Bavaria 37 vs Dufour 470 — Comparison
Bavaria 37
Dufour 470
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 37 | Dufour 470 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Dufour |
| Year | 2000–2006 | 2018 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | France |
| Designer | J&J Design | Felci Yacht Design |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 11.38 m (37.3 ft) | 14.23 m (46.7 ft) |
| LWL | 9.86 m (32.3 ft) | 12.80 m (42.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.61 m (11.8 ft) | 4.39 m (14.4 ft) |
| Draft | 1.85 m (6.1 ft) | 2.25 m (7.4 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 6,900 kg (15,212 lbs) | 11,200 kg (24,692 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,200 kg (4,850 lbs) | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 61.0 m² (657 ft²) | 94.0 m² (1,012 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 27 HP | 57 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 130 L (34.3 gal) | 220 L (58.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 230 L (60.8 gal) | 440 L (116.2 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 6 | 10 |
| Cabins | 2 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria 37 and Dufour 470 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 37 is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the Dufour 470 is a modern offering from Dufour from France. The Bavaria 37 was penned by J&J Design. The Dufour 470 was designed by Felci Yacht Design.
In terms of size, the Bavaria 37 measures 11.38m (37.3ft) overall with a beam of 3.61m, compared to the Dufour 470 at 14.23m (46.7ft) with a 4.39m beam. The Dufour 470 is 2.85m longer than the Bavaria 37. The Dufour 470 displaces approximately 62% 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 470, with an SA/D of 19.07 and 94.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Dufour 470 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 470 has a comfort ratio of 13.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.79. The ballast ratios are 31.9% for the Bavaria 37 and 31.3% for the Dufour 470, 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 470 offers 10 berths in 4 cabins with 440L water and 220L 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 470 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 470 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 470