The Bavaria 32 is with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing, designed for cruising comfort rather than racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
7.1 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 27.8′, the Bavaria 32 tops out around 7.1 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √27.8′ LWL = 7.1 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
153s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
Ballast / Displacement
28.3%
Light ballast — tends to be tender; reef earlier than the numbers suggest.
Displacement / Length
171
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
17.9
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.16
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Hull Speed
7.1kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
1,086lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
17.9
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
2.16
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Bavaria 32 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
J/32
C&C 32
Bavaria 32
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
Hunter 32 Vision
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Bavaria 32.
| Bavaria 32 | B 32 Beiley | C&C 32 | Feeling 326 | Hunter 32 Vision | J/32 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 32.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 |
| LWL | 27.8 | 27.5 | — | 26.6 | 27.0 | 27.5 |
| Beam | 10.9 | 10.3 | — | 11.1 | 11.3 | 11.4 |
| Displacement | 8,267 | 4 | — | 8 | 11 | 9 |
| Ballast | 2,337 | 1 | — | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Sail Area | — | 500 | — | 432 | 486 | 484 |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | 153 | — | 144 | — | 177 | 114 |
| SA/Disp | — | 31.3 | — | 17.3 | 15.4 | 18.9 |
| Bal/Disp | 28.3 | 40.2 | — | 34.5 | 39.5 | 39.1 |
| Comfort | 17.9 | 9.8 | — | 17.9 | 24.4 | 27.5 |
| Capsize | 2.16 | 2.59 | — | 2.22 | 2.02 | 1.70 |
| Hull Speed | 7.1 | 7.0 | — | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.9 |