Bavaria 44 vs 2013 Elan 350 — Comparison
Bavaria 44
2013 Elan 350
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 44 | 2013 Elan 350 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Elan |
| Year | 2002–2007 | 2013–2018 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | Slovenia |
| Designer | J&J Design | Rob Humphreys |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.55 m (44.5 ft) | 10.67 m (35.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.82 m (38.8 ft) | 9.30 m (30.5 ft) |
| Beam | 4.18 m (13.7 ft) | 3.46 m (11.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 2.00 m (6.6 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 10,200 kg (22,487 lbs) | 6,100 kg (13,448 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,200 kg (7,055 lbs) | 1,850 kg (4,079 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 86.0 m² (926 ft²) | 58.0 m² (624 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 21 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 230 L (60.8 gal) | 80 L (21.1 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 2013 Elan 350 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 44 is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the 2013 Elan 350 is a modern offering from Elan from Slovenia. The Bavaria 44 was penned by J&J Design. The 2013 Elan 350 was designed by Rob Humphreys.
In terms of size, the Bavaria 44 measures 13.55m (44.5ft) overall with a beam of 4.18m, compared to the 2013 Elan 350 at 10.67m (35.0ft) with a 3.46m beam. The Bavaria 44 is 2.88m longer than the 2013 Elan 350. The Bavaria 44 displaces approximately 67% 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 2013 Elan 350, with an SA/D of 17.65 and 58.0 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 2013 Elan 350 has a comfort ratio of 19.0 and a capsize screening value of 0.76. The ballast ratios are 31.4% for the Bavaria 44 and 30.3% for the 2013 Elan 350, 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 2013 Elan 350 offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 170L water and 80L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2013 Elan 350 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.