Look out, Bénéteau – this 40ft sportscruiser has a full-beam master cabin, plenty of pace and a hull good enough to give its rivals a bloody nose.
From the outset, the Bavaria R40 was designed to be a flybridge and a sports cruiser, so it’s no great surprise that the Coupe model works so well. It’s a handsome, well-proportioned boat with tidy lines and an attractive profile that some other models in Bavaria’s motor boat range still lack.
The hull design, lower deck layout and engine options are all borrowed from the flybridge variant, though with a lower centre of gravity and a crash diet consisting of ditching the top deck. The Coupe, on paper, promises to be even more engaging to drive than its double-decker relative.
The conditions in the Solent were perfect for putting a nimble planing sports cruiser through its paces. A stubby, defiant chop and stiff breeze sought to unearth any deficiencies in the hull’s capabilities and challenge the R40’s rough water refinement. The hull rose to the challenge with gusto and took all we threw at it (which was a lot) in its stride. Flat out, full-lock turns were dispatched without issue and the countless twists and turns around the chase boat failed to outwit it. On a couple of occasions where we launched off our own wash during a hard turn and landed on the edge of the hull, we managed to provoke a slam, but it took some doing. Although the hull took it well, the interior let out a few too many squeaks and rattles for my liking, which somewhat detracts from the overall feeling of solidity.
Denne historien er fra June 2017-utgaven av Motor Boat & Yachting.
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Denne historien er fra June 2017-utgaven av Motor Boat & Yachting.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Lofoten or Bust- Part 4- Grandezza owner Per Harrtoft heads back to Sweden after an epic 3500nm adventure deep into the Arctic Circle to visit the mythical Lofoten islands
After ten memorable days in the Lofoten Islands in the far north of Norway, we are on our way back south towards Sweden. We have already made it as far as Trondheim, a charming place even if it was raining so hard we had to cycle round the city centre clutching umbrellas. But now we are back on board Deamare, our Grandezza 40 Fly, eating up the miles at a steady 31 knots.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YACHT TRANSPORT
As the name suggests it's a means of having your boat moved professionally from one location to another. It might be as simple as hiring someone to tow your RIB a few miles down the road or as complex as shipping a superyacht halfway around the world.
HANDLE A SINGLE SHAFTDRIVE BOAT PART 1
Single shaftdrive boats are relatively rare these days but the reduced costs of buying, servicing and fuelling such a simple but reliable drivetrain does mean they are making a bit of a comeback.
COCKWELLS MOTOR LAUNCH
There can be very few boats that have appeared three times at the Southampton Boat Show and been sold off the stand each time.
INSTALLING AN AUTOPILOT
Rick Channon makes solo boating simple with a Raymarine Evolution Autopilot
GOOD AS NEW
Why fit a brand new engine when Volvo Penta's remanufacturing service can rebuild you an old one to the same standard for a fraction of the price?
BENETEAU SWIFT TRAWLER 54
Alex Smith heads to France's Beneteau HQ for a UK exclusive on what might just be the best Swift Trawler yet
ΧΟ EXPLR 44
Can XO's all-new aluminium flagship really make it big in the Med?
BUYING OUR FIRST CLASSIC
Instead of whiling away their retirement playing bowls, Rob and Shona Adams decided to invest their time and money in a classic Silver gentleman's yacht. Would the gamble pay off?
PRINCESS S65
Torn between the V and F Class flagships? The new S65 might be the boat you've been waiting for...
