The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 vs Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 51 Standart/Shoal Draft 2016 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 at 47,6 ft versus Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 51 Standart/Shoal Draft 2016 at 49,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 51 Standart/Shoal Draft 2016 tips the scales at 31 085 lbs — 4 070 lbs less than the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 at 27 015 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 51 Standart/Shoal Draft 2016 tops out at 75 hp. Engine specs for the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 51 Standart/Shoal Draft 2016 carries 74 gallons versus 55 gallons in the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 51 Standart/Shoal Draft 2016 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 caps at 14. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 51 Standart/Shoal Draft 2016 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 51 Standart/Shoal Draft 2016 displaces 31 085 lbs — a 4 070-lb difference over the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 at 27 015 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 — 7,1 ft and 7,5 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 uses Sloop rigging. The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 51 Standart/Shoal Draft 2016 has a documented auxiliary engine of 75 hp.
For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 51 Standart/Shoal Draft 2016 carries 148 gallons versus 92 gallons on the Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 51 Standart/Shoal Draft 2016 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 31 085 lbs displacement and 49 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 46 Style 2013 at 27 015 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.