The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 40 Standart/Shoal Draft 2012 vs Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 measures 47,6 feet overall (2013), giving it roughly 7,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 40 Standart/Shoal Draft 2012 at 40,2 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 tips the scales at 27 015 lbs — 7 879 lbs less than the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 40 Standart/Shoal Draft 2012 at 19 136 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 40 Standart/Shoal Draft 2012 carries a rated maximum of 29 hp. Engine data for the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 56 gal and 55 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 40 Standart/Shoal Draft 2012 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 displaces 27 015 lbs — a 7 879-lb difference over the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 40 Standart/Shoal Draft 2012 at 19 136 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 6,7 ft and 7,1 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 40 Standart/Shoal Draft 2012 uses Sloop rigging. The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 40 Standart/Shoal Draft 2012 has a documented auxiliary engine of 29 hp.
Bottom line: The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 27 015 lbs displacement and 48 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 40 Standart/Shoal Draft 2012 at 19 136 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.