BoatsBavaria Yachts 38 Cruiser (2008-2010)

Bavaria Yachts 38 Cruiser (2008-2010)

Fractional Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 2008–2010

A J&J-designed fractional sloop balancing a 1.97m draft with a spacious 3.9m beam for stable coastal cruising

Designed by J&J Yacht Design.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

See her sail

The Bavaria Yachts 38 Cruiser (2008-2010), on the water

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

Footage from SEILmagasinet

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 24 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 24
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.04
LightHeavy

207 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 207
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 18.9
TenderStiff

29% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 29%

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

  • Beamier than ~76% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2913 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Bavaria Yachts 38 Cruiser (2008-2010), 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 38 CRUISER (2008-2010) is a fractional sloop with a fin and spade rudder, designed by J&J Yacht Design and built by Bavaria Yachts. It has an LOA of 11.7 meters, a beam of 3.9 meters, and a draft of 2.0 meters, displacing 7199 kg. The model was produced from 2008 to 2010. It features a standard main sail of 28.8 square meters, with an optional fully battened main sail of 33.1 square meters and a furling genoa (150%) of 41 square meters.3:58 An optional shallow keel reduces the draft to 1.6 meters, and an optional bow water tank adds 150 liters of capacity. Its loaded displacement is 8,710 kg, and it holds a CE category A rating. A review by SEILmagasinet noted that older Bavaria 38 models, compared to newer designs like the Bavaria Cruiser 34, have less emphasis on outdoor living space and large swim platforms.2:29

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Bavaria Yachts 38 Cruiser (2008-2010) on video

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
29.2%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
18.9
Displacement / length
206.8
Comfort ratio
24.0
Capsize screening
2.04
Hull speed
7.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1486
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Cast Iron
Production
Years built
2008–2010
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.

Feeling 3911.70 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Philippe Briand-designed masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio built for performance cruising
FULL Sailboat Tour [Can Be Beached, Cross An Ocean, Spacious Liveaboard, BEST Modern Sailboat]38:27from Adventureman Dan
RM Yachts 118011.80 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Marc Lombard-designed performance cruiser featuring a wide beam, dual rudders, and a powerful cutter rig
Why This "Wooden" Sailboat Is Faster, Warmer, and Stronger - the RM 11800:47from Practical Sailor
Beneteau First 38s511.66 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Philippe Starck-designed fractional sloop built for performance, also marketed to the charter trade as the Moorings 38
Life is Like Sailing - Beneteau 38 Boat Tour - Part 20:22from Life is Like Sailing
Cal 3911.79 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthIntroduced just before the IOR rule shift, this masthead sloop features a fin keel and rudder on a skeg
We Do An Electrical Audit On A 40 Year Old Cal 39 Sailboat (We FOUND A LOT Of Mistakes)0:09from Pacific Yacht Systems
Sadler Yachts 3811.79 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Stephen Jones-designed masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, built for performance cruising.
Packing for the winter sailfrom SEILmagasinet
Catalina Yachts 3811.61 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Sparkman & Stephens hull updated with a taller rig and balanced spade rudder for improved coastal performance
NEW 2026 BOAT AUCTION - END OF SUMMER2:48from Sailing Solé

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 Cruiser 38A 12.3-meter fractional sloop with a 1.7-meter draft, offering a balanced 19.48 sail area-to-displacement ratioBavaria Yachts 37 Cruiser (2005-2007)A J&J-designed fractional sloop balancing a high sail area-to-displacement ratio with a stable, comfortable hull formBavaria Yachts 46 Cruiser (2005-2009)A 14.2-meter cruiser featuring a 1.85m draft and a high sail area-to-displacement ratio for efficient performanceBavaria Yachts 43 CruiserA high-performance fractional sloop designed for comfortable cruising with a generous sail area-to-displacement ratioBavaria Yachts Cruiser 39A high-performance fractional sloop with a 20.61 SA/displacement ratio, designed for speed and ease of handling

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