Bavaria Yachts 36

BoatsBavaria Yachts 36

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 masthead sloop designed by J&J Yacht Design and built by Bavaria Yachts from 1998 to 2000, with an LOA of 11.6 meters, a beam of 3.7 meters, and a displacement of 5360 kg. The model was re-named the Bavaria 37 in 2000. Aboard *Nova Vita*, a Bavaria Yachts 36, the crew completed an Atlantic circuit, including a 28-day, 2,530-mile west-to-east crossing from Saint Martin to Horta, Faial, Azores, and a 14-day, 1,400-mile passage from the Azores to Plymouth, United Kingdom. During the Atlantic crossing, the crew encountered frequent squalls with 30-knot winds and extended calms, necessitating engine use and repeated tacking.5:38 A torn mainsail was temporarily repaired with stitching, and a snapped wind vane and a damaged shroud, repaired at sea with Dyneema, eye bolts, and shackles, limited the rig's load.19:10 The crew used non-slip mats and baskets to secure interior items and tested a DIY intercom system for docking.12:57 They deployed four fenders on each side and lashed two fender boards together to create a makeshift passerelle for stern-to mooring.5:43 The crew relied on PredictWind for routing, but found forecasts shifted frequently, and used AIS and radar for safety in low visibility and high-traffic areas.12:28 A Lofrans Cobra windlass motor failed after 14 months of service.2:02

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

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

Sailing Nova VitaThe crew of the Bavaria 36 Nova Vita documents their long-distance Atlantic passages, coastal cruising, and the practical realities of ongoing boat maintenance.

Seen 66 times across 2 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Bavaria Yachts 36 on video

Binnacle electrics repair - WAGO ConnectorsWAGO lever-nut connectors replace jury-rigged binnacle wiring on Nova Vita for €4.39 a pack in Ponta Delgada.Sailing Nova Vita

MD2030 Saildrive bellows installation on BavariaInstalling a Volvo Penta MD2030 saildrive bellows and repairing a worn propeller shaft with a Speedy Sleeve.Sailing Nova Vita

Azores 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 Vita

MD2030 Damper plate repairMD2030 damper plate rubber inserts replaced for £80 using EU Rubber parts instead of a £1,500 assembly.Sailing Nova Vita

SAILING 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 Vita

SAILING - 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 Vita

Ponta Delgada Fireworks New Year 2026Nova Vita rings in 2026 at Ponta Delgada's New Year fireworks.Sailing Nova Vita

SAILING 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 Vita

Atlantic 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 Vita

Atlantic 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 Vita

MIXED 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 Vita

Atlantic 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 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 crew expresses gratitude to friends for lending them the satellite communication unit for the trip.
aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen October 20253:28
WorkingNavionics
The crew used a tablet with Navionics for navigation when other instruments failed.
aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen April 20251:54
WorkingWindy
The crew used Windy for weather forecasting.
aboard Sailing Nova Vitaseen July 202319:55

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 swell12:48 from 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 LOVE My Sailboat (She Can Do ANYTHING!!!)from Adventureman Dan

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

INSTALLING THE BETA MARINE ENGINE and the propeller shaft from 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

Should You Buy A USED Sailboat from Bahamas? Ep 245 - Lady K Sailing0:48 from Lady K Sailing

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 20:22 from Life is Like 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

Are We Sinking yet? Ah, the Endless Summer--of Yacht Maintenance from Christian Williams

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Bavaria Yachts 37A short-lived production model from 2000-2001, formerly marketed as the Bavaria 36, featuring a masthead sloop rig Bavaria 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 package Bavaria 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 cruising Bavaria Yachts 39A 12-metre fractional sloop with a 2.0-metre draft and a 37.8% ballast ratio, built for stability and cruising speed Bavaria Yachts 370A 37-foot masthead sloop with a 35% ballast ratio, designed for stable, comfortable cruising in a 1991 package Bavaria Yachts 31A J&J-designed fractional sloop with a fin keel and bulb, built for performance and stability in a compact 10-metre hull

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

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