Bavaria 37 vs Dufour 44 — Comparison
Bavaria 37
Dufour 44
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 37 | Dufour 44 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Dufour |
| Year | 2000–2006 | 2005–2010 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | France |
| Designer | J&J Design | Umberto Felci |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 11.38 m (37.3 ft) | 13.20 m (43.3 ft) |
| LWL | 9.86 m (32.3 ft) | 11.55 m (37.9 ft) |
| Beam | 3.61 m (11.8 ft) | 4.10 m (13.5 ft) |
| Draft | 1.85 m (6.1 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 6,900 kg (15,212 lbs) | 9,500 kg (20,944 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,200 kg (4,850 lbs) | 3,000 kg (6,614 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 61.0 m² (657 ft²) | 82.0 m² (883 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 27 HP | 55 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 130 L (34.3 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 230 L (60.8 gal) | 350 L (92.5 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 6 | 8 |
| Cabins | 2 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria 37 and Dufour 44 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 37 is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the Dufour 44 is a 2000s offering from Dufour from France. The Bavaria 37 was penned by J&J Design. The Dufour 44 was designed by Umberto Felci.
In terms of size, the Bavaria 37 measures 11.38m (37.3ft) overall with a beam of 3.61m, compared to the Dufour 44 at 13.20m (43.3ft) with a 4.10m beam. The Dufour 44 is 1.82m longer than the Bavaria 37. The Dufour 44 displaces approximately 38% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Bavaria 37 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 17.10 and 61.0 m² of sail area. The Dufour 44, with an SA/D of 18.57 and 82.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Dufour 44 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Bavaria 37 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 18.0) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.76). The Dufour 44 has a comfort ratio of 15.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 31.9% for the Bavaria 37 and 31.6% for the Dufour 44, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Bavaria 37 provides 6 berths in 2 cabins with 230L of water capacity and 130L of fuel. The Dufour 44 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 350L water and 200L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Bavaria 37 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 Dufour 44 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Dufour 44 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: Bavaria 37 · Dufour 44