining largely as delivered. The forward V-berth is almost universally fitted with the double-conversion filler. Buyers should expect the nav station to feel compact by modern standards — it measured just over 22 inches deep at delivery — and the galley countertop, while serviceable for everyday cooking, becomes tight when the stove is in active use.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used examples typically carry a well-developed electronics suite well beyond the original Autohelm instruments. Chartplotters and VHF radios are commonly fitted, and autopilots are nearly universal — appropriate for a boat that many owners have used for extended coastal and offshore passages. Radar is frequently present, especially on boats that have crossed between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

Furling mainsails are commonly fitted, though buyers considering an in-mast furling main should note that the system requires the sail to be fully hoisted before furling or the tack will scallop and jam. A 150 percent furling genoa is the standard headsail arrangement. Spinnakers and asymmetric spinnakers appear on a meaningful share of listings, reflecting the boat's moderate upwind performance and owners' desire for better light-air sailing. Code zero sails represent a less common but recurring owner upgrade for the same reason.

Teak cockpit seating and sole were standard at delivery on many boats, and teak decks are frequently present on the brokerage market, though their condition varies considerably with age and maintenance history. Biminis are almost universally present. The fixed five-panel windshield that came as standard equipment is a notable feature and often the foundation for full cockpit enclosures that owners have added over the years.

Heating systems are commonly fitted, reflecting the boat's Northern European market and charter history. Solar panels are a frequent owner upgrade, as is an inverter to support domestic loads at anchor. Hot water systems, bow thrusters, and cockpit showers appear often enough to be considered near-standard on well-equipped examples. Life rafts and EPIRBs are frequently listed as equipment, important safety kit to verify is within its service date. Dinghy davits are a less common but present upgrade on boats fitted out for extended cruising.

What to Inspect

The saildrive unit deserves careful attention on any example. Practical Sailor noted that the aluminum saildrive housing is vulnerable to corrosion from stray AC currents in marina environments, and the advice to inspect the unit every 90 days and monitor zincs religiously applies with full force to used examples where maintenance history may be incomplete. Have a diver inspect the saildrive before purchase, and ask specifically about marina shore power use history and whether the boat has ever had galvanic isolation protection fitted.

The Kevlar bow reinforcement and double fiberglass lamination along the centerline and keel flange are structural positives, but the keel-to-hull joint should still be examined closely — look for cracks in the gelcoat along the joint, rust staining from keel bolts, or soft areas in the surrounding laminate. Both deep-draft and shoal-draft keel variants were offered; verify which you are buying and confirm appropriate survey inspection for the keel bolt condition.

Robert Perry noted that the sheeting angle to the chainplates runs close to 16 degrees, wider than ideal for close-winded sailing, but the chainplate installation itself — given the standardized factory build — should be inspected for any signs of deck weeping or staining in the headliner beneath.

The Divinycell-cored hull topsides and deck should be checked for delamination, particularly around deck hardware. Bavaria mounted winches and cleats to bonded aluminum backing plates, which is a robust system, but any hardware that has been moved or added by an owner may not share that standard — probe around secondary installations.

Wiring bundled and clamped at six-inch intervals was a factory standard, and the original installation is generally regarded as tidy, but years of owner additions warrant a full electrical survey. Bronze through-hulls with stainless ball valves were standard; inspect each one for condition and confirm the valves actually turn.

The engine compartment is genuinely accessible — removable companionway steps and a galley panel give four-sided access to the 50-hp Volvo Penta — so a thorough mechanical inspection is feasible. Verify saildrive oil condition and seals, impeller history, and raw-water cooling circuit condition.

On boats fitted with in-mast furling mains, confirm the furling mechanism operates smoothly and that the sail is in serviceable condition; these mains tend to wear at the leech from UV exposure over time and are expensive to replace.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Bavaria Ocean 38's production run was relatively short, which means the pool of available examples is finite rather than abundant. The boat's Mediterranean charter history means the highest concentration of used examples appears in Greece and France, with additional availability in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. North American inventory is lighter, reflecting the boat's stronger European distribution, though examples do appear in the Pacific Northwest and on the East Coast — markets where Bavaria first established its North American presence.

The Ocean 38 suits a buyer who wants genuine two-cabin privacy in a 38-foot package, is willing to accept moderate light-air performance, and values a documented build standard. It is not the right boat for someone who wants to race on weekends or needs exceptional upwind pointing — the wide beam and 16-degree sheeting angle are real limits — but for a couple or small family planning coastal cruising or Mediterranean passages, it delivers comfort and accommodation quality that competes with significantly larger contemporaries.

Before making an offer, verify:

• Saildrive condition, zinc replacement history, and galvanic isolation
• Keel bolt integrity and keel-to-hull joint by a qualified surveyor
• In-mast furling main condition and mechanism function, if fitted
• Electrical system audit, particularly any post-delivery additions
• Through-hull valve condition and operability
• Life raft and EPIRB service dates
• Teak deck condition and any delamination in deck core around hardware
• Engine service history and raw-water cooling circuit