Bavaria Yachts Cruising Sailboats
Bavaria 49, the Two-Season Flagship Before the 50 Cruiser
A J&J-designed 50-footer built for only two seasons, light for its size and now a rare, inexpensive big cruiser for buyers who do their homework.
- Length
- 50.5 ft15.39 m
- Beam
- 14.7 ft4.47 m
- Draft
- 5.9 ft1.8 m
- Cabins
- Not verified; check each boat
- Used price
- $115K to $170K
On this page
- Overview
- A flagship that lasted two seasons
- The numbers on record, and how to read them
- Rig and keel choices that change the boat
- What we know, and do not know, about the interior
- D2-75 saildrive, tanks and systems
- Valuing and surveying a Bavaria 49
- Who should consider one
- Specifications
- Price and value
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Used buyer checklist
- Rivals
- Our verdict
- FAQ
The Bavaria 49, also listed as the Cruiser 49, is a J&J Design sloop with a 49 ft hull built from 2003 to 2004. It used a foam-cored topsides laminate and a 75 hp Volvo saildrive, and was replaced by the Bavaria 50 Cruiser.
- Budget buyers wanting a 50-footer
- Experienced owners comfortable with less documented boats
- Mediterranean-based cruising
- Charter-to-private conversions
Bavaria 49 by the numbers
- Sail area to displacement
- 25.4Racing level power, needs active reefing as the breeze builds.
- Displacement to length
- 136Light displacement for its length, quick but sensitive to added cruising weight.
- Theoretical hull speed
- 8.8 knThe practical top speed of a displacement monohull under normal sailing, based on waterline length.
- Ballast ratio
- 35%A typical ballast ratio for a cruising monohull.
- Capsize screening
- 2.03Above 2.0, so this hull leans toward coastal stability over ultimate offshore resistance.
- Motion comfort ratio
- 23.1A quicker motion in waves, typical of light, beamy hulls.
- Length to beam ratio
- 3.44 : 1Moderate proportions.
A flagship that lasted two seasons
The Bavaria 49 is one of the least documented big Bavarias, and that is the first thing a buyer should understand. Sailboatdata records it as the Cruiser 49, a J&J Design sloop built only in 2003 and 2004 before the Bavaria 50 Cruiser replaced it for 2005. In that short window it sat at the top of Bavaria's sailing range, at a time when the company was expanding fast and selling mainly into European charter fleets.
No North American importer page for the 49 survives in web archives, and we could not find a contemporary English-language magazine test. Most boats were built for Mediterranean charter companies and private European owners. That scarcity cuts both ways: there are fewer boats to choose from, but the few that come up can be priced well below better-known 50-footers.
The numbers on record, and how to read them
Sailboatdata lists an overall length of 50 ft 6 in on a 49 ft 1 in hull, a 43 ft waterline, 14 ft 8 in of beam and a displacement of 24,200 lb with 8,580 lb of cast iron ballast. The standard keel draws about 5 ft 11 in and an optional deep keel about 6 ft 11 in. The hull is foam cored above the waterline.
Run through the usual formulas, those figures give a displacement to length ratio around 136, a ballast ratio of about 35 percent and, with the battened main and genoa, a sail area to displacement ratio of about 25. On paper that is a light, powerful 50-footer, lighter than the 27,777 lb 50 Cruiser that followed. Treat the displacement as a light-ship figure: a cruising-loaded boat with water, fuel, gear and crew will be several thousand pounds heavier, and its real-world numbers less dramatic.
Rig and keel choices that change the boat
Two options make a big difference on a used 49. The first is the mainsail. A full-batten main gives the boat its best performance and holds its shape longer, but it needs lazy jacks or a stack pack and a crew willing to go to the mast. The in-mast furling version gives up sail area for convenience, which is how most charter boats were specified. Neither is wrong; just be sure the price reflects which one the boat has and how old the sail is.
The second is the keel. The standard 5 ft 11 in iron keel is shoal enough for the Bahamas and the Chesapeake, while the 6 ft 11 in option helps windward performance on a boat with this much sail. A deep-keel boat with a battened main is the version to look for if you enjoy sailing rather than motoring between anchorages.
What we know, and do not know, about the interior
We could not verify a factory layout drawing for the 49, so we will not describe one as fact. Bavaria's big boats of the period were offered in owner and charter versions, and the J&J-designed 50 Cruiser that replaced the 49 came in four- and five-cabin arrangements with three heads on the factory drawings dated 2004. A 49 may be configured very differently from one boat to the next.
When you view one, count cabins and heads, check that berth lengths and headroom suit your crew, and ask whether any bulkheads or heads have been removed or added. A charter-spec boat with many small cabins is cheaper to buy but harder to resell to a private owner later.
D2-75 saildrive, tanks and systems
Power is recorded as a 75 hp Volvo Penta D2-75 driving through a saildrive, with 231 liters (61 gallons) of fuel and 481 liters (127 gallons) of water. Seventy-five horsepower is a sensible match for a boat of this weight, but saildrives on 50-footers work hard, and a 20-plus-year-old leg needs careful inspection. Ask when the diaphragm was last replaced, check the leg for corrosion and confirm that the anodes have been maintained.
The fuel tank is small for a 50-footer, which reflects the charter brief. Owners who cruise beyond marina range typically add jerry cans or an extra tank. Electrical systems will be European 230 volt on most boats, and two decades of charter or private use usually means wiring has been altered several times.
Valuing and surveying a Bavaria 49
Asking prices generally fall between about $115,000 and $170,000 in 2026, roughly in line with or slightly below a Beneteau Oceanis 473 or Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49 of the same age. Annual running costs for a 50-footer in the US are around $20,000 to $40,000, driven by slip size, insurance and the cost of hauling a boat this large.
Survey priorities are the same as on any heavily used production boat: the keel bolts and keel to hull joint, the internal structure around the keel, moisture in the cored topsides and deck around fittings, rudder bearings, chainplates and the age of the standing rigging. A boat with a recent rerig, new sails and a documented saildrive service is worth paying more for.
Who should consider one
The Bavaria 49 makes sense for a buyer who wants a big, relatively light J&J hull at a low price and is comfortable buying a less documented model. It is a poor choice for anyone who wants an easy resale or a deep owner community. If your budget stretches a little further, the 50 Cruiser that replaced it is heavier, better documented and more common.
A practical route is to shortlist a 49, a 50 Cruiser and a Sun Odyssey 49 of similar age, survey the best example of each, and buy on condition. The 49 often wins on price per foot, but only a sound, well-sailed example justifies the extra research it demands.
Bavaria 49 specifications
| Length overall | 50.5 ft15.39 m |
|---|---|
| Waterline length | 43 ft13.11 m |
| Beam | 14.7 ft4.47 m |
| Draft | 5.9 ft1.8 m |
| Displacement | 24,2 lbs10,977 kg |
| Ballast | 8,58 lbs3,892 kg |
| Sail area | 1,328 sq ft123.4 m² |
| Fuel capacity | 61 gal231 L |
| Fresh water | 127 gal481 L |
| Cabins | Not verified; check each boat |
| Standard engines | Volvo Penta D2-75 (75 hp) diesel with saildrive |
| Maximum power | 75 hp |
| Hull type | Fin keel monohull with bulb and spade rudder |
| Keel | Cast iron bulb keel, about 5 ft 11 in standard or 6 ft 11 in deep |
| Rig | Fractional sloop with battened main and genoa, or furling main |
| Hull construction | GRP, solid below the waterline with foam core above |
| Builder | Bavaria Yachtbau, Giebelstadt, Germany |
| Naval architect | J&J Design (Slovenia) |
| Production | 2003 to 2004 |
| Status | Discontinued |
Figures come from builder documentation and independent tests where available. Displacement is usually quoted light, so a loaded cruising boat will weigh more. Compare these specs with another model.
How much does a Bavaria 49 cost?
Only two model years and very few boats outside Europe mean there is no deep price history, so value a Bavaria 49 against contemporaries such as the Beneteau Oceanis 473 and Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49, and then adjust hard for condition. Sails, rigging age, the saildrive and any keel repairs move the price more than anything else. Expect to factor in delivery or shipping, since most examples lie in Mediterranean charter bases.
Estimate your yearly cost
A planning estimate using common rules of thumb: insurance near 1.5 percent of value, maintenance near 3 percent, haul out and bottom paint by length. Your marina, region and use will move these numbers. Open the full cost calculator.
Versions and options
- Battened main version
- 1,328 sq ft upwind with genoa, the performance choice.
- Furling main version
- 498 sq ft furling main for easier handling.
- Keel options
- About 5 ft 11 in standard or 6 ft 11 in deep.
Bavaria 49 timeline
- 1993J&J Design's Bavaria 47, an earlier big Bavaria, enters production
- 2003Bavaria 49 enters production as the range flagship
- 2004Final season for the 49; J&J completes drawings for the Bavaria 50
- 2005Bavaria 50 Cruiser replaces the 49
Strengths and weaknesses
What owners like
- Long waterline and generous sail area
- Light displacement for a 50-footer
- Choice of shoal or deep keel
- Low purchase price for the size
- Large water tank
What to weigh up
- Very little published information or test data
- Small fuel tank for a 50-footer
- Few boats outside Europe
- Layout varies and must be checked boat by boat
Used Bavaria 49 buyer checklist
Take this list to a viewing. Your ticks are saved in this browser so you can come back to it.
Always commission an independent marine survey and an engine survey before you buy. How a marine survey works.
Rivals to consider
Beneteau Oceanis 473
A slightly smaller French contemporary with a strong reputation.
Compare side by sideJeanneau Sun Odyssey 49
Same era and size, more common on the used market.
Our verdict on the Bavaria 49
The Bavaria 49 is an orphan: a light, powerful J&J 50-footer that Bavaria built for just two seasons before replacing it with the heavier, better known 50 Cruiser. That makes it hard to research and harder to resell, but also cheap to buy for its size. If you find one with a deep keel, a battened main, a clean keel survey and a cared-for saildrive, it delivers a remarkable amount of yacht per dollar. Go in expecting to verify everything yourself, from the layout to the tank sizes.
Bavaria 49 questions answered
When was the Bavaria 49 built?
Sailboatdata records the Bavaria Cruiser 49 as built in 2003 and 2004.
What replaced the Bavaria 49?
The J&J-designed Bavaria 50 Cruiser, introduced for 2005.
What engine does the Bavaria 49 have?
A 75 hp Volvo Penta D2-75 diesel driving through a saildrive.
How heavy is the Bavaria 49?
Sailboatdata lists 24,200 lb, likely a light-ship figure, with 8,580 lb of cast iron ballast.
What does a used Bavaria 49 cost?
Roughly $115,000 to $170,000 in 2026, depending heavily on condition and equipment.
Photos from the Bavaria Yachts range
We have not found a freely licensed photo of the Bavaria 49 yet, so these show other Bavaria Yachts boats, each captioned with the boat pictured.
More cruising sailboats to explore
Bavaria 50 Cruiser
Cruising Sailboats, 51 ft
Used $135K to $210K
Bavaria C50
Cruising Sailboats, 51 ft
Used $390K to $640K
Beneteau 50
Cruising Sailboats, 51 ft
Used $110K to $250K
Beneteau Oceanis 500
Cruising Sailboats, 50 ft
Used $75K to $140K
Other Bavaria Yachts models
- Bavaria 30 Cruiser
- Bavaria 31 Cruiser
- Bavaria 33 Sport
- Bavaria 35 Cruiser
- Bavaria 35 Match
- Bavaria 38 Cruiser
- Bavaria 39 Cruiser
- Bavaria 42 Cruiser
- Bavaria 43 Cruiser
- Bavaria 44
- Bavaria 47 Ocean
- Bavaria 50 Cruiser
- Bavaria 340
- Bavaria 820
- Bavaria C38
- Bavaria C42
- Bavaria C50
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- Bavaria Cruiser 33
- Bavaria Cruiser 34
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- Bavaria S33
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- Bavaria Sport 32
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- Bavaria Sport 43
- Bavaria SR41
- Bavaria Vision 42
- Bavaria Vision 44
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- All Bavaria Yachts models