Bavaria Cruiser 46 vs Catalina 385 — Comparison
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria Cruiser 46 | Catalina 385 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Catalina |
| Year | 2015–2020 | 2006–2014 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | USA |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Gerry Douglas |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.27 m (46.8 ft) | 11.73 m (38.5 ft) |
| LWL | 12.60 m (41.3 ft) | 10.21 m (33.5 ft) |
| Beam | 4.35 m (14.3 ft) | 3.76 m (12.3 ft) |
| Draft | 2.15 m (7.1 ft) | 2.06 m (6.8 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,500 kg (25,353 lbs) | 8,165 kg (18,001 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,600 kg (7,937 lbs) | 3,175 kg (7,000 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 92.0 m² (990 ft²) | 65.0 m² (700 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 57 HP | 35 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 114 L (30.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 450 L (118.9 gal) | 242 L (63.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 7 |
| Cabins | 4 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria Cruiser 46 and Catalina 385 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria Cruiser 46 is a modern design by Bavaria from Germany, while the Catalina 385 is a 2000s offering from Catalina from USA. The Bavaria Cruiser 46 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The Catalina 385 was designed by Gerry Douglas.
In terms of size, the Bavaria Cruiser 46 measures 14.27m (46.8ft) overall with a beam of 4.35m, compared to the Catalina 385 at 11.73m (38.5ft) with a 3.76m beam. The Bavaria Cruiser 46 is 2.54m longer than the Catalina 385. The Bavaria Cruiser 46 displaces approximately 41% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Bavaria Cruiser 46 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.34 and 92.0 m² of sail area. The Catalina 385, with an SA/D of 16.29 and 65.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The Bavaria Cruiser 46 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Bavaria Cruiser 46 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 14.5) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.77). The Catalina 385 has a comfort ratio of 18.9 and a capsize screening value of 0.75. The ballast ratios are 31.3% for the Bavaria Cruiser 46 and 38.9% for the Catalina 385, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Bavaria Cruiser 46 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 450L of water capacity and 250L of fuel. The Catalina 385 offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 242L water and 114L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Catalina 385 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 46 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 46 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 Cruiser 46 · Catalina 385