Bavaria 46 vs 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 — Comparison
Bavaria 46
2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 46 | 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Beneteau |
| Year | 2004–2009 | 2014–2018 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | France |
| Designer | J&J Design | Nauta Design / Finot-Conq |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.27 m (46.8 ft) | 14.60 m (47.9 ft) |
| LWL | 12.50 m (41.0 ft) | 13.10 m (43.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.35 m (14.3 ft) | 4.56 m (15.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.15 m (7.1 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,200 kg (24,692 lbs) | 11,500 kg (25,353 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 95.0 m² (1,023 ft²) | 98.0 m² (1,055 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 57 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 450 L (118.9 gal) | 400 L (105.7 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 10 |
| Cabins | 4 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria 46 and 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 46 is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 is a modern offering from Beneteau from France. The Bavaria 46 was penned by J&J Design. The 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 was designed by Nauta Design / Finot-Conq.
In terms of size, the Bavaria 46 measures 14.27m (46.8ft) overall with a beam of 4.35m, compared to the 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 at 14.60m (47.9ft) with a 4.56m beam. The 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 is 0.33m longer than the Bavaria 46. The 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 displaces approximately 3% 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 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48, with an SA/D of 19.54 and 98.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 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 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 has a comfort ratio of 12.8 and a capsize screening value of 0.81. The ballast ratios are 31.3% for the Bavaria 46 and 30.4% for the 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48, 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 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 offers 10 berths in 4 cabins with 400L water and 200L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Bavaria 46 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 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: Both boats provide similar accommodation, making either a viable choice for living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.