The Bavaria 44 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

Published Specification for the Bavaria 44

Underwater Configuration: Bulb fin keel & spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 45'9" (14.0m)

Waterline Length: 37'6" (11.4m)

Beam: 13'10" (4.2m)

Draft: 6'5" (2.0m)

Rig Type: Fractional sloop

Displacement: 21,164lb (9,600kg)

Designer: J&J Design

Builder: Bavaria (Germany)

Year First Built: 2002

Year Last Built: 2004

Owners Association: Bavaria Owners Association

Published Design Ratios for the Bavaria 44

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 19.8

• Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
• 16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
• Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 31.3

• Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
• Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 179

• Under 100: Ultralight
• 100 to 200: Light
• 200 to 275: Moderate
• 275 to 350: Heavy
• Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 24.6

• Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
• 20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
• 30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
• 40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
• Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 2.0

• Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
• Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Bavaria 44

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 19.8 suggests that the Bavaria 44 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 31.3 would usually mean that the Bavaria 44 would have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

However, as she has much of her ballast concentrated in a bulb at the foot of the keel, she's likely to be considerably stiffer than her published Ballast/Displacement Ratio might suggest.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 179 tells us the Bavaria 44 is clearly a light displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer to a degree.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 24.6 suggests that crew comfort of a Bavaria 44 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness. 

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 2.0 is on the cusp of suitability for an ocean passage, so venture offshore with caution.

Other sailboats in the Bavaria product range include:

The Bavaria 42

The Bavaria 46

Bavaria 50