Bavaria Cruiser 38
Built 2000–? by Bavaria Yachtbau (Germany)
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About the Bavaria Cruiser 38
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 2000–?
- Builder
- Bavaria Yachtbau (Germany)
- Designer
- J&J Design
- Length
- 40.35 ft
- Waterline
- 33.67 ft
- Beam
- 12.67 ft
- Draft
- 5.58 ft
- Displacement
- 15,400 lb
- Ballast
- 4,620 lb
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- saildrive
- Fuel
- 40 gal
- Water
- 79 gal
- Holding
- 21 gal
- Water heater
- engine
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- pedestal cable
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 40 gal
“There is a 150 l plastic diesel tank” — owner's manual (2002-2003), bavariayacht.orgThe Bavaria 38 (2002/2003) owner's manual gives one 150-litre plastic diesel tank (39.6 US gal), matching our earlier figure of 40.
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Water 79 gal
“two water tanks with a capacity of altogether abt 300 l” — owner's manual (2002-2003), bavariayacht.orgThe owner's manual gives two tanks of about 150 litres each (aft to port, and in the bow), about 300 litres or 79.25 US gal; our earlier 80 was the same figure rounded. The manual's overall length, 12.33 m (40.5 ft), matches our 40.35 ft, supporting this as the J&J Design Bavaria 38, not the 38 Ocean or 2010 Cruiser 38.
-
Holding 21 gal
“1 holding tank (option) abt 80 l in the locker in bath on starboard side” — owner's manual (2002-2003), bavariayacht.orgThe owner's manual lists a holding tank of about 80 litres (21 US gal) as an option.
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Water heater engine
“3 Rücklauf Boiler Reflux water heater ... 9 Motor Kreislauf Engine circular ... 11 Boiler Water heater” — owner's manual (2002-2003), bavariayacht.orgThe 2002/2003 Bavaria 38 owner's manual shows a water heater plumbed into the engine cooling circuit without marking it optional, though the sister Bavaria 36 manual of the same years does. No capacity is given; electric heating would depend on the optional shore-power connection.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster unknown
The builder's 2002/2003 owner's manual does not mention a bow thruster.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Our earlier figure of none has no source; the owner's manual is silent.
-
Steering pedestal cable
“It is operated by hand from the steering wheel at the steering post in the cockpit. Transmission of power is realised by” — owner's manual (2002-2003), bavariayacht.org · “A chain is laid over a tooth-wheel of the hub.” — owner's manual (2002-2003), bavariayacht.orgThe Bavaria 38 (2002/2003) owner's manual describes a wheel on a steering pedestal with engine panel, chain over the hub sprocket and cables to the rudder quadrant, and an emergency tiller; autopilot optional. It covers 2002-03 boats only (the 2000-01 38 Ocean manual wasn't checked), and no maker is named.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on engines — left blank rather than guessed.
Fractional sloop; cast iron fin, deep lead keel 6.58 ft optional; hull length 38.9 ft.
Engines fitted
-
Volvo Penta D2-55 (saildrive) — 55 hp, diesel, single
standard
sailboatdata's Bavaria Cruiser 38 page (LOA 40.35 ft, first built 2000) lists a Volvo Penta D2-55 diesel with saildrive, 55 hp, as original equipment. The SVB owners' club page for the 'Bavaria 38 Cruiser' also lists the D2-55 among engines fitted.Sources: sailboatdata.com · svb24.com
Generator
Electrical section covers optional shore power and charger only.
Manuals and brochures online
- Document Bavaria Owners Forum downloads page - links the Bavaria 38 (2002/2003) owner's manual (EN), the Bavaria 38 Ocean (1999/2000) manual and a 2010 Cruiser 34-51 dat (2002-2003) — bavariayacht.org
- Owner's manual Bavaria 38 (2002/2003) owner's manual (EN) - tank capacities, plumbing, fuel system (2002-2003) — bavariayacht.org
Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.
Known problems for this model
-
Saildrive diaphragm replacement interval running gear
Volvo Penta recommends renewing the saildrive hull diaphragm about every 7 years; owners report old seals often look fine, but insurers may ask for proof, and the job means sliding the engine forward and lifting the drive out (roughly a day of yard labor).bavariayacht.org
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Keel-to-hull joint after groundings hull
A 2005 Bavaria 36 showed lateral keel movement after a grounding, blamed by one surveyor on delamination at the keel attachment; other owners dispute that this is typical, but all agree any grounding needs a professional check of keel bolts and the bonded floor grid.bavariayacht.org · cruisersforum.com
Engines & parts
Volvo Penta D1 / D2 series (D1-13 to D2-75) parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Volvo Penta D2-55 (saildrive)”
Current-generation small Volvo diesels (Perkins-derived per owners). Glow plugs, injectors and filters can be bought cheaper via Perkins and aftermarket sources; stainless replacement exhaust elbows are sold aftermarket.
Parts sources: MarineDustrie, AB Marine Service (exhaust elbow)
Common problems (3)
-
Exhaust elbow / manifold corrosion exhaust
The cast elbow rots and has a narrow water passage, which lets water back into the manifold and corrode it through where the two meet; an aftermarket stainless elbow is the usual fix.sailnet.com · myhanse.com
-
Fuel pump controller failure fuel
Contamination or failure of the fuel pump controller is listed as one of the most common D1 faults.marinedustrie.com
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Overheating from corroded heat exchanger/manifold cooling
Corrosion holes in the combined heat exchanger/manifold cause overheating on D1 and D2 engines.myhanse.com · facebook.com
Maker’s service schedule (16)
| Engine oil & filter change D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 1 yr | “After that they should be changed every 500 operating hours or at least once a year.” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Raw-water pump impeller D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Check idling speed D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Clean the vacuum (siphon-break) valve D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Transmission fluid change D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 200 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Lubricate the propeller-shaft seal (reverse-gear installations) D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 200 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Check S-drive / reverse-gear corrosion protection (anodes) D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “Every 200 operating hours or at least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Air filter / intake silencer D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 2 yrs | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Coolant replacement & freeze-point test D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 2 yrs | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Heat exchanger & oil cooler cleaning D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 2 yrs | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Injector test / service D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 2 yrs | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Valve clearance check / adjust D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 2 yrs | “Every 500 operating hours or at least once every two years” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Check S-drive rubber seal (hull/drive); clean folding propeller D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 1 yr | “Least once a year, included in Extended Protection” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Replace propeller-shaft seal (reverse-gear installations, workshop) D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 500 hrs or 5 yrs | “Every 500 operating hours or at least every fifth year” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
| Replace S-drive rubber seal between drive and hull (workshop) D2-55 / D2-75 (2006 operator's manual 7747110) | 7 yrs | “Every seventh year” — manufacturer, noshoes-resoled.com |
Service part numbers (5)
| Oil filter D1-30, D2-40, D2-50, D2-55, D2-60, D2-75 |
Volvo Penta 3840525 | “p.90 "D1-30, D2-40" block: Oil filter — 3840525” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “# Volvo Penta D2-40 … [OIL FILTER] Part Number: 3840525” — dealer, marinepartsexpress.com |
| Fuel filter | Volvo Penta 861477 | “p.90 "D1-13, D1-20" block: Fuel filter — 861477” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “# Volvo Penta D1-30 … [FUEL FILTER] Part Number: 861477” — dealer, marinepartsexpress.com |
| Raw-water impeller D1-13, D1-20, D1-30, D2-40 |
Volvo Penta 22222936 | “p.90 "D1-13, D1-20" block: Impeller kit — 22222936” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “IMPELLER KIT … D2-40,D2-40B,D2-40F,D1-30,D1-30B,D1-30F,… D1-13,D1-13B,D1-13F,D1-20” — dealer, volvopentaparts.shop |
| Raw-water impeller D2-50, D2-55, D2-60, D2-75 |
Volvo Penta 21951346 Replaces 3862281, 3855546, 3856039 |
“p.90 "D2-50, D2-55, D2-60, D2-75" block: Impeller kit — 21951346” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “Volvo Penta: 21951346, 3862281, 3855546, 3856039 / … D2-55, D2-75” — dealer, repowermarine.com |
| Thermostat D1-13 to D2-75 |
Volvo Penta 3842015 | “# Volvo Penta D1-30 … [THERMOSTAT] Part Number: 3842015” — dealer, marinepartsexpress.com · “Genuine Volvo Penta Thermostat 3842015 D1-13, D1-20, D1-30 D2-40, D2-55, D2-60, D2-75” — dealer, repowermarine.com |
| Drive belt D1-13, D1-20, D1-30, D2-40 (alternator / coolant-pump multi-rib belt) |
Sources disagree: 21951188 / 21951188 / 21314684 | “Part Number: 21951188 … Supersedes: 3812159 … D1-13 (B and F variants) … D2-40” — dealer, marisolmarine.com · “Volvo Penta 21951188 Alternator belt D1-30 D1-30F D1-30B D2-40 D2-40B D2-40F” — dealer, dedieseldokter.nl |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Model sources (6)
sailboatdata.com · bavariayacht.org · bavariayacht.org · facebook.com · svb24.com · bavariayacht.org
Other Bavaria models
- Bavaria 36 (2002-2004) 2002–2004
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.