Bavaria Easy 9.7 video: first look
A pared down, cheaper, but eminently sailable version of one of its earlier models, the savings on the Easy 9.7 are clear to see.
If you've got a budget of £50-70K and you've been thinking of looking at second-hand cruisers, take a look at this Bavaria Easy 9.7 video first – you might be surprised. The new Easy 9.7 is a pared down version of the Bavaria 33 Cruiser (see Bavaria Cruiser 33: curvy and smooth). It made its world debut at the Southampton Boat Show.
And why "Easy"? Because, apparently, it's easy to sail and easy to buy: the 9.7 is a cheaper version of the earlier model, saving approximately £20,000 off the price. Much of the boat remains the same, but there are a few features missing.
Gael Pawson points out the key differences in this Bavaria Easy 9.7 video, shot at the Southampton Boat Show.
For example, the Easy 9.7 does away with the swim platform as well as the fold-down tables in the cockpit and in the saloon. Hardly things you will miss massively. In other areas cost savings have been made by simple down-specing - one example being the interior trim. The biggest compromises are undoubtedly in the galley, a non-gimballed two-burner hob won't be much use underway, while the front opening fridge is likely to be a drain on the battery and also a bit of a hazard if you were to use it at any angle of heel.
What we like is that this is a cheaper boat, and where the money has been saved is obvious. You'll have just as much fun as in the more expensive model, but for a fraction of the price! Read more about the boat in Rupert Holmes' Bavaria Easy 9.7 review: a quality attraction.
For a close look at some of the other Bavaria models, see Bavaria Vision 42: a nice update and Bavaria Vision 46: a new breed of deck saloon cruiser.
