Bavaria Vision 42, Tested, Measured and Priced

The compact Vision: a Farr-designed 42 footer with a lounging cockpit, a cavernous saloon and the option to tack at the push of a button.

2012 to present Discontinued Updated October 2026

For reference, Bavaria C45 sailing in open water, not the Bavaria Vision 42. Photo: BavariaYachtbau, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Length: 42 ft12.8 m
Beam: 13.3 ft4.05 m
Draft: 6.8 ft2.07 m
Cabins: 2 standard, 3 optional
Used price: $150K to $215K

On this page

Overview
Where the Bavaria Vision 42 fits
Foam above the waterline, solid glass below
Sixteen knots on Long Island Sound
Yachting Monthly's verdict: an apartment that could cross an ocean
Six foot nine of headroom and an offset companionway
The cockpit that turns into a bed
Forty horsepower and 55 gallons of each
Buying a Vision 42 today
Specifications
Price and value
Strengths and weaknesses
Used buyer checklist
Rivals
Our verdict
FAQ

The Bavaria Vision 42 is a 12.80 m Farr Yacht Design cruiser styled by Design Unlimited, introduced in late 2012 as the smaller sister of the Vision 46. It launched in the US at the 2013 Annapolis spring show from $260,000 base.

Best for

Cruising couples who host occasional guests
Owners who spend as much time at anchor as sailing
Families wanting a manageable boat with big living space

Bavaria Vision 42 by the numbers

Plan view drawn to scale from the published length and beam.

Sail area to displacement: 19.5Balanced power for coastal and offshore cruising.
Displacement to length: 184Light displacement for its length, quick but sensitive to added cruising weight.
Theoretical hull speed: 8.2 knThe practical top speed of a displacement monohull under normal sailing, based on waterline length.
Ballast ratio: 25%Relatively low ballast, form stability does more of the work.
Capsize screening: 1.91Below 2.0, the traditional threshold for offshore suitability.
Motion comfort ratio: 27.4Moderate motion comfort, typical of modern cruisers.
Length to beam ratio: 3.16 : 1Moderate proportions.

Length compared with the 149 cruising sailboats we cover

Bavaria Vision 42

22 ft63 ft

Where the Bavaria Vision 42 fits

Bavaria said in June 2012 that a second Vision model was under development, and the Bavaria Vision 42 followed in the autumn as a scaled-down sister to the Vision 46, with the same Farr Yacht Design and Design Unlimited partnership and the same list of party tricks. It reached American buyers at the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show in April 2013, where Cruising World quoted a base price of $260,000 and a realistic sailaway figure of $300,000 to $330,000.

The concept is unchanged from the bigger boat: a cockpit designed for lounging, a saloon with plenty of light, a two-cabin layout that favors a couple, and optional systems to make short-handed sailing and docking easier. The difference is scale. At 12.80 m (42 ft) and 9,800 kg (21,605 lb), the Vision 42 is an easier boat to berth, cheaper to keep and still large enough to live aboard for a season.

Foam above the waterline, solid glass below

SAIL's Adam Cort described the build in detail. The hull is hand-laid e-glass with a Divinycell foam core above the waterline and solid laminate below it, stiffened by a fiberglass grid that is bonded to the hull and also secured by the keel bolts to carry rig and keel loads. The cored deck and coachroof sit on an inward-turning flange. Cort rated overall construction quality as excellent, crediting Bavaria's highly repeatable production process.

The keel is cast iron: Bavaria quotes 2,450 kg (5,401 lb) of ballast, which gives a ballast ratio of about 25 percent, on a standard fin drawing 2.07 m (6 ft 10 in) or a shoal fin of 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in). The double-spreader Selden mast is deck-stepped, and US boats came with in-mast furling as standard.

Sixteen knots on Long Island Sound

SAIL tested the Vision 42 in a steady breeze in the upper teens with almost flat water. Hardened up to 40 degrees true in 16 knots, the boat made 6 knots with just enough helm pressure to tell the driver what the foils were doing, and it never felt close to rounding up even when sailed a little fat in the puffs. Pinching to 30 or 35 degrees apparent was possible, but cost a knot or two. On a beam reach it topped 7 knots in the gusts and held 5.75 knots when the true wind dropped below 12.

The mainsheet arrangement divides opinion. There is no traveler; instead a double tackle runs to blocks on each side of the coachroof. It lets you place the boom exactly where you want it and offers some protection in an accidental gybe, but Cort never fully mastered coordinating the two lines through gybes, and Yachting Monthly's tester said he would prefer a single mainsheet for control in bear-aways. Under power, the boat made 5.7 knots at 2,000 rpm into a stiff headwind and backed out of a very tight slip in a crosswind using only the optional bow thruster.

Yachting Monthly's verdict: an apartment that could cross an ocean

Yachting Monthly sailed a heavily optioned Vision 42 in 2013 and summed it up as a family friendly, easy to sail cruiser with superyacht pretensions. The broad rudder, set well aft, gave plenty of control, although the autopilot linkage dulled the feel. Lewmar's Revo push-button tacking system was not quite ready on the test boat, and the reviewer questioned what it offers over a simple self-tacking jib.

The magazine's conclusion was more generous than the details suggest. Many owners use their boats as comfortable seaside apartments with an occasional cruise, and the Vision 42 serves that market very well, yet it sails well enough and has the stowage to make a transatlantic crossing or a long Mediterranean season once properly equipped. The joinery fell a little short of prestigious, with a few rough edges, but the reviewer told young families and empty nesters they would be mad not to try one.

Six foot nine of headroom and an offset companionway

The interior is built around one decision: moving the companionway toward the starboard side of the deck. That gave the cockpit room for its convertible table and, below, gave the port aft cabin extra volume. SAIL's test boat had two cabins and a single head, which Cort called the way to go: a large owner's cabin forward without an en suite eating into it, a roomy double aft to port that splits into two singles, and a huge storage space to starboard where a third cabin would otherwise be. Bavaria also offered three cabins and a second head; Yachting Monthly would choose the forward en suite.

Average saloon headroom is an astonishing 6 ft 9 in according to Yachting Monthly, partly because the sole is set low, which means you cannot see out of the hull ports while seated. The L-shaped galley has a small counter inboard to brace against, though Yachting Monthly wanted a separate fridge and freezer. The nav table slides down to form a short settee, the dining table lowers to make another double, and engine access was designed so the filters and strainers you service most are close at hand.

The cockpit that turns into a bed

On deck, the long, curved coachroof flows straight into the cockpit coaming, creating a protective bulwark as well as a clean line. Twin helms have cut-outs in the side-deck seats for steering from windward, and oblong backrests on the stern pulpit that look odd but work. The cockpit table folds out to seat a crowd or lowers to form a double for sleeping under the stars, a mechanism SAIL called ingenious. The transom drops into a large swim platform with a shower, and Yachting Monthly liked the built-in bathing ladder and the shower stowed under the starboard helm seat.

Practical details are good: wide side decks with double lifelines and a teak toerail, outboard chainplates, solid handrails on the coachroof, blade-jib tracks recessed into the house, flush hatches and a small bridgedeck to keep water out of the companionway.

Forty horsepower and 55 gallons of each

Power is a Volvo Penta D2-40 rated at 40 hp, driving through a saildrive and a three-blade fixed propeller on SAIL's test boat. Bavaria lists 210 liters (55 gallons) of fuel and the same volume of water. The fuel is enough for normal coastal cruising, but water is the limiting factor for a couple spending more than a few days at anchor, so a watermaker or additional tank is a common upgrade on boats used for long cruises.

Mast height above the waterline is about 18.93 m (62 ft), which clears the 65 ft bridges of the US Intracoastal Waterway with a small margin. Check the masthead instruments and antennas before relying on that figure.

Buying a Vision 42 today

Expect roughly $150,000 to $215,000 for a Vision 42 in 2026. The options list makes a huge difference: Yachting Monthly's test boat cost almost twice the base price, so compare equipment line by line rather than by year alone. Two-cabin boats with the large storage room are the most practical for couples; three-cabin boats suit families and charter fleets. The model was still in Bavaria's range in 2015, but nearly all examples were sold in Europe.

Annual running costs in the US usually fall between $16,000 and $32,000 before depreciation, including slip, insurance, haul-out, sails and rigging, engine and saildrive service. Do not confuse this boat with the J&J-designed Bavaria Vision 40 and 44 of 2006 to 2011, which share only the name.

Bavaria Vision 42 specifications

Length overall	42 ft12.8 m
Waterline length	37.4 ft11.4 m
Beam	13.3 ft4.05 m
Draft	6.8 ft2.07 m
Air draft	62.1 ft18.93 m
Displacement	21,605 lbs9,8 kg
Ballast	5,401 lbs2,45 kg
Sail area	947 sq ft88 m²
Fuel capacity	55 gal21 L
Fresh water	55 gal21 L
Cabins	2 standard, 3 optional
Berths	4 or 6
Heads	1 standard, 2 optional
Standard engines	Volvo Penta D2-40 (40 hp) with saildrive
Maximum power	40 hp
Hull type	Moderate displacement monohull with fin keel and spade rudder
Keel	Cast iron fin with bulb, 2.07 m (6 ft 10 in) standard or 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) shoal
Rig	Fractional sloop, double-spreader deck-stepped Selden mast, in-mast furling standard on US boats, blade jib on a Selden furler, twin mainsheet tackles instead of a traveler
Hull construction	Fiberglass, hand-laid e-glass with Divinycell foam core above the waterline and solid laminate below
Builder	Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH, Germany
Naval architect	Farr Yacht Design
Other design credits	Design Unlimited (styling and interior)
Production	2012 to present
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.

Performance data

Condition	True wind (kn)	Boat speed (kn)
Close-hauled, 40 deg true wind angle	16	6.0
Beam reach, gusts	upper teens	over 7
Beam reach, lighter spell	under 12	5.75
Motoring into a stiff breeze, 2,000 rpm	n/a	5.7

SAIL magazine test on Long Island Sound in almost flat water, published March 2014. Test boat had two cabins and one head; no fuel burn was published.

How much does a Bavaria Vision 42 cost?

New, typical sail-awayNo longer built

Used, typical asking$150K to $215K

Yearly running costs$16K to $32K

Cruising World reported a US base price of $260,000 at the 2013 launch, with typical sailaway prices of $300,000 to $330,000. Yachting Monthly's fully optioned test boat was priced at 287,454 pounds, nearly double the base boat. Values today depend heavily on how much of that options list was ticked, particularly electric winches, Trim Control, Dock Control, the convertible saloon table and the cockpit sun lounger.

Estimated used asking prices by model year, US market, 2026

Estimate your yearly cost

Purchase price Engine hours per year Slip rate per foot per month Fuel price per gallon

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

Two cabins, one head: Standard layout with a large storage room aft to starboard; the favorite of testers.
Three cabins, one or two heads: Adds a starboard aft cabin and optionally a forward en suite head.
Shoal keel: 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) cast iron fin for thin-water cruising grounds.

Bavaria Vision 42 timeline

2012In June Bavaria announces a second Vision model, the Vision 42, for autumn delivery
2013US launch at the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show from $260,000 base
2013Yachting Monthly tests a fully optioned boat priced at 287,454 pounds
2014SAIL publishes its Long Island Sound test
2015Both Vision models still appear in Bavaria's sailing range

Strengths and weaknesses

What owners like

Huge saloon headroom and light for a 42 footer
Steady, forgiving behavior in 15 to 20 knots
Clever convertible cockpit and saloon tables
Two-cabin layout with a genuine storage room
Solid, well-engineered production build

What to weigh up

Only 55 gallons of water
Twin mainsheet tackles complicate gybing
Low saloon sole limits the view out
Joinery short of premium rivals
Expensive options inflate prices of well-equipped boats

Used Bavaria Vision 42 buyer checklist

Take this list to a viewing. Your ticks are saved in this browser so you can come back to it.

Check the twin mainsheet tackles, blocks and coachroof fittings for wear
Operate the convertible cockpit table and saloon table mechanisms fully
Test any Lewmar Revo winches and Trim Control on both tacks
Inspect the keel bolts, grid and keel to hull joint for grounding damage on the iron keel
Check the in-mast furling main and battens for chafe and smooth furling
Review D2-40 and saildrive service, including the diaphragm seal and bow thruster
Look for leaks at the coachroof windows and hull ports
Check the drop-down transom hinges, rams and cockpit shower

Always commission an independent marine survey and an engine survey before you buy. How a marine survey works.

Rivals to consider

Beneteau Sense 43

The French cockpit-first cruiser the Vision line was designed to beat, with Dock and Go joystick docking.

Compare side by side

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 419

A more conventional layout with a larger US market and simpler systems.

Hanse 415

German rival with a self-tacking jib and a sportier feel on deck.

Dufour 412 Grand Large

Dufour's 41 footer of the same years, with a similar focus on cockpit living.

Compare side by side

Our verdict on the Bavaria Vision 42

The Bavaria Vision 42 is a smarter, more comfortable boat than its anonymous position on the used market suggests. It sails with confidence in a breeze, offers headroom and light that most 42 footers cannot match, and its two-cabin layout is genuinely better for a couple than the three-cabin charter plans of its rivals. The compromises are the twin mainsheet system, a small water tank and finish that is good rather than fine. Buy one with the options you will actually use, check the clever mechanisms work, and it will make an excellent long-season coastal cruiser.

Bavaria Vision 42 questions answered

Who designed the Bavaria Vision 42?

Farr Yacht Design drew the hull and Design Unlimited styled the deck and interior, the same team behind the Vision 46.

How much did a new Bavaria Vision 42 cost?

Cruising World reported a US base price of $260,000 in 2013, with typical sailaway prices of $300,000 to $330,000.

How fast is the Vision 42 under sail?

SAIL measured 6 knots at 40 degrees true in 16 knots of wind and over 7 knots on a beam reach in gusts.

How many cabins does the Vision 42 have?

Two cabins and one head as standard, with a three-cabin layout and a second head available.

What is a used Bavaria Vision 42 worth?

In 2026 most boats are worth roughly $150,000 to $215,000, depending heavily on options and condition.

Photos from the Bavaria Yachts range

We have not found a freely licensed photo of the Bavaria Vision 42 yet, so these show other Bavaria Yachts boats, each captioned with the boat pictured.

More cruising sailboats to explore

Catalina 42

Cruising Sailboats, 42 ft

Used $65K to $195K

Beneteau Oceanis 42

Cruising Sailboats, 42 ft

Used $340K to $430K

Beneteau Oceanis 411

Cruising Sailboats, 42 ft

Used $75K to $130K

Dufour 412 Grand Large

Cruising Sailboats, 42 ft

Used $165K to $245K

Other Bavaria Yachts models

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