Bavaria 49 vs Dufour 470 — Comparison
Bavaria 49
Dufour 470
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 49 | Dufour 470 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Dufour |
| Year | 2005–2009 | 2018 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | France |
| Designer | J&J Design | Felci Yacht Design |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.98 m (49.1 ft) | 14.23 m (46.7 ft) |
| LWL | 13.10 m (43.0 ft) | 12.80 m (42.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.49 m (14.7 ft) | 4.39 m (14.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.20 m (7.2 ft) | 2.25 m (7.4 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 13,000 kg (28,660 lbs) | 11,200 kg (24,692 lbs) |
| Ballast | 4,200 kg (9,259 lbs) | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 102.0 m² (1,098 ft²) | 94.0 m² (1,012 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 75 HP | 57 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 280 L (74.0 gal) | 220 L (58.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 500 L (132.1 gal) | 440 L (116.2 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 10 |
| Cabins | 4 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria 49 and Dufour 470 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 49 is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the Dufour 470 is a modern offering from Dufour from France. The Bavaria 49 was penned by J&J Design. The Dufour 470 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 470 at 14.23m (46.7ft) with a 4.39m beam. The Bavaria 49 is 0.75m longer than the Dufour 470. The Bavaria 49 displaces approximately 16% 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 470, with an SA/D of 19.07 and 94.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Dufour 470 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 470 has a comfort ratio of 13.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.79. The ballast ratios are 32.3% for the Bavaria 49 and 31.3% for the Dufour 470, 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 470 offers 10 berths in 4 cabins with 440L water and 220L 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 470 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.