Bavaria 44 vs Hunter 36 — Comparison
Hunter 36
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 44 | Hunter 36 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Hunter |
| Year | 2002–2007 | 1996–2001 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | USA |
| Designer | J&J Design | Glenn Henderson |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.55 m (44.5 ft) | 10.82 m (35.5 ft) |
| LWL | 11.82 m (38.8 ft) | 9.45 m (31.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.18 m (13.7 ft) | 3.56 m (11.7 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 1.83 m (6.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 10,200 kg (22,487 lbs) | 5,897 kg (13,001 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,200 kg (7,055 lbs) | 2,313 kg (5,099 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 86.0 m² (926 ft²) | 56.0 m² (603 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 27 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 230 L (60.8 gal) | 95 L (25.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 400 L (105.7 gal) | 170 L (44.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 6 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria 44 and Hunter 36 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 44 is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the Hunter 36 is a 1990s offering from Hunter from USA. The Bavaria 44 was penned by J&J Design. The Hunter 36 was designed by Glenn Henderson.
In terms of size, the Bavaria 44 measures 13.55m (44.5ft) overall with a beam of 4.18m, compared to the Hunter 36 at 10.82m (35.5ft) with a 3.56m beam. The Bavaria 44 is 2.73m longer than the Hunter 36. The Bavaria 44 displaces approximately 73% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Bavaria 44 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.57 and 86.0 m² of sail area. The Hunter 36, with an SA/D of 17.43 and 56.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Bavaria 44 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Bavaria 44 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 15.3) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.77). The Hunter 36 has a comfort ratio of 17.2 and a capsize screening value of 0.79. The ballast ratios are 31.4% for the Bavaria 44 and 39.2% for the Hunter 36, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Bavaria 44 provides 8 berths in 3 cabins with 400L of water capacity and 230L of fuel. The Hunter 36 offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 170L water and 95L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Hunter 36 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 Bavaria 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 Bavaria 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 44 · Hunter 36