Looking for comparative advice regarding beneteau, Bavaria and Catalina in the 42ft range. Thanks.

I had a good look at Bavaria Yachts at a Sanctuary Cove Boat Show some years ago.

They gave me a copy of their brochure.

The quality of their manufacturing is impeccable and the company has remained strong without borrowings.

The Bavaria 42 3 or 4 cabin retailed for $359,000 and that would have been over 10 years ago.

I have heard several stories of inferior quality in Beneteaus and Jenneaus but never a bad word about Bavarias of Catalinas.

The Americans rarely build inferior qualtity products.

I assume you are at Airlie Beach looking at ex charter fleet yachts.

I have heard several stories of inferior quality in Beneteaus and Jenneaus but never a bad word about Bavarias of Catalinas

... apart from the keels falling off Bavarias - google "bavaria keel" and you'll find plenty of material, make your own mind up about how prejudiced it is.

I think they're all probably excellent for coastal use, and bluewater too (in that size) provided you pick your weather and routes - eg see ourlifeatsea.com/

I'd recommend research the individual models that are likely to be available in your price range, make a short list of 2 or 3 models, then search till you find a good one. In our case, the short list was the Jenneau 40 and the Beneteau 393, as it turned out there were not many Jenneaus available, and none of them up to scratch while we were in the market. Beneteau on the other hand have been popular in Aus, there were lots to choose from, and after 2 years we're very happy with our eventual choice.

LooseChange said...

cisco said...
"The quality of their manufacturing is impeccable."

Which is why the keels fall off and 150 Match 42's and 38's had to be recalled to have their keel areas strengthened

"And the company has remained strong without borrowings."

Which is why it was recently sold in a leveraged buy out.



"I have heard several stories of inferior quality in Beneteaus and Jenneaus"

Jeanneau are owned by Beneteau, so I would expect similar construction techniques and quality.


"The Americans rarely build inferior qualtity products."

Except for maybe their cars and their Space Shuttles, why would their boats be any better?

So it would seem that none of the big manufacturers are above building dud boats from time to time. I think each boat needs to looked at on its merits that exist at the time of possible purchase.
It is totally irresponsible to pick on a brand and say that all of those are bad and everything else is above suspicion. If only it were that easy.
Hence the reason for my posting of the link in my first post, it at least, lets people with real experience in these types of boat comment on their boats and may I add that not all comments are positive about their choices.

Never said I had personal experience of any of them. I only related what I had read in their brochure and heard from others.

So yeah. If we were in a court of law my evidence would have to be regarded as being based on biased documents and hearsay.

The question was asked and I gave an answer.

I think you would be hard pushed to find a company or country that has not produced an item that was faulty by design or manufacture or both.

Re:- Keels falling off. If an external keel/fin is bolted to a fibreglass or aluminium hull, and it falls off, it is most likely because the hull is not strong enough and the keel tears the bottom out of the hull or the bolts snap because they are single row in line.

If the keel is sister bolted (bolts paired in line) or angle bolted (bolts alternately angled port and starboard), the keel to hull joint should last the life of the vessel without having to replace the bolts during the life of the vessel.

Re:- Beneteaus, Jenneaus and Bavarias. I would eschew them all and opt for a Kelt 39. A far more stylish and practical vessel for a world cruise.

Hi all
thanks for the input received and apologies for not acknowledging sooner. Life is a whirlwind at this time of year as we all know...I just want to get off and run away to someplace where the people are nice!!!

I shall pass it all on to the appropriate person, a friend who is interested in living aboard and eventually cruising. A pipedream methinks but...mind my own business

Which, I guess answers your question Ken. No, I'm not returning to the Dark/Light Side just yet, however, I do think about it every time I need to punch to windward. I'm sorry to my brother and sister multihullers for being a dreadful traitor, but it's a fact of life that some times one needs to sail to windward and, I'm only speaking for my boat of course, but I'm over it. I'm in a Catch 22 situation where it's just not viable for me to pour any more cash (hahahaha, even if I had any, being the impoverished student that I am) into my old girl to modify her to improve her windward performance.

We're stuck anyway for a few years until I finish my degree and the girls have finished school. When I grow up and get a job, who knows what boat I'll end up with? One thing is for certain though and that is I won't be moving ashore

Once again, thanks for the advice and help.
Health and happiness for the festive season
Trace