Bavaria Yachts Cruising Sailboats
Bavaria Ocean 38, the Center Cockpit Bavaria Buyers Overlook
A 38 ft center cockpit with a king-size aft cabin, built by Bavaria at the end of the 1990s and now a bargain-priced route to a liveaboard layout.
- Length
- 39 ft11.9 m
- Beam
- 13 ft3.95 m
- Draft
- 6.4 ft1.95 m
- Cabins
- 2 (aft owner's cabin and forward cabin)
- Used price
- $70K to $100K
On this page
- Overview
- What the Ocean label meant at Bavaria in the late 1990s
- A king-size aft cabin on a 38 footer
- J&J hull numbers and why the real weight matters
- Masthead rig, furling main and realistic pace
- Center cockpit living: what you gain and what you give up
- The Volvo MD22L, the saildrive and the tanks
- The 42 Ocean, Ocean 40 and 47 Ocean siblings
- Buying a Bavaria Ocean 38 at 25 plus years old
- Specifications
- Price and value
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Used buyer checklist
- Rivals
- Our verdict
- FAQ
The Bavaria Ocean 38, often listed as the Bavaria 38 Ocean, is a J&J Design center cockpit sloop built from 1997 to 2000. Two cabins, one large head and a Volvo MD22L saildrive make it a simple, roomy couple's cruiser.
- Liveaboard couples on a budget
- Cruisers who value a protected cockpit
- Sailors moving up from a 32 to 34 ft boat
- Coastal cruising in variable climates
Bavaria Ocean 38 by the numbers
- Sail area to displacement
- 20.0Balanced power for coastal and offshore cruising.
- Displacement to length
- 233Moderate displacement, a classic cruising balance between load carrying and speed.
- Theoretical hull speed
- 7.7 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
- 1.98Below 2.0, the traditional threshold for offshore suitability.
- Motion comfort ratio
- 26.6Moderate motion comfort, typical of modern cruisers.
- Length to beam ratio
- 3.00 : 1Moderate proportions.
What the Ocean label meant at Bavaria in the late 1990s
In the J&J Design era, Bavaria used the word Ocean for its center cockpit boats. The Bavaria Ocean 38, built from 1997 to 2000 according to sailboatdata, was the smallest of them, followed by the 42 Ocean, the Ocean 40 and the big Ocean 47 CC. Yachting Monthly's verdict on the Ocean 40 applies to the whole family: conventional aft-cockpit versions sold in larger numbers, largely to charter fleets, while the Ocean models were bought by private owners and today tend to command higher prices.
That private-owner history is the main reason to look at a Bavaria Ocean 38. Many have spent their lives with one or two families rather than in a fleet, and the brokerage listings show boats with long ownership records, upgraded electronics and liveaboard equipment.
A king-size aft cabin on a 38 footer
Raising the cockpit to the middle of the boat frees the space beneath it for something rare at this length: a full-width owner's cabin aft with a large double that listings describe as king size. The forward cabin is a conventional V-berth with stowage, the saloon has a central table, and an L-shaped galley sits near the companionway. A single head with dual access and a separate shower serves both cabins.
This is a two-cabin boat by design. It sleeps four in cabins and two more in the saloon, and listings quote headroom of about 6 ft 3 in. For a couple who has guests aboard a few weeks a year, that arrangement is close to ideal; for a family with teenagers who each want a cabin, an aft-cockpit three-cabin boat is a better fit.
J&J hull numbers and why the real weight matters
Sailboatdata lists the Ocean 38 at 39 ft 0 in overall (11.90 m) with a 37 ft 7 in hull and a 32 ft 8 in waterline. Beam is 12 ft 11 in, the standard keel draws 6 ft 5 in and a shoal version draws 5 ft 1 in. Lightship displacement is 8,200 kg (18,078 lb) with 2,900 kg of ballast, a respectable 35 percent ratio.
The figure buyers often miss is the fully equipped displacement, which sailboatdata gives as 9,810 kg (21,627 lb). A loaded cruising boat is heavier still, so the light 232 displacement to length ratio in the brochure becomes a solidly moderate cruising number in practice. That is no bad thing: the motion comfort ratio of 26.7 and capsize screening value of 1.98 describe a capable coastal cruiser that will handle open-water passages in a sensible season.
Masthead rig, furling main and realistic pace
The rig is a masthead sloop with a mast standing about 55 ft 7 in above the waterline. Bavaria offered a standard 36.5 square meter mainsail or a smaller 30.3 square meter in-mast furling main, paired with a 43.4 square meter furling genoa. Many boats on the market have the furling main, which is easy for a couple but costs pointing and light-air speed.
No published sea trial figures for the Ocean 38 turned up in our research, so expectations come from the numbers. Theoretical hull speed is about 7.7 knots, and a moderate 38 footer of this weight typically cruises in the 6 to 7 knot range in a working breeze. A modern furling code zero on a short bowsprit, as fitted to one boat for sale, transforms light-air reaching.
Center cockpit living: what you gain and what you give up
The gains are obvious once you sit in the cockpit at sea. You are higher, drier and closer to the boat's pitch center, and with a sprayhood, bimini and full enclosure the cockpit becomes an all-weather room. Several boats for sale carry exactly that canvas package, plus davits for the tender.
The costs are windage, more steps between deck and saloon, and a slightly smaller forward cabin and saloon than an aft-cockpit 38 with the same hull. Steering with the helm amidships also feels different when you are docking stern-to, because you are further from the transom. Practice with a bow thruster helps, and at least one Ocean 38 on the market has one fitted.
The Volvo MD22L, the saildrive and the tanks
Sailboatdata lists the original engine as a 50 hp Volvo Penta MD22L, and listings confirm a saildrive installation. The MD22L is a robust, mechanically simple diesel, but many are now more than 25 years old. Look for service records, cooling system overhauls and a replaced saildrive diaphragm, which Volvo recommends changing at fixed intervals; one owner replaced it in 2018.
Fuel capacity is 230 liters (61 US gallons) per sailboatdata, and listings quote 225 to 260 liters. Water is about 380 to 395 liters (100 to 104 gallons), split between tanks. That is reasonable range for coastal cruising and enough water for a couple to spend a week at anchor.
The 42 Ocean, Ocean 40 and 47 Ocean siblings
If an Ocean 38 is too small, the family offers alternatives. The 42 Ocean (1998 to 2001) is 44 ft overall with a 59 hp Volvo, and sailboatdata notes its aft-cockpit twin was simply called the Bavaria 42. The Ocean 40, launched around 2000 and reviewed by Yachting Monthly as competent and well engineered with a fairly basic finish, added a fractional rig and bulb keel. At the top, the 47 Ocean was built from 1999 to 2002, with sailboatdata recording 25 hulls.
These boats share J&J lines and Bavaria's late-1990s build methods, so the inspection advice below applies across the range. Always confirm the center cockpit layout from photos and drawings before comparing prices, since the aft-cockpit Bavarias of the same years are a different market.
Buying a Bavaria Ocean 38 at 25 plus years old
Prices are refreshingly predictable. Boats from 1997 to 2000 have recently been listed in France, Greece and Scotland at roughly 69,800 to 82,000 euros or about 74,000 GBP, which is about $70,000 to $100,000. The higher prices belong to boats with replaced standing rigging, newer sails, modern plotters and solid teak decks.
At this age, budget matters more than model year. A new teak deck can cost more than the difference between a cheap and an expensive Ocean 38, and replacing the rig, sails and batteries can easily add $25,000. Pay for a full out-of-water survey and a rigging inspection before you commit.
Bavaria Ocean 38 specifications
| Length overall | 39 ft11.9 m |
|---|---|
| Waterline length | 32.6 ft9.95 m |
| Beam | 13 ft3.95 m |
| Draft | 6.4 ft1.95 m |
| Air draft | 55.6 ft16.95 m |
| Displacement | 18,078 lbs8,2 kg |
| Ballast | 6,393 lbs2,9 kg |
| Sail area | 86 sq ft79.9 m² |
| Fuel capacity | 61 gal23 L |
| Fresh water | 1 gal38 L |
| Cabins | 2 (aft owner's cabin and forward cabin) |
| Berths | 4 to 6 including saloon |
| Heads | 1, with dual access and separate shower |
| Standard engines | Volvo Penta MD22L (50 hp) diesel with saildrive |
| Maximum power | 50 hp |
| Hull type | Moderate displacement monohull, center cockpit |
| Keel | Cast iron fin keel, 6 ft 5 in (1.95 m) standard or 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) shoal |
| Rig | Masthead sloop, conventional or in-mast furling main with furling genoa |
| Hull construction | Fiberglass (GRP) with cast iron keel |
| Builder | Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH, Germany |
| Naval architect | J&J Design (Judel/Vrolijk) |
| Production | 1997 to 2000 |
| 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 Ocean 38 cost?
Recent European listings for the Bavaria Ocean 38 sit in a tight band from about 69,800 to 82,000 euros, plus a 2000 boat in Scotland at 73,995 GBP. Condition, teak deck health, rigging age and electronics move the price more than the model year. The center cockpit layout tends to command a premium over aft-cockpit Bavarias of the same age, but very few boats are in the US.
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.
Bavaria Ocean 38 timeline
- 1997Bavaria Ocean 38 enters production as the smallest center cockpit in the range
- 1998The 42 Ocean joins the family
- 1999The 47 Ocean center cockpit flagship arrives
- 2000Last Ocean 38s are built and the Ocean 40 arrives
Strengths and weaknesses
What owners like
- King-size aft owner's cabin on a 38 footer
- Dry, protected center cockpit that takes a full enclosure
- Mostly private-owner history rather than charter
- Healthy 35 percent ballast ratio
- Low, stable used prices
What to weigh up
- Only two cabins and one head
- More windage and steps than an aft-cockpit boat
- Original finish was basic and many boats need interior refurbishment
- Saildrive and MD22L engines are now 25 plus years old
Used Bavaria Ocean 38 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 40 CC
Larger French center cockpit alternative with more interior volume.
Compare side by sideBeneteau Oceanis 36 CC
Smaller and simpler, aimed at the same couple's cruising buyer.
Compare side by sideMoody 38 CC
British center cockpit known for heavier build, usually at a higher price.
Island Packet 380
Aft cockpit but a strong liveaboard rival with a full keel and much higher prices.
Compare side by sideOur verdict on the Bavaria Ocean 38
The Bavaria Ocean 38 is not glamorous, but it solves a real problem: how to get a center cockpit and a genuine aft owner's cabin into a 38 footer that costs less than many new outboard runabouts. The J&J hull is moderate and capable, the layout is perfect for a couple, and private ownership has kept many boats in better shape than their charter-era siblings. Check the teak, rig, saildrive and keel carefully, and it makes an excellent first liveaboard or retirement cruiser.
Bavaria Ocean 38 questions answered
Is the Bavaria 38 Ocean a center cockpit boat?
Yes. The Ocean name marked Bavaria's center cockpit models, and the Ocean 38 has a large aft owner's cabin under the raised cockpit.
How many cabins does the Bavaria Ocean 38 have?
Two cabins: an aft owner's cabin with a large double and a forward V-berth cabin, plus one head with dual access and a separate shower.
What engine is in the Bavaria Ocean 38?
The original engine is a 50 hp Volvo Penta MD22L diesel driving a saildrive.
How much is a Bavaria Ocean 38 worth?
Recent listings run from about 69,800 to 82,000 euros, roughly $70,000 to $100,000, depending on condition and equipment.
Can a Bavaria Ocean 38 cross an ocean?
With a careful refit and proper preparation it can make offshore passages, and its capsize screening value of 1.98 is just inside the usual threshold, but it was designed primarily as a coastal and Mediterranean cruiser.
Photos from the Bavaria Yachts range
We have not found a freely licensed photo of the Bavaria Ocean 38 yet, so these show other Bavaria Yachts boats, each captioned with the boat pictured.
More cruising sailboats to explore
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Dufour 390 Grand Large
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Delphia 40
Cruising Sailboats, 39 ft
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Beneteau Oceanis 38.1
Cruising Sailboats, 39 ft
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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 49
- Bavaria 50 Cruiser
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- Bavaria 820
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- Bavaria Cruiser 33
- Bavaria Cruiser 34
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- Bavaria Cruiser 56
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- Bavaria R55
- Bavaria S29
- Bavaria S33
- Bavaria S36
- Bavaria S40
- Bavaria Sport 32
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- Bavaria SR41
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