Bavaria Vision 42 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available. The two-cabin arrangement gives an expansive forward owner’s cabin and a large aft storage zone in place of the starboard bunk, with a port double that splits into two singles and a dinette that drops to a berth. The three-cabin version trades that storage for a second aft sleeping space. Saloon headroom is a generous 6 feet 9 inches, and the offset companionway adds volume below. The L-shaped galley has an inboard counter for rough-weather cooking, and the nav table folds down to a short settee.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used Vision 42s commonly carry a chartplotter, autopilot, heating, bimini, bow thruster, furling main, electric winches, teak decks, cockpit shower, life raft, inverter, and solar, which together mean a buyer can expect push-button short-handed sailing and decent house-power autonomy without immediate upgrades. Often-seen additions include AIS, hot water, dodger, air conditioning, freezer, and radar. Less common but worth noting as owner upgrades are a swim platform, asymmetric spinnaker, and EPIRB. The proprietary Dock Control bow-and-stern thruster package was a factory option and is a real asset in tight marinas.

What to Inspect

The hull is an e-glass/Divinicell foam core sandwich above the waterline and solid glass below, all hand-laid, with a fiberglass grid bonded inside and secured by the keel bolts anchor. Check the inward-turning flange where the cored deck and cabinhouse meet the hull for any separation. The deck-stepped Seldén mast and recessed jib tracks should be examined for sealant integrity at the house penetrations. Testers noted the joinery has a few rough edges, so inspect locker faces and trim for movement or poor bonding. Confirm the double mainsheet tackle blocks on the cabintop are serviceable, since there is no traveler. Engine access is excellent on this model, so verify the Volvo Penta D2-40 service points and the three-blade fixed prop.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

These boats typically appear in Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Croatia, the United States, and Canada. For a buyer, the checklist is simple: choose two- versus three-cabin early; confirm thruster and solar fit-out against your cruising style; inspect the hull-to-deck flange and mast seals; and verify the mainsheet system and joinery condition. The Vision 42 remains a spacious, capable coastal and ocean-passage cruiser with strong liveaboard credentials.