Bavaria 43 Cruiser, the Last J&J Bavaria Before Farr

The Bavaria 43 that arrived just before the crash

Most searches for a Bavaria 43 lead to this boat, the 43 Cruiser launched for 2008. It was the last mid-size Bavaria drawn by J&J Design, the Slovenian studio that had shaped the range since the 1990s, and it arrived at an awkward moment. Bain Capital had bought Bavaria in 2007 at the top of the market, and by 2009 the debt-laden company had passed to Oaktree and Anchorage. Within two years the yard replaced its entire Cruiser line with Farr designs, and the 43 was gone after the 2010 season.

That short life is useful for buyers. The 43 Cruiser was built in modest numbers compared with the 42 Cruiser, it incorporated the lessons of a decade of J&J Bavarias, and it predates the twin-rudder, wide-stern Farr boats, so it still handles like a conventional single-rudder cruiser.

Twin wheels and an open transom

Cruising World's review singled out the change that defines the 43: twin steering wheels. On the 42 Cruiser a single large wheel and console blocked the cockpit. On the 43 the two wheels open a path straight through to a large swim platform in the transom, and contoured helm seats give the skipper somewhere comfortable to sit on a long beat. Deep backrests on the cockpit seats give the crew lumbar support, a detail that matters on a week-long charter or a summer cruise.

The sail plan is mainsail-dominant, with the mast set well forward. That keeps the headsail a manageable size for a 43-footer, which suits couples, and it lets the furling genoa be handled from the cockpit without a fight. The trade-off is that a big, in-mast or slab-reefed main does most of the work, so its condition and reefing system are worth checking closely.

Galley to port, dining to starboard, owner forward

Because the mast stands well forward, the saloon is a long open space. Cruising World noted that nothing blocks the view between the cook in the in-line galley to port and the crew in the U-shaped dinette opposite, and the mast bulkhead neatly partitions off a large forward cabin with its own en suite head. Aft, two mirror-image double cabins sit under the cockpit, served by a second head.

Sailboatdata records about 6 ft 7 in of headroom, generous for the size. Standard tankage is modest for a cruiser, at 210 liters (55 gallons) each of fuel and water, but an optional 360 liter (95 gallon) water tank was offered, and the importer's specification sheet quoted the larger figure. Check which tank your boat has before planning a week at anchor.

How the 43 Cruiser sails

No magazine published a full sea trial with measured speeds that we could find, so we will not invent one. The recorded numbers do describe the boat's character. A ballast ratio of about 32 percent, a sail area to displacement ratio near 21 and a displacement to length ratio around 185 point to a moderately powerful, moderately light cruiser that should be lively in 10 to 15 knots and will want its first reef earlier than an older, heavier boat.

The single spade rudder and 6 ft 1 in iron keel keep it predictable, and owners who move up from a Farr-era Bavaria often notice that the 43 feels more conventional on the helm. The 38 hp D2-40 is adequate rather than generous for a 21,600 lb boat; motoring into a steep chop or holding position in a crosswind marina is where a bow thruster earns its keep.

From J&J to Farr, and how to tell them apart

In 2009 and 2010 Bavaria launched an all-new Cruiser range with Farr Yacht Design and BMW Designworks USA: Cruiser 32, 36, 40, 45 and 55, later joined by a 50. The Cruiser 45 effectively took the 43's place. It is easy to spot: twin rudders, a broad, powerful stern and a fold-down transom platform.

If you are shopping in this size, the 43 Cruiser is the cheaper, simpler and more traditional boat, while the Cruiser 45 is roomier and quicker off the wind. Other 43s in Bavaria's history are rare; the C-Line jumped from the C42 to the C45 and later C46.

Upgrades that pay off on a 43 Cruiser

Because the hull and layout are sound, money spent on a 43 Cruiser goes furthest on the systems a charter company never prioritized. Owners who keep these boats for coastal cruising in the US tend to tackle the same short list in their first two years, and a boat that already has them is worth a premium over one that does not.

None of these jobs is exotic. Any yard that services European production boats can handle them, and Volvo Penta parts for the D2-40 and its saildrive are easy to source in North America.

• A larger water tank or a small watermaker, since 55 gallons runs out fast with four aboard
• A bow thruster, which makes up for the modest 38 hp engine in tight marinas
• Slab reefing lines led aft, or a new furling main, so the big mainsail can be shortened early
• Lithium or new AGM house batteries with a modern charger and solar on a stern arch or bimini
• Updated chartplotter and autopilot, as original units from 2008 are near the end of support

Buying and keeping a 43 Cruiser

Asking prices for the 43 Cruiser run roughly $108,000 to $158,000 in 2026. Annual costs in the US are typically $15,000 to $30,000, depending on where you keep it, with a slip, insurance, haul-out and saildrive service as the main items and a sail and rigging reserve on top.

A boat from 2008 to 2010 is now old enough that standing rigging, the original sails, the saildrive diaphragm, batteries and electronics are likely due or overdue. Price those in, and treat a recent rerig or new main as worth real money. Like every ex-charter Bavaria, the keel joint and internal grid deserve a careful look for grounding damage.