If you believe the shipyard advertising, Bavaria's new SR line combines the best of two worlds: the sportiness of the S line with the touring comfort of the R line. In this respect, the SR36, which is the subject of this test, is the ideal combination for fans of so-called sports cruisers. The lines of the SR36 were created by the Italian designer Marco Casali Bavaria's head of development Norbert Leifeld is responsible for the technical realisation. After the mainstream designs of past production years, the Bavaria SR36 has a refreshingly modern look. Generous room layout, ample window areas and an enormous amount of space in the cockpit for this size of boat make you want more. The convertible concept of the aft seating group, already familiar from the larger sister ship SR41, is particularly noteworthy. It is multifunctional in the truest sense of the word and offers the owner no less than five different utilisation options: Storage space, sunbathing area, forward-facing seating area, aft-facing seating area or dining area on the bathing platform. Chapeau! You have to realise that in terms of design.
An open sports boat in no time at all
Combined with the large electrically operated sliding roof, the hardtop version is transformed into an almost open sports boat in no time at all. Further forward in the cockpit is a second seating area and the galley with two-burner hob, grill, sink, 80-litre refrigerator and freezer. The helm station is located directly in front of the galley, where two Simrad multifunction displays, with a choice of 9 or 12-inch touchscreens, set the tone. All engine and navigation data can be read on them at any time and all kinds of technical gimmicks can be set at the touch of a finger. Shifting and steering is done in the traditional way using the grippy three-spoke sports steering wheel and Volvo's familiar ECV-II gearstick. If you order the joystick control for a hefty 16.5 kilo euros, you will find the "fun stick" well positioned directly in front of the electrically operated gearstick levers.
All in all, the instrumentation and the switch arrangement on the SR36's control stand leave little to be desired. Only the Simrad VHF radio, which is hidden under the switch console, would have deserved a better position in our opinion. Almost forgotten: For the traditionalists among us, the shipyard has fitted a 7 cm compass directly above the multifunction displays. The driver sits on an almost 80 cm wide bench seat with good upholstery but rather poor lateral support. Passengers find their "little place" on the port side in front of the companionway. The windscreen, which is tilted far forward, is made of safety glass, is kept free of condensation by defroster nozzles and is cleaned of rain or splash water by two parallel wipers including a washer system. "Exemplary", notes the test report.
If you follow the four steps of the companionway, you reach the saloon with seating area and small navigation corner. With a headroom of around 1.96 metres, the feeling of space is good, with both side and roof windows providing light and air. The centre cabin, shower with WC and the spacious forward cabin with double bed (1.4 m x 2 m, 12 cm thick cushions) and plenty of storage space can be accessed from here. An escape hatch in the roof, large side windows and light-coloured upholstery also create a friendly atmosphere in the bow area. In the bathroom, the shower cubicle (60 x 60 cm) and washbasin are separated by a glass door. With a headroom of 1.9 metres, it is only slightly narrower than in the saloon. The centre cabin offers two single beds, which can be pushed together to form a large bed (2 x 1.6 m) if required, as well as a sofa and plenty of cupboards. With headroom of between 1.95 m in the entrance area and 1.09 m above the beds, things are a little tighter here. All in all, it can be said that you can comfortably spend a longer holiday cruise with 4 people on the Bavaria SR 36. The clever room layout ensures that privacy is maintained.
Let's get down to sailing. We leave the Ancora Marina in Neustadt in bright sunshine and around 13 degrees. Thanks to the twin engines, joystick steering and additional bow thruster, manoeuvring is easy even in the tightest of spaces. Even with classic steering, i.e. using only the engines and the rudder, the boat reacts immediately and can be steered to where it needs to go. At around 1,000 rpm, the two Volvo D4-300 diesels in combination with the Duoprop Z-drives move the SR 36 through the water at around 5 knots. 500 rpm more speed and we reach a good displacement or canal speed of 8 kn, with a range of around 200 nm plus 15% reserve. Course stability and wave formation are good. The noise level of 71 dB(A) is also a good value. However, this changes at around 2,500 rpm, just below the glide limit. At this speed, which corresponds to a speed of around 15 knots, we can hear vibrations in the boat that cause the noise level to rise to 80 dB(A). This is also known to the developers and is to be eliminated in the production boats (we are driving construction number 1).
If you accelerate further, the bow lifts noticeably and the boat starts to glide. We achieve a good, economical planing speed at around 3,000 rpm. Travelling at 23 knots, the fuel consumption settles at 3.65 l/sm, which corresponds to a range of 116 nm (plus reserve). Not enough for us. A touring boat like the Bavaria SR 36 deserves a larger tank than the installed 500-litre version. If we run the D4 at full load, the recommended rated speed of 3,500 rpm is reached and the SR 36 moves through the water at a respectable 30 knots in slightly choppy seas. The manoeuvres performed at this speed, such as slaloms, steering wrenching or full circles, are completed flawlessly by the SR 36. However, the hull, which is canted up at 18 degrees, leans far to one side in port turns, so that the roof comes into the driver's field of vision and he is denied a view to the left.
When it comes to the finish and equipment of older Bavaria boats, there have always been discussions between buyers, dealers and the shipyard. However, what we found on our test boat in terms of workmanship was impressive. The shipyard is now on a par with the big names in the industry. Unfortunately, this does not apply to the standard equipment. With a base price of a hefty 280,000 euros (test boat 519,000 euros), paying extra for essential items such as an anchor, fenders and lines is certainly something that still needs to be discussed.
Conclusion
The Bavaria SR 36 is a clear step forwards. Both the workmanship and the handling characteristics are good. With the minimum engine we drove (2x 300 hp), it is fast, but not sporty. The living space is well organised for two couples or a family with children.
Technical details
- Shipyard: Bavaria Yachts/D
- Type: SR 36 Hardtop
- CE category:B/8 persons; C/10
- Hull and deck:Plastic
- Length over everything:12,28 m
- Width: 3,85 m
- Displacement (with motors): 8,600 kg
- Depth: 0,95 m
- Clearance height: 3,40 m
- Fuel tank:1x 500 l
- Water tank:250 l
- Holding tank:70 l + 120 l
- Cabins: 2
- Berths: 4 + 1
- Berth dimensions: Bow 1.98 m x 1.37 m; centre cabin 2x 2.00 m x 0.80 m
- Standing height/seating height:Bow cabin 1.97 m; centre cabin 1.95/1.09 m; toilet room 1.90 m; saloon 1.98 m,
- Cockpit size (covered):2.03 m x 2.65 m,
- Wide side deck: 0,32 m
- Railing height:0,65 m
- Sun lounger:Stern 2.14 m x 1.11 m; foredeck 2.05 m x 1.92 m,
- Freeboard:approx. 1.53 m
- Interior cockpit side height: 0,80 m
- Test weight: about 9,000 kg
- possible motorisation: Inboard 2x 221 -261 kW (300-355 hp)
- Test motorisation: Volvo Penta D 4 300 2x (221 kW) 300hp
- Price (standard boat): from € 279,500
- Price (test boat):approx. € 519,000
- Manufacturer: www.bavariayachts.com
