BoatsBavaria Yachts 36

Bavaria Yachts 36

Masthead Sloop · Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder · 1998–2000

A 1998-2000 production cruiser featuring a high 21.12 sail area-to-displacement ratio for its 11.55-meter hull

Designed by J&J Yacht Design.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder

See her sail

The Bavaria Yachts 36, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Sailing Nova Vita

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 20 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 20
CoastalBluewater

2.12 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.12
LightHeavy

180 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 180
EasygoingPowered-up

21.1 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 21.1
TenderStiff

33% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 33%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

What the fleet has seen

The Bavaria Yachts 36, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Bavaria Yachts 36 is a 1998–2000 masthead sloop designed by J&J Yacht Design, measuring 11.6 meters LOA with a 3.7-meter beam and 1.9-meter draft. *Nova Vita*, a Bavaria Yachts 36, completed an Atlantic circuit, including a 28-day, 2,530-mile passage from Saint Martin to Horta, Faial, and a 14-day, 1,400-mile passage from the Azores to Plymouth, UK.17:43 During the Atlantic crossing, the crew contended with frequent squalls up to 30 knots, extended calms requiring engine use, and a snapped wind vane.5:38 A damaged shroud necessitated a temporary repair with Dyneema and eye bolts, forcing the crew to carry a third reef and extend the passage.18:51 The crew used PredictWind for routing but found forecasts shifted frequently.10:09 A Lofrans Cobra windlass motor failed after 14 months, requiring replacement.2:02 Aboard *Nova Vita*, the crew navigated dense sargassum weed in the Caribbean and relied on AIS and radar for safety in high-traffic areas like the Isles of Scilly.3:35

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

The channels sailing this model, and where they were last seen.

Sailing Nova VitaJohn and Alison document their long-distance cruising adventures aboard the Bavaria 36 Nova Vita, focusing on technical repairs and navigating Atlantic passages.

Seen 52 times across 2 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Bavaria Yachts 36 on video

MD2030 Saildrive bellows installation on BavariaInstalling a Volvo Penta MD2030 saildrive bellows and repairing a worn propeller shaft with a Speedy Sleeve.Sailing Nova VitaAzores to UK 2026 : Pt 3 : ARRIVAL in PLMYOUTHNova Vita completes a 1,400-mile passage from the Azores to Plymouth using radar and AIS for safety.Sailing Nova VitaMD2030 Damper plate repairMD2030 damper plate rubber inserts replaced for £80 using EU Rubber parts instead of a £1,500 assembly.Sailing Nova VitaSAILING Azores to UK 2026 - part 2Nova Vita transits the North Atlantic toward Plymouth, UK, while testing Lomo foul-weather gear in variable conditions.Sailing Nova VitaSAILING - Azores to UK 2026 - part 1The crew of Nova Vita routes west of the Azores High to maintain wind-powered sailing toward Plymouth.Sailing Nova VitaPonta Delgada Fireworks New Year 2026Nova Vita rings in 2026 at Ponta Delgada's New Year fireworks.Sailing Nova VitaSAILING the AZORES - Horta to Sao Miguel - FOULED ANCHORA Lofrans Cobra windlass fails at 14 months while a fouled anchor delays departure from Horta.Sailing Nova VitaAtlantic crossing - WEST to EAST - Arrival in HORTA - Pt 5A damaged shroud repaired with Dyneema stretches a Caribbean-to-Azores crossing to 28 days.Sailing Nova VitaAtlantic crossing - WEST to EAST - RIGGING AND INSTRUMENT BREAKAGES! - Pt 4A crew reinforces a broken shroud with Dyneema and sails under headsail only to preserve the rig.Sailing Nova VitaMIXED UP WEATHER - ATLANTIC crossing - WEST to EAST- part 3The crew of *Nova Vita* navigates shifting Atlantic weather systems and equipment failures during a passage to the Azores.Sailing Nova VitaAtlantic crossing -WEST to EAST - Part 2 - calm and gentle sailingThe Bavaria Yachts 36 *Nova Vita* maintains a slow pace during an Atlantic crossing due to light winds.Sailing Nova VitaAtlantic Crossing - WEST to EAST - Part 1 - and away we go...The crew of *Nova Vita* navigates light winds and sargassum during the first five days of a transatlantic.Sailing Nova Vita

What broke, what changed

Gear aboard, as the crews told it

Moments from individual boats of this model that the fleet has filmed — one crew, one piece of kit, one day on the water. Not a review of the class, and not a count of anything.

  • FailedRaymarine

    The boats Raymarine instruments stopped working, losing wind and depth readouts.

    aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen December 20252:02

  • FailedGoPro

    The GoPro failed during the Atlantic crossing, so the crew is using phones for filming.

    aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen May 202510:31

  • InstalledDyneema

    Dyneema was used with shackles to lash and reinforce a broken lower inner shroud.

    aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen November 202511:26

  • WorkingVolvo

    The speaker received a kit of parts from Volvo for the saildrive.

    aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen September 20260:35

  • WorkingPredictWind

    The crew uses PredictWind for routing but finds its suggested angles are sometimes too tight for their boats sailing style.

    aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen November 20251:32

  • WorkingIridium

    The satellite communication device is charging and functioning well on board.

    aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen October 20253:12

  • WorkingNavionics

    The crew used a tablet with Navionics for navigation when other instruments failed.

    aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen April 20251:54

Each line is one crew's account of their own boat. Another Bavaria Yachts 36 may be fitted out entirely differently.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
33.2%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
21.1
Displacement / length
179.8
Comfort ratio
20.1
Capsize screening
2.12
Hull speed
7.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1330
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Iron
Production
Years built
1998–2000
Designer
J&J Yacht Design
Builder
Bavaria Yachts

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Bavaria Yachts 3711.55 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA short-lived production model from 2000-2001, formerly marketed as the Bavaria 36, featuring a masthead sloop rig
Camping On Boat With My Girlfriend - Sailing and surviving the BIG swell12:48from The Paper Boat Project (Stefan Heiberg)
Beneteau Idylle 115011.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA shoal-draft cruiser with a 1.33-metre keel, designed by Jean Berret for comfortable coastal passage-making
Why I HATED Selling My Sailboat!!!1:35from Adventureman Dan
Beneteau Oceanis 39011.68 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Philippe Briand-designed masthead sloop featuring a spacious beam and an optional wing keel for shoal draft versatility
Manwë Odyssey Bonus03 - Making fender coversfrom Manwë Odyssey
Etap 38i11.57 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop featuring a shallow-draft wing keel, designed for stable cruising and built between 1989 and 1997
SUNBRELLA COMPANIONWAY DODGERfrom VOILIER ODIN
Beneteau 39311.63 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop offering a shallow 1.55m draft option for coastal access, built with a high-volume hull since 2002
Caribbean Sailboat for $80k?! YES! Ep 228 - Lady K Sailing6:32from Lady K Sailing
Ericson Yachts 3811.48 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Bruce King-designed masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performance
Audiobook Released: "The long Voyage Home," an Autobiography with 20 Sailboats"from Christian Williams

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Bavaria Yachts 37A short-lived production model from 2000-2001, formerly marketed as the Bavaria 36, featuring a masthead sloop rigBavaria Yachts 36 (2002-2004)A fractional sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, designed by J&J for efficient cruising in a 36-foot packageBavaria Yachts Cruiser 36 (Farr)A 2010 Farr-designed fractional sloop featuring a 1.97-metre draft and a 3.67-metre beam for stable coastal cruisingBavaria Yachts 39A 12-meter fractional sloop with a 2.0-meter draft and a 37.8% ballast ratio, built for stability and cruising speedBavaria Yachts 370A 37-foot masthead sloop with a 35% ballast ratio, designed for stable, comfortable cruising in a 1991 packageBavaria Yachts 31A J&J-designed fractional sloop with a fin keel and bulb, built for performance and stability in a compact 10-meter hull

Keep asking

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