The meticulous process of constructing a Bavaria yacht involves detailed planning and master craftsmanship, combined with a potential for mass-production. Enter the Bavaria Cruiser 45, a state-of-the-art, German-built boat that checks out on all the safety, stability, performance and comfort conditions, making it one of the best choices for a chartering holiday or a longer sea voyage.
Deck
The Bavaria Cruiser 45 has a hull that is laid up by hand and made up of a combination of chopped strand mat and stitched biaxial mat set in isophthalic polyester resin, stiffened with an inner grid frame. The 45 Cruiser has a nearly plumb bow and carries its beam well aft, with the boat having twin helms and twin rudders. The fractional Selden rig with double aft-swept spreaders carries a 110 % jib and a full-batten mainsail, with the control lines leading aft so there is plenty of room to move around. The twin helm stations are located a little to the right aft, with steering positions being comfortable at all heeling angles and excellent visibility provided from the helm. The cockpit is also well designed and spacious, providing ample of room for passengers to laze around the large fixed cockpit table.
The storage solution in the cockpit is excellent, including two large lockers and a massive lazarette, concealing all the necessary emergency equipment needed on a boat this size. In 18 knots of true windspeed, the Bavaria Cruiser 45 will be able to accomplish 7 to 8 knots of speed, at an apparent wind angle of 40 degrees. Using the standard 55 horsepower Volvo engine, the Bavaria can cruise at about 7 knots at 2200 RPM. It is possible (and recommended) to upgrade to the 75hp engine because of the somewhat larger weight displacement, enabling the Bavaria 45 to achieve speeds up to 9 knots at 2800 RPM.
Below deck
The Bavaria Cruiser 45 hides many smart solutions and well thought designs below deck. The numerous deck hatches provide ample of natural lighting in the saloon or in the cabins, whilst in the same time compensating for the somewhat poorer ventilation capabilities of the 45. The twin aft cabins contain big berths with an ensuite toilette facility. The galley features ample of work surfaces, a two-burner stove with an integrated oven, a microwave and a smaller sized refrigerator. The great feature is the railing that runs the entire length of the galley, providing an excellent handhold which also stops things on the work surface from flying around. The saloon is spacious and comfortable, with the inline galley housed port side and containing masses of storage space and counter space, with a small double sink. The settees around the dinette table can sit up to 6 people comfortably, with the wideness of the settees being a problem if someone would want to sleep in the saloon, but with plenty of storage space beneath them. An interesting feature considers the seatback arrangement, which allows for the configuration of the backrest by repositioning a cushion. The positioning and the scale of the NAV desk within the saloon is reasonable, with some room left for auxiliary electronics. The master cabin is enormous, boasting a double berth with masses of storage spaces and surfaces. The toilette is separated, with one part containing the toilet and the other the shower compartment. In other variations of the Bavaria Cruiser 45, the forward stateroom can also be split into two separate sleeping compartments.
Conclusion
The more traditional design of the cockpit in the Bavaria Cruiser 45 is comparable to other ships in the same category. Where the Bavaria 45 stands out is the exceptional performance she gives under strong winds and unpleasant weather conditions, thanks to the double helm - double rudder system. The Bavaria Cruiser 45 combines all the best of both worlds - it is a successful performance boat and a comfortable cruising vessel.