Design and Construction
Bavaria laid the hull up by hand in its European production facility using chopped-strand mat and biaxial fabric in isophthalic polyester resin, then cored it with Coremat below the waterline and Airex foam above, reinforcing the structure with a top-hat internal grid anchor. The deck is likewise Airex-cored and screwed and bonded to the hull on a generous internal flange. Boats sent to the United States received an epoxy barrier coat for improved blister resistance. The ballast keel is iron, and the yacht draws 6 feet 8 inches standard or 5 feet 5 inches shoal, carrying 6,131 pounds of ballast against 19,135 pounds displacement on a 12-foot-11-inch beam.
Rig and Handling
The split twin-wheel helm gives the Cruiser 40 twin steering stations in the cockpit, yet she does not carry twin rudders — steering loads run through a single rudder anchor. The mainsheet uses two separate sheets in a bridle led forward along the boom and back to coachroof winches, paired with a powerful mechanical vang. The blade jib sheets lead to winches at the forward end of the cockpit coamings. No primary sail control can be reached from the helm, so trimming is a crew function rather than a helmsman's. Test sailors on Chesapeake Bay found the helm response crisp and accurate, and the yacht easy to control while backing down, with a turning radius at speed of about one and a quarter boatlengths.
Accommodations
Below, the test boat showed a three-cabin layout with two aft staterooms beneath the cockpit and a large owner's stateroom forward with an ensuite head, while a two-cabin version swaps the port aft cabin for a large storage area. The aft cabins are well arranged with a dressing area and decent headroom over the berth, though the double berth has a kink at its inboard shoulder to make room for the engine compartment. The saloon dinette seats seven easily and its settee can sleep an extra guest; the galley runs Euro-style along the port side, and a dedicated nav station sits behind it with a rather small desk. Headroom is 6 feet 4 inches, with a 6-foot-9 by 6-foot-8 forward berth and 6-foot-8 by 5-foot-4 aft berths. Buyers could choose oak, mahogany, or walnut joinery.
Cockpit and Deck
The cockpit is comfortable and functional, with long bench seats and high coamings for back support around a fixed table with folding leaves. A large fold-down swim platform uses a hydraulic hinge that increases resistance as it drops, preventing a sudden slam. The deck carries aggressive antiskid and numerous well-sized cleats, and an anchor rode locker has a small deck inspection hatch, though physical access is through a gasketed hatch behind the forward cabin bulkhead.
Known Issues
That forward cabin hatch to the anchor rode locker can be obstructed by an overstacked pile of chain inside anchor. This is the one documented design quirk affecting routine ground-tackle service.
The Verdict
The Cruiser 40 is a thoughtfully engineered volume cruiser: her Farr hull and BMW-styled deckhouse read modern, her construction is conventional solid-fiberglass-with-core, and her cockpit ergonomics suit a cruising couple or family. Light-air performance under minimal canvas was modest in testing, but her helm and maneuvering impressed. The chain-locker access limitation is a real but manageable nuisance.
Pros
- Crisp, accurate helm with tight turning radius and easy backing
- Roomy three-cabin or two-cabin layouts with 6ft 4in headroom
- Well-structured hull with U.S. epoxy barrier coat and top-hat grid
- Twin helms, comfortable cockpit, cleverly damped swim platform
Cons
- Forward cabin chain-locker hatch can be blocked by excess chain
- No primary sail controls reachable from the helm
- Light-air speed under furling main and small jib was only 2–3 knots
- Iron ballast keel rather than lead
