Bavaria Cruiser 46 vs Dufour 520 Grand Large — Comparison
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Bavaria Cruiser 46 | Dufour 520 Grand Large |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Bavaria | Dufour |
| Year | 2015–2020 | 2012–2017 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | Germany | France |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Felci Yacht Design |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.27 m (46.8 ft) | 15.80 m (51.8 ft) |
| LWL | 12.60 m (41.3 ft) | 13.85 m (45.4 ft) |
| Beam | 4.35 m (14.3 ft) | 4.69 m (15.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.15 m (7.1 ft) | 2.45 m (8.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,500 kg (25,353 lbs) | 14,500 kg (31,967 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,600 kg (7,937 lbs) | 4,600 kg (10,141 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 92.0 m² (990 ft²) | 110.0 m² (1,184 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 57 HP | 75 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 300 L (79.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 450 L (118.9 gal) | 550 L (145.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 10 |
| Cabins | 4 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Bavaria Cruiser 46 and Dufour 520 Grand Large represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Bavaria Cruiser 46 is a modern design by Bavaria from Germany, while the Dufour 520 Grand Large is a modern offering from Dufour from France. The Bavaria Cruiser 46 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The Dufour 520 Grand Large was designed by Felci Yacht Design.
In terms of size, the Bavaria Cruiser 46 measures 14.27m (46.8ft) overall with a beam of 4.35m, compared to the Dufour 520 Grand Large at 15.80m (51.8ft) with a 4.69m beam. The Dufour 520 Grand Large is 1.53m longer than the Bavaria Cruiser 46. The Dufour 520 Grand Large displaces approximately 26% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Bavaria Cruiser 46 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.34 and 92.0 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 Dufour 520 Grand Large has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Bavaria Cruiser 46 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 14.5) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.77). The Dufour 520 Grand Large has a comfort ratio of 13.6 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 31.3% for the Bavaria Cruiser 46 and 31.7% for the Dufour 520 Grand Large, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Bavaria Cruiser 46 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 450L of water capacity and 250L 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 Cruiser 46 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 Dufour 520 Grand Large 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 Cruiser 46 · Dufour 520 Grand Large