Can Bavaria’s new SR cruiser live up to the award-winning SR41? Alex Smith heads for Clipper Marine to find out
Bavaria has become famous over the years for user-friendly mid-sized sportscruisers with inboard engines and affordable pricing. From time to time, it has also been known for allowing internal practicality to dominate external form, resulting in conspicuously elevated rooflines and high-sided aesthetics. But when the SR41 arrived on the scene, it did a lot to shift that focus. With big boat volume, small boat sportiness and luxury boat styling, it occupied the ideal middle ground between Bavaria’s S Class and R Class cruisers. In fact, it did that job so well, it earned itself the prize for ‘Best Sportscruiser Under 50ft’ at our annual Motor Boat of the Year Awards. And even before you step on board, the new SR36 appears to exhibit plenty of that same keenly resolved, cruise-friendly design intelligence.
In addition to a wider beam than the existing S36, the hull sides come up much higher. That creates extra internal volume, while minimising the relative height of the superstructure. And to augment that sleeker appearance, the structure itself uses a hardtop that appears to float on glass, without the clunky intervention of big fibreglass supports. Instead, the SR36 uses a one-piece screen, continuous glass side panels and a pair of steel struts at the aft end to help maximise views and minimise clutter. Even compared to the SR41, this is a seriously good looking boat.
MAIN DECK MANOEUVRES
In spite of its name, the SR36 is actually 40ft long and when you step on board, that’s very clear to see. As on the SR41, there are two dining areas in the cockpit – along one on the port side beneath the shelter of the hardtop; and a second walkaround C-shaped unit that looks aft over the swim platform. This second station is particularly impressive. It’s slightly offset to port to preserve access into the cockpit via the big starboard walkway and it’s a great spot for five people to perch way aft and enjoy the view. It can also be rigged as a sunbed or specced as a large storage unit instead. But it already has excellent storage inside the seat bases – and such is the fun factor of this clever aft dinette that it would be a great shame to deprive this boat of its trademark ‘SR’ party trick.
Further forward, opposite the port seating, the wet bar, though more conventional, is equally impressive. Butting right up against the helm seat, it provides a two-ring gas burner with optional barbecue and large aft sink. The spaces below offer p
