Bavaria 46 vs Dufour 45E — Comparison
Bavaria 46
Dufour 45E
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 46 | Dufour 45E |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Dufour |
| Year | 2004–2009 | 2008–2011 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | France |
| Designer | J&J Design | Umberto Felci |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.27 m (46.8 ft) | 13.80 m (45.3 ft) |
| LWL | 12.50 m (41.0 ft) | 11.90 m (39.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.35 m (14.3 ft) | 4.20 m (13.8 ft) |
| Draft | 2.15 m (7.1 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,200 kg (24,692 lbs) | 10,500 kg (23,149 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) | 3,200 kg (7,055 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 95.0 m² (1,023 ft²) | 88.0 m² (947 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 55 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 450 L (118.9 gal) | 380 L (100.4 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 8 |
| Cabins | 4 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria 46 and Dufour 45E represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 46 is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the Dufour 45E is a 2000s offering from Dufour from France. The Bavaria 46 was penned by J&J Design. The Dufour 45E 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 45E at 13.80m (45.3ft) with a 4.20m beam. The Bavaria 46 is 0.47m longer than the Dufour 45E. The Bavaria 46 displaces approximately 7% 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 45E, with an SA/D of 18.64 and 88.0 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 45E has a comfort ratio of 15.3 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 31.3% for the Bavaria 46 and 30.5% for the Dufour 45E, 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 45E offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 380L water and 200L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Dufour 45E 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.