2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser vs 1978 Cape Dory 270 — Comparison
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser | 1978 Cape Dory 270 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Cape Dory |
| Year | 2000–2005 | 1978–1985 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | USA |
| Designer | J&J Design | Carl Alberg |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 9.45 m (31.0 ft) | 8.23 m (27.0 ft) |
| LWL | 8.20 m (26.9 ft) | 6.40 m (21.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.17 m (10.4 ft) | 2.59 m (8.5 ft) |
| Draft | 1.60 m (5.2 ft) | 1.14 m (3.7 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 4,200 kg (9,259 lbs) | 2,722 kg (6,001 lbs) |
| Ballast | 1,500 kg (3,307 lbs) | 1,134 kg (2,500 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 44.0 m² (474 ft²) | 28.0 m² (301 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Full |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 18 HP | 12 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 55 L (14.5 gal) | 38 L (10.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 100 L (26.4 gal) | 68 L (18.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 6 | 4 |
| Cabins | 2 | 1 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser and 1978 Cape Dory 270 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the 1978 Cape Dory 270 is a 1970s offering from Cape Dory from USA. The 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser was penned by J&J Design. The 1978 Cape Dory 270 was designed by Carl Alberg.
In terms of size, the 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser measures 9.45m (31.0ft) overall with a beam of 3.17m, compared to the 1978 Cape Dory 270 at 8.23m (27.0ft) with a 2.59m beam. The 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser is 1.22m longer than the 1978 Cape Dory 270. The 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser displaces approximately 54% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 17.18 and 44.0 m² of sail area. The 1978 Cape Dory 270, with an SA/D of 14.60 and 28.0 m² of canvas, offers modest sail power for its displacement. The 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 18.9) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.79). The 1978 Cape Dory 270 has a comfort ratio of 24.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.74. The ballast ratios are 35.7% for the 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser and 41.7% for the 1978 Cape Dory 270, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser provides 6 berths in 2 cabins with 100L of water capacity and 55L of fuel. The 1978 Cape Dory 270 offers 4 berths in 1 cabin with 68L water and 38L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1978 Cape Dory 270 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.
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Or view individual specs: 2000 Bavaria 30 Cruiser · 1978 Cape Dory 270