Bavaria 46 vs 1987 Cape Dory 40 — Comparison
Bavaria 46
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 46 | 1987 Cape Dory 40 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Cape Dory |
| Year | 2004–2009 | 1987–1992 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | USA |
| Designer | J&J Design | Carl Alberg |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.27 m (46.8 ft) | 12.19 m (40.0 ft) |
| LWL | 12.50 m (41.0 ft) | 9.45 m (31.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.35 m (14.3 ft) | 3.66 m (12.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.15 m (7.1 ft) | 1.68 m (5.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,200 kg (24,692 lbs) | 8,618 kg (18,999 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) | 3,629 kg (8,001 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 95.0 m² (1,023 ft²) | 64.5 m² (694 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Full |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 40 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 151 L (39.9 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 450 L (118.9 gal) | 284 L (75.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 7 |
| Cabins | 4 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria 46 and 1987 Cape Dory 40 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 46 is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the 1987 Cape Dory 40 is a 1980s offering from Cape Dory from USA. The Bavaria 46 was penned by J&J Design. The 1987 Cape Dory 40 was designed by Carl Alberg.
In terms of size, the Bavaria 46 measures 14.27m (46.8ft) overall with a beam of 4.35m, compared to the 1987 Cape Dory 40 at 12.19m (40.0ft) with a 3.66m beam. The Bavaria 46 is 2.08m longer than the 1987 Cape Dory 40. The Bavaria 46 displaces approximately 30% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Bavaria 46 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 19.28 and 95.0 m² of sail area. The 1987 Cape Dory 40, with an SA/D of 15.59 and 64.5 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The Bavaria 46 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Bavaria 46 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 14.3) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.78). The 1987 Cape Dory 40 has a comfort ratio of 22.3 and a capsize screening value of 0.72. The ballast ratios are 31.3% for the Bavaria 46 and 42.1% for the 1987 Cape Dory 40, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Bavaria 46 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 450L of water capacity and 250L of fuel. The 1987 Cape Dory 40 offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 284L water and 151L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1987 Cape Dory 40 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 46 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 46 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 46 · 1987 Cape Dory 40