Bavaria 49 vs Dufour 40 — Comparison
Bavaria 49
Dufour 40
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 49 | Dufour 40 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Dufour |
| Year | 2005–2009 | 2007–2012 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | France |
| Designer | J&J Design | Umberto Felci |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.98 m (49.1 ft) | 12.05 m (39.5 ft) |
| LWL | 13.10 m (43.0 ft) | 10.55 m (34.6 ft) |
| Beam | 4.49 m (14.7 ft) | 3.85 m (12.6 ft) |
| Draft | 2.20 m (7.2 ft) | 1.95 m (6.4 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 13,000 kg (28,660 lbs) | 7,800 kg (17,196 lbs) |
| Ballast | 4,200 kg (9,259 lbs) | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 102.0 m² (1,098 ft²) | 68.0 m² (732 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 75 HP | 40 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 280 L (74.0 gal) | 160 L (42.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 500 L (132.1 gal) | 300 L (79.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 8 |
| Cabins | 4 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria 49 and Dufour 40 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 49 is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the Dufour 40 is a 2000s offering from Dufour from France. The Bavaria 49 was penned by J&J Design. The Dufour 40 was designed by Umberto Felci.
In terms of size, the Bavaria 49 measures 14.98m (49.1ft) overall with a beam of 4.49m, compared to the Dufour 40 at 12.05m (39.5ft) with a 3.85m beam. The Bavaria 49 is 2.93m longer than the Dufour 40. The Bavaria 49 displaces approximately 67% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Bavaria 49 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.74 and 102.0 m² of sail area. The Dufour 40, with an SA/D of 17.56 and 68.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Bavaria 49 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Bavaria 49 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 14.5) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.77). The Dufour 40 has a comfort ratio of 16.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 32.3% for the Bavaria 49 and 30.8% for the Dufour 40, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Bavaria 49 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 500L of water capacity and 280L of fuel. The Dufour 40 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 300L water and 160L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Dufour 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 49 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 49 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 49 · Dufour 40