Bavaria SR33 (11.4 m) is the compact family cruiser – TEST

Versatile on deck and below. The new Bavaria SR33 is the ideal German boat (with Italian design) for family cruising. We had seen it at Boot Düsseldorf 2023 in the exhibition halls. Today we see how it navigates.

The full test can be found in
Motor Boats No. 32.

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What we talk about:

• Bavaria SR33
• Bavaria SR33: exterior and deck
• Bavaria SR33: interior and cabins
• Bavaria SR33: how it sails
• Bavaria SR33: price

Bavaria SR33

A typically German boat, reliable and functional, but with an Italian heart. The design and water lines, in fact, are by Marco Casali and his team. Don’t be fooled by the name, Bavaria SR33 is not a 33-footer at all. With an overall length of 11.40 meters (over 37 feet), this powerboat manages to offer plenty of space on board, both above and below deck, a strength, and success, of the SR line.

Exterior and deck

Thanks to a hard-top that covers the entire cockpit and side windows that enclose the space, the new Bavaria SR33 has a modular layout that allows the boat to be experienced both sheltered, under the hard-top, and close to the water, near the platform.

The focal point of all the activities on board is the cockpit, where a comfortable chaise longue, for relaxing while sailing, and a spacious lounge with kitchenette, refrigerator and sink, find space in addition to the helm station. The wet-bar is the only cooking surface on board, but it is well protected by the opening hard-top (either full-length fabric or fiberglass with a small opening above the driver’s station) and is the perfect place to prepare and eat all the day’s meals.

Thanks to the fold-down backrest, the aft sundeck accommodates up to six people, and in addition, the aft area can be adapted for different functions. Depending on the owner’s needs, it can be equipped (as an option) with a manual retractable table for a second seating area near the platform, facing aft, or a large XL locker.

Concluding the deck, there is space in the stern for a small beach on which a camping cover can be attached, enclosing the cockpit and transforming it into a totally protected and air-conditioned daytime space. Toward the bow, after walking on rather narrow walkways, fortunately aided by a high stanchion and a useful, but short, handrail on the canopy, one reaches another area dedicated to relaxation, equipped with a large central sundeck that can accommodate up to three people.

Bavaria SR33: Interior

Below deck, the Bavaria SR33 has space and brightness. Despite its compact size, this boat, in fact, accommodates as many as four berths, divided between saloon and a comfortable central cabin with a double bed.

Ideally it is the perfect boat for a couple or a family with children, but if you want to invite friends and guests as well, if everyone is staying overnight, the salon table can be lowered to create an additional berth, which is a bit uncomfortable, but with which the sleeping accommodations become as many as six. Completing the underdeck area is a bathroom with a separate shower stall.

Navigation

The hull we are going to test is the shipyard’s show hull, a full-optional version with a twin Volvo Penta D4 inboard diesel engine with 300 horsepower per engine. Other gasoline and diesel engines are also available, all inboard, both Volvo and Mercury. When cruising, the recommended cruising speed is 24 knots in order to have a good fuel consumption/speed ratio, which is reached at about 3000 rpm and with an overall consumption of 79 lt/h.

The sprint from 0 to 26 knots we completed in 15 seconds, with another 10 seconds we reached the top speed of 31 knots at 3500 rpm. At this speed, consumption rises to 117 lt/h. At the time of the test, the monohull had 5 people, 250lt of fuel and 100lt of water on board. The driving feel is good, although it is a rather massive boat. It holds the sea very well, and although there are a few geese, on board pointing the bow against the waves at top speed you can be all in all comfortable. As we go up in RPM, with the engines straining harder, some noise can be heard, also aided by the echo effect created in the cockpit with the structure completely enveloping it.

Bavaria SR33: price

We come to the price. It starts at 238,500 euros (excl. VAT) with the basic engine made from two 4.5-liter Mercury MerCruiser 250-horsepower gasoline engines. A full-optional version, complete with everything, like the one I tested in Venice, costs around 383,020 euros (excluding VAT).

James Barbaro

Data Sheet