Bavaria 50 Cruiser vs Dufour 520 Grand Large — Comparison
Bavaria 50 Cruiser
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria 50 Cruiser | Dufour 520 Grand Large |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Dufour |
| Year | 2007–2012 | 2012–2017 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | France |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Felci Yacht Design |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 15.40 m (50.5 ft) | 15.80 m (51.8 ft) |
| LWL | 13.50 m (44.3 ft) | 13.85 m (45.4 ft) |
| Beam | 4.55 m (14.9 ft) | 4.69 m (15.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.25 m (7.4 ft) | 2.45 m (8.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 14,000 kg (30,865 lbs) | 14,500 kg (31,967 lbs) |
| Ballast | 4,500 kg (9,921 lbs) | 4,600 kg (10,141 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 108.0 m² (1,163 ft²) | 110.0 m² (1,184 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 75 HP | 75 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 300 L (79.3 gal) | 300 L (79.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 530 L (140.0 gal) | 550 L (145.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 10 |
| Cabins | 5 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria 50 Cruiser and Dufour 520 Grand Large represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria 50 Cruiser is a 2000s design by Bavaria from Germany, while the Dufour 520 Grand Large is a modern offering from Dufour from France. The Bavaria 50 Cruiser was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The Dufour 520 Grand Large was designed by Felci Yacht Design.
In terms of size, the Bavaria 50 Cruiser measures 15.40m (50.5ft) overall with a beam of 4.55m, compared to the Dufour 520 Grand Large at 15.80m (51.8ft) with a 4.69m beam. The Dufour 520 Grand Large is 0.40m longer than the Bavaria 50 Cruiser. The Dufour 520 Grand Large displaces approximately 4% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Bavaria 50 Cruiser has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.89 and 108.0 m² of sail area. The Dufour 520 Grand Large, with an SA/D of 18.79 and 110.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Bavaria 50 Cruiser has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Bavaria 50 Cruiser offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 14.4) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.76). The Dufour 520 Grand Large has a comfort ratio of 13.6 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 32.1% for the Bavaria 50 Cruiser and 31.7% for the Dufour 520 Grand Large, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Bavaria 50 Cruiser provides 10 berths in 5 cabins with 530L of water capacity and 300L of fuel. The Dufour 520 Grand Large offers 10 berths in 4 cabins with 550L water and 300L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Bavaria 50 Cruiser is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The Bavaria 50 Cruiser has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: Both boats provide similar accommodation, making either a viable choice for living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.
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Or view individual specs: Bavaria 50 Cruiser · Dufour 520 Grand Large