Bavaria Cruiser 46 vs 2015 Elan 450 — Comparison
Bavaria Cruiser 46
2015 Elan 450
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria Cruiser 46 | 2015 Elan 450 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Elan |
| Year | 2015–2020 | 2015–2019 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | Slovenia |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Rob Humphreys |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.27 m (46.8 ft) | 13.85 m (45.4 ft) |
| LWL | 12.60 m (41.3 ft) | 12.20 m (40.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.35 m (14.3 ft) | 4.28 m (14.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.15 m (7.1 ft) | 2.20 m (7.2 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,500 kg (25,353 lbs) | 10,800 kg (23,810 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,600 kg (7,937 lbs) | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 92.0 m² (990 ft²) | 95.0 m² (1,023 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 57 HP | 40 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 160 L (42.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 450 L (118.9 gal) | 350 L (92.5 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 8 |
| Cabins | 4 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria Cruiser 46 and 2015 Elan 450 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria Cruiser 46 is a modern design by Bavaria from Germany, while the 2015 Elan 450 is a modern offering from Elan from Slovenia. The Bavaria Cruiser 46 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The 2015 Elan 450 was designed by Rob Humphreys.
In terms of size, the Bavaria Cruiser 46 measures 14.27m (46.8ft) overall with a beam of 4.35m, compared to the 2015 Elan 450 at 13.85m (45.4ft) with a 4.28m beam. The Bavaria Cruiser 46 is 0.42m longer than the 2015 Elan 450. The Bavaria Cruiser 46 displaces approximately 6% 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 2015 Elan 450, with an SA/D of 19.75 and 95.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2015 Elan 450 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 2015 Elan 450 has a comfort ratio of 14.8 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 31.3% for the Bavaria Cruiser 46 and 32.4% for the 2015 Elan 450, 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 2015 Elan 450 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 350L water and 160L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2015 Elan 450 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 2015 Elan 450 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.