Bavaria C42 Review, Specs and Buying Advice

Why Yachting World called it a Ford Model T

Yachting World's tester called the Bavaria C42 the Ford Model T of 40-foot production cruisers, and meant it as praise: a boat that gets the basics right for a mass audience at a sensible price. It was Maurizio Cossutti's fourth design for Bavaria and one of the first boats of the C-Line, which the German builder launched after its 2018 insolvency and change of ownership as a statement that Bavaria could build modern, good-sailing boats again.

The C42 made its debut at boot Düsseldorf in January 2020 and remains in Bavaria's 2026 sailing yacht range alongside the C38, C46, C50 and C57. It sits between the lighter French cruisers and heavier traditional designs. Its hull has more beam, higher freeboard and a longer waterline than the previous Bavaria in this size range.

The V-bow and the deck-stepped mast

The C42's most distinctive feature is what Bavaria calls the V-Bug, a rounded V-shaped bow that flows into hard chines along the topsides. Above the waterline it creates volume for the forward cabin, and below it keeps a relatively fine entry. Seahorse magazine noted a tall mast stepped quite far aft and high volume bow sections, a combination that gives a big mainsail and a smaller, easier headsail.

Yachting World calculated a sail area to displacement ratio of 22.1 for the early boat and reported 30 percent more upwind sail area than the Beneteau Oceanis 40.1. The mast is deck-stepped, which frees space and headroom in the saloon, and a single spade rudder gives a direct helm feel. Yacht magazine noted that the single rudder also saves weight and cost compared with twin rudder rivals.

Early boats and later boats are not identical

This is the most important point for a used buyer. According to the Interesting Sailboats analysis of Bavaria's published data, the C42 changed in 2021 in ways that are not visible from the dock. Bavaria dropped vacuum infusion for the hull and returned to hand lay-up, while keeping a cored hull. It also moved away from the Modutech assembly system, a structural fiberglass grid that held the bulkheads and furniture, and returned to bonding components directly to the hull.

The published lightship displacement rose from 9,678 kg (21,336 lb) to 10,070 kg (22,200 lb), the mast was shortened by roughly half a meter, upwind sail area dropped by about 2.6 square meters with a classic main and about 10.3 square meters with in-mast furling, and the ballast ratio fell from about 28 to about 26 percent. Yachting World also listed the return to hand lay-up as a step backward in manufacturing.

Tested in 29 knots of wind

Few production cruiser tests are done in a real blow, but Yachting World sailed the C42 in an easterly of 18 to 29 knots with steep overfalls of 1.5 to 2 meters. Reefed upwind, the boat made 7 to 8 knots over the ground at 35 to 40 degrees apparent, and reaching it ran at 7 to more than 9 knots. Bavaria's polars show 9 knots or more in 16 knots of true wind and more than 10 knots reaching in 20 knots.

Yacht magazine sailed in a more typical 12 to 15 knots with a small swell. The boat heeled just under 20 degrees, sailed at 6.8 to 7.2 knots and tacked through about 90 degrees. Testers consistently described the helm as light and responsive, and Boating New Zealand noted that it accelerated smoothly when bearing away in chop.

• 18 to 29 knots true: 7 to 8 knots reefed upwind, 7 to 9+ knots reaching
• 12 to 15 knots true: 6.8 to 7.2 knots, about 90 degree tacking angle
• Polars show more than 9 knots in 16 knots true and double figures reaching in 20+ knots

Cockpit layout and sail handling

The cockpit has long benches and good coamings, a folding transom platform on gas struts and large bimini and dodger options. On many boats, the main sheet runs to a single winch at the companionway, which Yachting World disliked because the helmsman cannot trim the main alone; a German mainsheet led to both wheels is optional and worth finding.

The wheels sit close to the transom and the split backstay, which makes the area around them cramped. The test boat also suffered slack shrouds because the rig had not been tuned before delivery, a reminder to have any new or recently re-rigged C42 checked by a rigger.

Two or three cabins and one or two heads

Below, the C42 offers two or three cabins and one or two heads. Headroom reaches about 2 meters (6 ft 7 in) in the saloon, the aft cabin berths are about 1.60 meters (5 ft 3 in) wide, and the extended companionway and multiple hatches flood the interior with light. Yachting World praised the quiet sole panels and solid joinery, and Boating New Zealand liked the origami-style folding saloon table.

There are weak points. The three cabin version has only one head, which is tight for six people. Early saloon and chart tables had sharp corners that Bavaria promised to soften. Grab handles between the galley, head and saloon are few, the sail locker hatch is small, and some electronics sit in lockers that are not watertight. Yacht magazine found that the gimballed oven hit its stop at only 17 degrees of heel, the standard 180 amp-hour battery bank is small, and cross ventilation needs extra hatches.

Prices, options and running costs

Bavaria's strategy is a low base price and a long option list, so a well-equipped C42 costs much more than the brochure suggests. Tankage is modest, with about 180 liters (48 gallons) each of fuel and water as standard, though water can be expanded to 415 liters (110 gallons). For cruising, the extra water tank, a larger battery bank and electric winches are the options that matter most.

Plan on $16,000 to $32,000 a year for a 43-foot slip, insurance, haul out, saildrive service and routine maintenance. Used prices for 2020 to 2024 boats run from about $220,000 to $380,000 in the US, with European boats often cheaper. Bavaria's resale record in the US is weaker than Beneteau's or Jeanneau's, which is good news for buyers and something to keep in mind when you eventually sell.