Bavaria 46 vs Dufour 385 Grand Large — Comparison
Bavaria 46
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 46 | Dufour 385 Grand Large |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Dufour |
| Year | 2004–2009 | 2006–2010 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | France |
| Designer | J&J Design | Umberto Felci |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.27 m (46.8 ft) | 11.53 m (37.8 ft) |
| LWL | 12.50 m (41.0 ft) | 10.10 m (33.1 ft) |
| Beam | 4.35 m (14.3 ft) | 3.68 m (12.1 ft) |
| Draft | 2.15 m (7.1 ft) | 1.90 m (6.2 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,200 kg (24,692 lbs) | 7,100 kg (15,653 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) | 2,150 kg (4,740 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 95.0 m² (1,023 ft²) | 62.0 m² (667 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 29 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 130 L (34.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 450 L (118.9 gal) | 250 L (66.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 6 |
| Cabins | 4 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria 46 and Dufour 385 Grand Large represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 46 is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the Dufour 385 Grand Large is a 2000s offering from Dufour from France. The Bavaria 46 was penned by J&J Design. The Dufour 385 Grand Large was designed by Umberto Felci.
In terms of size, the Bavaria 46 measures 14.27m (46.8ft) overall with a beam of 4.35m, compared to the Dufour 385 Grand Large at 11.53m (37.8ft) with a 3.68m beam. The Bavaria 46 is 2.74m longer than the Dufour 385 Grand Large. The Bavaria 46 displaces approximately 58% 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 Dufour 385 Grand Large, with an SA/D of 17.05 and 62.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. 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 Dufour 385 Grand Large has a comfort ratio of 17.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 31.3% for the Bavaria 46 and 30.3% for the Dufour 385 Grand Large, 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 Dufour 385 Grand Large offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 250L water and 130L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Dufour 385 Grand Large 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 · Dufour 385 Grand Large