Bavaria's successful motorboat portfolio is getting a little long in the tooth. The men from Giebelstadt are well aware of this and launched several new models last year. One of these is the Vida 33 presented here, and in order to launch it on the market as quickly as possible, the decision was made to use an already familiar model from the Slovenian Greenline shipyard: the Neo. Nevertheless, the Vida 33 is an independent boat with clear Bavaria accents.
As you approach the boat at the jetty, the first thing you notice is the generous amount of space on deck. In addition to the spacious seating area with table, which can easily accommodate eight people, the foredeck offers enough space for at least three more guests to make themselves comfortable on the sun lounger (1.9 m x 1.8 m) above the cabin. The foredeck is accessed via a passageway on the port side. Like the entire deck area, this is safe to walk through and can be lined with teak if desired. Viewed from aft, the first thing that catches the eye of the interested boater is the striking bathing platform. It encloses the two engines and can be raised and lowered hydraulically, depending on the equipment variant. So if you want to take a dip in the water or have to compensate for a height difference when mooring "Roman Catholic" (stern to the pier), you will love the movable platform.
Need more information? You can find the test of the Bavaria Vida 33 HT with technical data and more pictures in BOOTE issue 03/2021 from 17 February 2021 at newsstands or online at Delius Klasing Shop.
The entire cockpit is covered by a hardtop, which gives the Vida the abbreviation HT in this version. If you still don't want to do without direct sunlight from above, open the "sliding roof", a fabric covering that is somewhat reminiscent of the folding roofs of small French cars. The "wet bar", which would have been called a kitchen block in the past, is located in the centre of the cockpit port side. A two-burner hob, 80-litre refrigerator and mini sink fulfil the basic requirements of a day cruiser. The driving position in the front cockpit area is in keeping with the spirit of the times. In plain language: two Simrad multifunction displays with touchscreen (GO9 XSE) installed as standard take over the function of the individual instruments and switches used in the past. While one is reserved for navigation, all engine data can be found on the other. With the exception of the steering wheel, which is installed a little too low for our liking, everything is in the right place. You can "shift and manoeuvre" to your heart's content. This also applies to the throttle and gear levers as well as the Mercury Axius joystick control on the starboard shelf.
The three-seater group at the driving position offers good seating comfort, and driving is possible both sitting and standing without any problems. Folding seat extensions, footrests and side rests also contribute to the well-being of the "ship's command".
The first thing you notice when you enter the cabin, which is accessible via a sliding door from the cockpit, is the seating area that can be converted into a bed. High-quality materials, light colours and the side windows create a pleasant atmosphere. With a headroom of around 1.9 metres, the cabin is easy to access, the only thing that detracts from the overall impression is the bed, which in our opinion is too small. With bed dimensions of 1.46 m x 1.55 m to 2 m (V-shape), the Vida 33 falls short of its potential in this respect. The obligatory wet room is located to starboard and is equipped with everything you would expect in this boat class. All in all, the Bavaria Vida 33 successfully reflects the concept of a large day cruiser in terms of "living and life" and will appeal to its fans.
Let's move on to the handling characteristics: the first glance at the transom makes it clear that we are on a more than well-powered sports boat. Two 300 hp Verado engines are a clear statement and suggest driving pleasure. The V8s roar quietly as we leave the Bavaria factory harbour. The joystick control and the optional bow thruster make harbour manoeuvres the proverbial child's play and enable the famous "turning on a plate". Why you need both a joystick and a bow thruster remains unclear to the tester, but is probably due to the spirit of the times and the customer's demand for "easy boating". The good overview of the entire boat benefits the driver during harbour manoeuvres just as much as the smooth gearstick and steering. If the speed is increased to 1200 rpm, the boat is travelling at a slow displacement speed of just under 6 knots. Theoretically, you could travel up to 550 kilometres at this canal speed, plus reserve. Between 2000 rpm and 3000 rpm (8 to 10 knots), wave formation increases significantly, so it is better to quickly pass this uneconomical range and bring the Vida quickly into planing speed.
Need more information? You can find the test of the Bavaria Vida 33 HT with technical data and more pictures in BOOTE issue 03/2021 from 17/02/2021 at newsstands or online at Delius Klasing Shop.
We step on the gas and let the two Verado engines run in the medium speed range of around 3400 rpm. The boat accelerates to 20 knots without complaint and without excessive rearing up. Now you also get clearer acoustic feedback from the stern. The sonorous V8 sound emits an acceptable 83 db(A) at the driving position, and the range is reduced to around 200 kilometres plus reserve. At 4500 rpm, we reach the most economical gliding speed of 24 knots, at which the Vida has a range of 240 kilometres plus reserve. If you push the throttle further forward, the 16 cylinders with a total displacement of around 9 litres make themselves heard more clearly. The sound level meter signals 90 dB(A) and the speed approaches the 40 kn mark. What brings a pleasant grin to the face of experienced drivers may seem unfamiliar to beginners: If you pull the boat into tight bends at high speeds or provoke a lean with abrupt steering movements, the Vida 33 becomes a thoroughbred sports boat. On slalom courses, it demands the undivided attention of the driver, who should have a firm grip on the throttle and steering wheel at all times. The enormous lean angle in bends, which has also been observed in the Greenline Neo, is technically uncritical, but gives a "motorbike feeling" - especially for beginners. Fast 180-degree turns end with the propellers deflating, as does a "kickdown" during a water ski start. The reason for this became clear when we inspected the underwater hull of the sister boat at the boatyard. The engine fitters had obviously meant too well and had installed the engines in "race setup". To put it plainly: both engines were at least 5 cm too high on the test boat. Although this gives 1 to 2 kn more top speed, it leads to the aforementioned handling characteristics and the propellers "pulling air". Less would have been more here.
A few words about the equipment and workmanship: Bavaria is on a par with the big names in the industry here. The basic equipment, the technical installations as well as the surfaces, the plastic and the furniture construction are good and give no cause for complaint. In addition, the Vida 33 maintains the Bavaria traditions in terms of value for money and will certainly find its fans in the day cruiser segment.
Need more information? You can find the test of the Bavaria Vida 33 HT with technical data and more pictures in BOOTE issue 03/2021 from 17/02/2021 at newsstands or online at Delius Klasing Shop.
Conclusion
With the Vida 33 HT, Bavaria is breaking new ground in terms of outboard motorisation, and you can see that in the test boat. In our opinion, less would have been more. The boat itself is well thought out, visually appealing, well finished and offers plenty of space for family and friends, especially on deck.
