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Bavaria 820
Designer: Axel Mohnhaupt  ·  Builder: Bavaria  ·  First built: 1982
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About the Bavaria 820

Bavaria's 820 represents an early entry from the German builder into the small cruiser market, produced during a brief four-year run from 1982 to 1985. Designed by Axel Mohnhaupt, this 27-footer showcases the clean lines and practical approach that would become Bavaria's trademark in later decades. With its fin keel and spade rudder configuration, the 820 offers responsive handling well-suited to coastal cruising and weekend sailing. The fractional sloop rig provides good balance and manageable sail handling for small crews, while the moderate displacement of 5,500 pounds strikes a reasonable compromise between performance and comfort. The boat's SA/Displacement ratio of 14.42 suggests adequate sailing ability in light to moderate conditions, though heavy weather performance may require patience. The comfort ratio of 19.37 indicates a relatively quick motion at sea, typical of boats designed with some performance considerations. The capsize screening formula of 2.04 falls within acceptable ranges for coastal sailing, though extended offshore passages would demand careful weather planning. Limited to just 130 hulls built, the Bavaria 820 offers an interesting glimpse into the builder's early design philosophy, making it a potentially appealing choice for sailors seeking an affordable entry into European craftsmanship with straightforward systems and honest sailing characteristics.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 27.00 ft / 8.23 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
Beam 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 5,500.00 lb / 2,495 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 280.00 ft² / 26.01 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Axel Mohnhaupt
Builder Bavaria
First Built 1982
Last Built 1985
Number Built 130
Related Sailboats ["J/27" · "Cs 27" · "Triton 27" · "Us 27" · "Endeavour 27 Aus"]
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 14.42
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 230.59
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 19.37
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.04
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.29 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.08
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 707.48 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 14.41
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 28.20 ft / 8.60 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.20 ft / 2.80 m
SA Fore 150.00 ft² / 13.94 m²
SA Main 129.72 ft² / 12.05 m²
SA Total (100%) 279.72 ft² / 25.99 m²
Est. Forestay Length 31.62 ft / 9.64 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Model MC5C
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 10
How It Compares

vs. Cs 27, Triton 27, Us 27

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Bavaria 820 ★
27.0 ft
Cs 27
27.0 ft
Triton 27
27.0 ft
Us 27
27.0 ft
LWL
Bavaria 820 ★
22.0 ft
Cs 27
23.9 ft
Triton 27
23.3 ft
Us 27
23.3 ft
Beam
Bavaria 820 ★
9.0 ft
Cs 27
9.3 ft
Triton 27
9.5 ft
Us 27
9.5 ft
Displacement
Bavaria 820 ★
5 lbs
Cs 27
6 lbs
Triton 27
6 lbs
Us 27
5 lbs
Ballast
Bavaria 820 ★
—
Cs 27
2 lbs
Triton 27
2 lbs
Us 27
2 lbs
Sail Area
Bavaria 820 ★
280 sq ft
Cs 27
453 sq ft
Triton 27
—
Us 27
313 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Bavaria 820 ★
—
Cs 27
204 s/nm
Triton 27
—
Us 27
200 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Bavaria 820 ★
14.4
Cs 27
21.8
Triton 27
—
Us 27
15.5
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Bavaria 820 ★
—
Cs 27
—
Triton 27
32.4 %
Us 27
34.7 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Bavaria 820 ★
19.4
Cs 27
19.4
Triton 27
—
Us 27
18.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Bavaria 820 ★
2.04
Cs 27
2.05
Triton 27
—
Us 27
2.11
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Bavaria 820 ★
230
Cs 27
—
Triton 27
222
Us 27
207
Hull Speed
Bavaria 820 ★
6.3 kts
Cs 27
6.6 kts
Triton 27
—
Us 27
6.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Bavaria 820 ★
2.1
Cs 27
2.6
Triton 27
—
Us 27
2.4
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