Bavaria Cruiser 36 vs Dufour 310 Grand Large — Comparison
Bavaria Cruiser 36
Dufour 310 Grand Large
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria Cruiser 36 | Dufour 310 Grand Large |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Dufour |
| Year | 2012–2018 | 2015–2020 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | France |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Felci Yacht Design |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 11.30 m (37.1 ft) | 9.43 m (30.9 ft) |
| LWL | 9.80 m (32.2 ft) | 8.45 m (27.7 ft) |
| Beam | 3.57 m (11.7 ft) | 3.13 m (10.3 ft) |
| Draft | 1.85 m (6.1 ft) | 1.60 m (5.2 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 6,400 kg (14,110 lbs) | 4,150 kg (9,149 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,000 kg (4,409 lbs) | 1,230 kg (2,712 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 58.0 m² (624 ft²) | 40.0 m² (431 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 21 HP | 15 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 110 L (29.1 gal) | 80 L (21.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 210 L (55.5 gal) | 120 L (31.7 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 6 | 4 |
| Cabins | 2 | 1 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria Cruiser 36 and Dufour 310 Grand Large represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria Cruiser 36 is a modern design by Bavaria from Germany, while the Dufour 310 Grand Large is a modern offering from Dufour from France. The Bavaria Cruiser 36 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The Dufour 310 Grand Large was designed by Felci Yacht Design.
In terms of size, the Bavaria Cruiser 36 measures 11.30m (37.1ft) overall with a beam of 3.57m, compared to the Dufour 310 Grand Large at 9.43m (30.9ft) with a 3.13m beam. The Bavaria Cruiser 36 is 1.87m longer than the Dufour 310 Grand Large. The Bavaria Cruiser 36 displaces approximately 54% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Bavaria Cruiser 36 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 17.10 and 58.0 m² of sail area. The Dufour 310 Grand Large, with an SA/D of 15.74 and 40.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The Bavaria Cruiser 36 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Bavaria Cruiser 36 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 17.2) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.77). The Dufour 310 Grand Large has a comfort ratio of 18.3 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 31.3% for the Bavaria Cruiser 36 and 29.6% for the Dufour 310 Grand Large, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Bavaria Cruiser 36 provides 6 berths in 2 cabins with 210L of water capacity and 110L of fuel. The Dufour 310 Grand Large offers 4 berths in 1 cabin with 120L water and 80L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Dufour 310 Grand Large 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 Cruiser 36 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 Cruiser 36 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.