Bavaria 49 vs Dufour 520 Grand Large — Comparison
Bavaria 49
Dufour 520 Grand Large
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 49 | Dufour 520 Grand Large |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Dufour |
| Year | 2005–2009 | 2012–2017 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | France |
| Designer | J&J Design | Felci Yacht Design |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.98 m (49.1 ft) | 15.80 m (51.8 ft) |
| LWL | 13.10 m (43.0 ft) | 13.85 m (45.4 ft) |
| Beam | 4.49 m (14.7 ft) | 4.69 m (15.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.20 m (7.2 ft) | 2.45 m (8.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 13,000 kg (28,660 lbs) | 14,500 kg (31,967 lbs) |
| Ballast | 4,200 kg (9,259 lbs) | 4,600 kg (10,141 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 102.0 m² (1,098 ft²) | 110.0 m² (1,184 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 75 HP | 75 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 280 L (74.0 gal) | 300 L (79.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 500 L (132.1 gal) | 550 L (145.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 10 |
| Cabins | 4 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria 49 and Dufour 520 Grand Large represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 49 is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the Dufour 520 Grand Large is a modern offering from Dufour from France. The Bavaria 49 was penned by J&J Design. The Dufour 520 Grand Large was designed by Felci Yacht Design.
In terms of size, the Bavaria 49 measures 14.98m (49.1ft) overall with a beam of 4.49m, compared to the Dufour 520 Grand Large at 15.80m (51.8ft) with a 4.69m beam. The Dufour 520 Grand Large is 0.82m longer than the Bavaria 49. The Dufour 520 Grand Large displaces approximately 12% 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 520 Grand Large, with an SA/D of 18.79 and 110.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Dufour 520 Grand Large 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 520 Grand Large has a comfort ratio of 13.6 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 32.3% for the Bavaria 49 and 31.7% for the Dufour 520 Grand Large, 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 520 Grand Large offers 10 berths in 4 cabins with 550L water and 300L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Bavaria 49 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 Dufour 520 Grand Large 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.