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What about Dufour yachts?

  • Thread starter Rico(IT)
  • Start date Jan 25, 2011
  • Forums for All Owners
  • Ask All Sailors

LuzSD

never been on one but have admired one in our marina for years, I love the look of that boat! Will be interested to see what responses you get!  

Tim R.

I have never sailed one but about 10 years ago a broker insisted on showing me one and I was not impressed. I have a feeling that their limited quantities in the US make them difficult to sell as the broker was very intent on selling me that boat. I had already told him I was not interested but he persisited until I broke the relationship. This may be relevent: http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gener...z-going-down-dufour-grand-soleil-trouble.html Search the boards at sailnet.com and you will find lots of info.  

Ed Schenck

Tim is too modest to tell you this. If you really want a fine moderately priced sailboat it would be hard to beat his Caliber. A much better boat than the Dufour IMHO.  

redhead78

Ditto on that Caliber LRC, its a beauty.............. Red  

higgs

Dufour's have been available on and off in the US since at least the late 70s. Not sure if the company is the same group, but they have always been out of France. I have been told their availability new in the US varies depending on currency values. From what I see they are a decent boat. Completely different philosophy than the Caliber, which also a good boat.  

KD3PC

Thanks guys for your answer! I just reserved a sea trial on the Dufour 405 ( http://www.dufour-yachts.com/boat-dufour-405-7.html ) for next week I will tell you more after this sailing... Hope is going to be windy that day! Are you guys going to the boat show in SD this week end?  

SD baot show? Long drive for me.  

MrBill_FLL

fwiw, I crew on a 2005 dufor 34 shoal. the shoal draft hurts us in racing upwind, but we are very fast downwind. nice well built boat, Except for the wire. I do not think its tinned, since the front bow lights wires fell apart. (but the runs were nice, and had a plastic junction box int he anchor well so I could splice in new run to the bow light. Oh, this boat has a sail drive. very quiet, but it doesn't have enough hours to make an opinion on maintenance.  

Dufour has new owners Bavaria group. Dufour and Grand Soleil are under the new ownership of Bavaria. They will remain as three seperate boatbuilders as as the owners discribe the product lines like the car world. Bavaria is the Volkswagon (German), Dufour is Audi (French) and Grand Soleil is the Porsche (Italian). To compare the Caliber it's a long range "cruiser" with skeg hung rudder, simi full keel, and not the performance hull shape as the Dufour. The Dufour line of boats are more performance cruisers rather than long range cruisers and they have a line of performance racers also. Have sailed the Dufour 525 and 405 with the local dealer and they are easily driven hulls with wide open deck areas and low cabin structures. Great lines ! Let me know about your experience on the trial sail.  

Guys it was cool, Also because of a nice 12 knt !! I loved those electric winches! The D405 grand Large was pretty fast for a cruising boat we were cruising beam reach at 8 knt! And there were free sandwiches!!  

I really like Dufours, they are well made and sail very nice. I believe the hulls are vinylester and manufactured using "scrimp" technology. However, unless you plan on keeping the Dufour forever I might consider something else. Selling a sailboat when you are finished with it becomes a challenge especially if you have a rare model or something that is not mainstream. You limit you future buyers and in turn will probably get less money that you were expecting. I chose my boat (Beneteau 36.7) for its sail performance capabilities but more for its future marketability. I figure the brand name is well know and the type of boat with its huge following may also help me when it comes time to sell. But what do I know, the economy could tank just when it comes time for me to sell and nothing will matter at that point.  

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Yachting World

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Dufour 41 review: game-changing 40-footer

  • Toby Hodges
  • September 28, 2023

Dufour has just changed the game with how much boat you can expect to get in a 40-footer – but is that a good thing? Toby Hodges tests the Dufour 41

dufour yachts any good

Product Overview

The number of bedrooms is usually the first line of enquiry for people looking to buy a house. It helps to categorise and price a property. So it stands to reason it can be no different for many when buying a yacht.

Yet surely we know what to expect from a 40ft production monohull these days. It’ll either have a two- or three-cabin layout with one or two heads, depending on how social you feel, right? Not any longer, not with the arrival of this Dufour.

Ever since the Beneteau Group shook things up when it brought out its new generation of Sun Odyssey and Oceanis hulls back in 2017, which use the full bow shapes employed by offshore racing designs to create extra volume, we have seen internal volume continue to swell. Bavaria and other mainstream yards have followed suit, using the trickery of naval architecture to minimise wetted surface while maximising space below decks.

None has managed to do so enough, however, to alter layouts and cabin numbers significantly for this mainstay 40ft size… until now. The new Dufour 41 is the only boat in this class to offer four cabins, including two forward cabins with proper double beds. It’s also offered as a three-cabin boat with up to three heads, so you can start to imagine just how much volume it has in its forward ends.

It’s always interesting how yards choose to promote their yachts. ‘Pushes the limits for ever more space’ are the first words of the brochure. After all, space is the prime reason why the multihull market and Dufour’s sister company Fountaine Pajot has burgeoned in recent years. It’s clear from the outset that this is a yacht that’s all about volume, deck space and natural light below.

dufour yachts any good

Serious beam in the forward ends, a feature designer Felci draws the eye away from with the reverse-swept hull ports. The low chine helps quickly narrow the wetted surface area. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

The big question is: how has Dufour achieved this? Umberto Felci, who has drawn Dufour hulls over the last two decades, has cleverly combined this voluminous hull with an aggressive, modern, angular look. Full length hull chines are used plus contours to help incorporate those extensive black-panelled hull port surrounds. Aesthetically, it’s very much in keeping with Dufour’s latest launches, but it’s a wider boat. In fact, this Dufour is certainly one of the beamiest in its class, along with the Bavaria C42, at 4.3m – particularly in the forward sections.

This is the first Dufour styled by Luca Ardizio. According to sales director Nicholas Beranger, he made a big difference by finding space, despite Felci chasing the millimetres back for less wetted surface. “If I’m being honest, the sailing is a big surprise for us,” added Beranger, an experienced offshore racer – which, were you to read between the lines, might suggest they were expecting all this volume to pay a penalty on the water.

Physics of economy

He explained how they equipped Felci’s powerful hull with a comparatively taller mast. So by Dufour’s calculations the power ratio of the 41 is the highest yet in its modern range (a calculation which factors in sail area, length, wetted surface and displacement).

All of which raises a basic but fundamental question: in this race for space, why don’t manufacturers make their yachts as voluminous as possible and simply add mast height and sail area to keep the boat moving well?

“Because when you increase the mast, you increase the cost,” explained Beranger. This includes rig costs, more lead in the keel, and more fibre, wood and resin in the boat etc, which is not something volume production yards would want to do.

dufour yachts any good

Powered up under spinnaker. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

Chasing the breeze

An unseasonably hot and muggy June day greeted us in Palma, so stuffy ashore it made us long for a sea breeze afloat. Yet hazy cloud stifled the normally reliable convection until late in the day, so every bit of apparent wind we could generate was welcomed. There was plenty of beating in the lighter stuff to keep the breeze in our faces before it began to build to ideal Force 4 conditions by early evening.

We were sailing the Ocean version, by far the most popular of Dufour’s three main deck configurations. Where the Easy has only two winches, this has an additional two on the coachroof. The third Performance option also has four winches and does away with the table in favour of a 50cm longer boom and a centrepoint main (although no traveller).

The test boat carries upgraded sails including a 108% genoa. As per Dufour’s recent new test models such as the 37 and 470, these are Elvstrøm’s EKKO recycled laminates which, for around a €10,000 upgrade, is a good investment for better shaped full batten sails.

Elvstrøm has done a good job of maximising the roach too, which it could do thanks to the backstays leading right on to the quarters. A flat deck furler for the genoa helps allow for a full-footed headsail.

dufour yachts any good

The Felici design is particularly distinctive from head on. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

Sailing close-hauled with these enhanced sails in calm water we clocked 5.5 in 9 knots true wind, 6 in 6.5 knots and 6.3 in 10 knots at 50°, tacking through 90°. However, it felt a little lifeless in the lighter breeze and tricky to find its groove which, for a single rudder design, surprised me.

I found it liked to be sailed a little freer, which is typical of a modern, high volume beamy boat to help induce heel, reduce drag and keep speed up. For example, it averaged 6.5-7 in 11 knots at around 55-60º to the true wind but pinch below 50° and you lose over half a knot.

In the zone

The big yellow gennaker helped liven things up, increasing our heel angle and, thankfully, the apparent wind across the deck. We clocked 7 in 10 knots and a steady 8 in 11.5-12 knots, reaching at 95-100° to the wind.

Certainly there is an appreciable difference in feel once the breeze breaks into double figures. The Dufour heels a little but then remains at a comfortable angle. And when the sea breeze finally filled in to 14-17 knots and the boat powered up, it had a marked effect. The 41 felt that bit more sporty, deep reaching at 8-8.5 knots. It still wasn’t a sparkling performance, but it helped reveal how the full bow sections above the waterline, which buy that interior space, also help provide high form stability.

dufour yachts any good

Swim platform with optional grill central above the liferaft stowage. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

The 41 proved well mannered enough, while being easy to sail and control. Even when I tried to press it in 15+ knots, the rudder grip remained firm. Felci has positioned the blade relatively far forward which, combined with the form stability, helps ensure grip is maintained.

In terms of ergonomics, it’s all about maximised deck and cockpit space. This makes it tight in the quarters, especially with the optional guardrail cushions – which are comfortable when helming to leeward, but constrictive to windward. Steering and trimming is still easy and comfortable enough to achieve short-handed, although when helming you can’t quite straddle the wheel, so it is a bit of a stretch to reach a winch or clutch over the corner of the pedestal.

The large, long benches contain lockers each side, but there is no allowance for tail stowage designed in, either aft or at the coachroof winches, so it can get messy on the aft cockpit and companionway sole.

dufour yachts any good

Generously wide – albeit relatively unprotected – cockpit. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

Anchored acreage

Were prizes awarded for tanning space on deck, Dufour would clear up, as it was early on to the trend of expansive, flat decks including using the coachroof and foredeck for sun lounging. In the cockpit, this entails a lack of protection as the low cockpit benches rely on backrest cushions for seated comfort, with no real support.

Dufour’s trademark outdoor galley was fitted to the test boat, a grill and sink option you access from standing on the swim platform. This can help extend cockpit space and transform life at anchor. Stowage is moderate in cockpit bench lockers and a lazarette, but consider that the latter also contains plumbing, seacocks and pipes and is split by the liferaft locker.

Up forward, the bulkhead for the forward cabin is so far forward there is no room for a sail locker on the standard layout. Even the chain locker has to be accessed through a hatch in that forward cabin bulkhead. If the four-cabin format is chosen, this bulkhead moves aft, which creates room for a chain and sail locker.

dufour yachts any good

All-Italian design: the contemporary interior styling is the first for Dufour by Luca Ardizio. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

The design team has devised a layout where the space and volume of this yacht is felt throughout. The test boat has the 3+3 format, while the four-cabin option still offers two 145cm berths forward. When you include the saloon berths, this allows 10 to sleep aboard. Although not my idea of desirable on a 40-footer, this option will have its bums-on-seats appeal for the charter market.

The Italian styling is a big plus; the grey, white and black trim gives a smart, contemporary feel. Dufour says this model offers 60% more glazing than yachts of comparable length, which is believable when you note the size of the hull ports.

However, there is no chart table. “We’re working on a solution to have a workstation,” said Beranger, although he envisages having a communal space to work at rather than the conventional setup of an owner’s chart table doubling as a private desk.

dufour yachts any good

Glazing everywhere provides masses of natural light and views out. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

Dufour has instead opted for maximum saloon and social space to enjoy that central beam, plus of course the potential for two aft heads. The fore-and-aft galley with an inboard countertop section works well and allows for a large fridge which can be accessed from the front or above. Raised lockers help bolster stowage space and there’s a large bin below the small twin sinks.

The saloon table can seat six and there’s good stowage beneath the seats and in raised lockers – but remember that with no navstation any passage planning or work will need to be done on this (non-fiddled) table.

There are handrails on the deckheads by the aft heads but another running parallel to the galley would be useful for walking forward at heel. At least 6ft 3in headroom is maintained right up to the forward berth, where the forward facing coachroof windows bring in more light (but sited too high for all but the tallest to see out of).

The attractive forward headboard is naturally lit from the large hatch above and allows you to recline and stare out of the large hull windows. It’s certainly inviting at rest, though a berth with headboard that far forward is one to avoid in a seaway. Deep, raised lockers on each side help supplement the good wardrobe and below-berth stowage, and this cabin boasts a proper en-suite with separate shower stall.

While the standard layout has identical aft double cabins, with a heads to starboard and a shower to port, Dufour’s extra options here could prove very useful.

dufour yachts any good

Master cabin (in the three-cabin version) with headboard in the bows. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

For example, the test boat had toilets and showers on both sides, or a large wet hanging area can be chosen if going for a shower stall only.

The generous aft cabins have tall headroom and good natural light and ventilation. Again, you have to remind yourself this is only a 40-footer. Tanks below the berths limit stowage a little, but there’s good mechanical space between the cabins, while panels can be removed aft to access the lazarette and steering gear.

Look behind the scenes and you’ll find plenty of bare plywood, with unsealed end grain. That said, Dufour is continually improving its build techniques elsewhere. Technical elements are all kept central in the bilges now, for example, with piping runs neatly channelled under the sole – plumbing in one channel, electrics in another. The result is much easier maintenance.

dufour yachts any good

One of the spacious aft cabins. Photo: Jean-Marie Liot

Elsewhere deckheads are fixed with Fastmount fittings rather than Velcro, which are stronger and easier to access. And the companionway uses an aluminium frame for the wooden steps for a lighter effect. There’s good access to the engine bay under the steps and from both cabins, but it the engine itself was relatively loud under power at cruising revs, and really needs insulation on the main access panel.

The main topic of our last issue was the rise of more sustainable boatbuilding practices and it’s really encouraging to see the Fountaine Pajot and Dufour group leading by example in this respect. Following FP’s extensive development of electric and hydrogen power, Dufour has turned its focus to the development of materials and the employment of a recyclable resin formed of recycled material. It is using this to build a prototype 41 and fast track sail it before disassembling it to build another yacht, so proving its circular concept.

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The 41 is all about the volume and space it offers, the extra berths it can provide and the views and natural light it encourages into the boat. But volume comes at a price: weight. The Dufour is over two tonnes heavier than the Sun Odyssey 410. It’s more comparable to Bavaria’s C42 in volume and weight, yet with less sail area:displacement and less engagement on the helm. It still covered ground consistently well, but it’s not the most rewarding Dufour or modern production cruiser I’ve sailed, particularly in single figure wind speeds (the typical Med conditions that its deck layout suggests its aimed at). However, in a very competitive market area, the decision compared to other mainstream production yachts will, I wager, not come down to the sailing experience. The cockpit, deck, social and interior space, and crucially the option for that fourth cabin or third heads, could prove to be the deal clincher. It’s akin to house buying, where having a spare room for guests or a room each for the children could be invaluable. If you were to put it to a family vote, the lure of that extra cabin/space could swing things in favour of the Dufour.

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Dufour 530 Boat Review

  • By Mark Pillsbury
  • Updated: May 5, 2021

Dufour 530 sailboat

Like clockwork, each fall for the past decade or so, Dufour Yachts has arrived in Annapolis, Maryland, with a new sailboat (or sometimes two) that somehow looks remarkably just like its predecessor—only different.

One year, the builder introduced the galley-forward concept, which puts the stove, sink, fridges, and counterspace adjacent to the mast and bulkhead, leaving the widest part of the boat open for entertainment and lounging. Another year, large ports in the cabin top over the forward galley were added to let light pour into the interior. One fall, they made a splash with an outdoor galley built into the transom, where a propane grill and sink can be put to good use by a cook standing on the fold-down swim platform while still being part of the party. These features not only were incorporated in subsequent models, some are now being copied by other builders as well.

But then came fall 2020, which was notably different from other years in so many ways, not the least of which was the cancellation of the US Sailboat Show—the coming-out party, if you will, for new models introduced to the North American market. But still, Dufour, now under the direction of the Fountaine Pajot Group, sailed into town with yet another new Grand Large—the 530—that continues the evolution of the company’s nine-boat range.

The lineup’s DNA is not by happenstance. For more than 15 years, Dufour has relied solely on Umberto Felci of Felci Yacht Design and the team back at the Dufour yard in France.

As well as a resemblance among models, this long-term collaboration has had one more benefit: The Dufours all sail like proverbial witches, thanks to Felci’s very slippery hulls and sail plans to make them scoot.

The 530 bears the same plumb bow and stern as its siblings, an easily recognizable low-profile cabin house, ample beam carried all the way aft, and a single rudder—the latter almost in defiance of the twin foils that are quite the rage these days. Below, the boat’s galley is forward with large ports overhead which, along with multiple hatches in the owner’s cabin forward, plus three long ports in either side of the hull, let in tons of daylight and provide lovely views of the great outdoors. And yes, this Dufour has—as do all—the trademark wine cellar beneath the saloon sole, and a lift-up cover over a crumb tray in the galley to make sweeping up easier.

Still, the 530 is, indeed, different, primarily due to a few new features introduced in the cockpit. So let’s start there. First and foremost is the simple solution they’ve found to solve the age-old sailboat conundrum: how best to move from the cockpit to the deck, a challenge compounded by the contortions needed to dodge Bimini and dodger frames while stepping up and over coamings. Just forward of the 530′s twin wheels, designers have placed a step between the helms and the cockpit seats. As noted: simple. Up one step and you’re on deck. And the risers do double duty as line-storage bins with lift-up lids, right below the cockpit winches. Designers then further refined this solution by adding a split Bimini so crew doesn’t need to duck or dodge when going forward.

With a little more than 16 feet of beam, there’s a fair amount of space between the helms, a portion of the transom that on most boats goes unused. On catamarans, this space is often put to good use with a bench, where one can sit and enjoy the ride. And it is here that designers added a large sun bed, and they did it in a way that still allows an easy passage from wheel to wheel when underway. I liked it.

Dufour 530 sailboat interior

The remainder of the cockpit is fairly straight-forward, with a large, fixed drop-leaf table between the seats, allowing for plenty of room to either side when moving forward to the companionway.

Wide side decks make it easy to move about the topsides. Forward of the mast, the cabin top tapers quickly to a broad foredeck that would be a pleasant place to stretch out and enjoy the breeze at anchor. There’s also a large sail locker that provides access to both the thruster below and the big anchor locker (which can also be fit out as a skipper’s cabin). The bow sprit does double duty as a place to stow the anchor and tack down off-wind sails.

Speaking of sails, when purchasing a 530, there are decisions to make, starting with rigging and sail-handling hardware. The Easy version comes with a self-tacking jib, and all lines are led to clutches and a winch at each helm, leaving the cabin top by the companionway free of clutter.

The Ocean package adds a winch to either side of the companionway, and that’s where halyards, vang, and reef and furling lines are led.

Both of these versions include a traveler that spans the cabin top forward of the companionway; the rigs can be configured with either conventional or in-mast furling mains, and either a self-tacking or slightly overlapped genoa, the latter with fairleads that can be adjusted from the cockpit.

A Performance version for regatta-prone skippers is also available. Rather than midboom sheeting, the mainsheet is anchored to the cockpit floor just ahead of the helms; there are six winches to handle main, genoa and downwind-sail control lines; backstay and vang are hydraulic; and the mast and boom are lengthened to provide roughly 215 more square feet of sail area.

The 530 we sailed during Boat of the Year sea trials this past fall was set up with an in-mast furling main and genoa. Personally, I’d have gone for the conventional main with a boom pouch, but still, we had a great time out on the water. In 10 to 12 knots of breeze, we skipped along at just under 8 knots closehauled, and hit a solid 8 peeling off to a beam reach. In one near-20-knot puff, I saw 9.3 on the speedo—not too shabby for a roomy cruiser.

Below, the galley forward allows ample room for a large dining table to port, with seating for eight or more thanks to a centerline bench. There’s a settee opposite with an aft-facing nav station at its end.

Counters in the galley are Corian, including a backsplash to protect the bulkhead. There’s plenty of storage and fridge and freezer space, and lots of room for a cook and helper to prepare meals.

An owner’s cabin is forward, with room to either side of the queen-size berth. In the configuration we saw, the head and shower compartments were separated.

There are multiple layouts available, depending on how many crew you like to sail (or charter) with. The basic layout is three cabins, three heads. On the boat we sailed, the starboard head was replaced by a fourth cabin with bunks. Up to six cabins are possible.

The price of the Dufour we sailed—delivered, commissioned and ready to go—was $550,000. For that you get a lot of options from which to choose, and remember, a witch to sail.

Mark Pillsbury is CW’s editor.

WIND SPEED: 10 to 12 knots

SEA STATE: 1- to 2-foot waves

SAILING: Closehauled 7.9 knots; Reaching 8.0 knots

MOTORING: Cruise (1,900 rpm) 5.9 knots; Fast (2,600 rpm) 7.4 knots

SPECIFICATIONS

LENGTH OVERALL: 53′6″ (16.31 m)

WATERLINE LENGTH: 50′10″ (15.49 m)

BEAM: 16′4″ (4.98 m)

DRAFT: 7′6″ (2.29 m)

SAIL AREA (100%): 1,518 sq. ft. (141 sq. m)

BALLAST: 13,361 lb. (4,700 kg)

DISPLACEMENT: 35,706 lb. (16,196 kg)

BALLAST/DISPLACEMENT: 0.29

DISPLACEMENT/LENGTH: 121

SAIL AREA/DISPLACEMENT: 22.4

WATER: 195 gal. (738 L)

FUEL: 116 gal. (439 L)

HOLDING: 26.4 gal. (100 L)

MAST HEIGHT: 75′2″ (22.9 m)

ENGINE: 75 hp Volvo, Saildrive

DESIGNER: Felci Yacht Design/Dufour Design Team

PRICE: $550,000

For more information, visit: dufour-yachts.com

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We experience the sea with passion. At the Dufour shipyard, we design and build cruising yachts to help you achieve or support you in your sailing and cruising projects . Sailing in a Dufour means choosing a certain lifestyle at sea, specific to each Dufour Owner . Harmony with nature, a keen sense of the sea and a search for comfort and space… The Dufour family is made up of over 16 000 boats that have sailed or are sailing all the seas of the world, and even more sailors who are sharing the Dufour experience…

Out on the ocean lies a world of sensation. A primal connection to elements that liberates body and soul.

To set sail is to answer the siren call of the sea. With your hand on the tiller you experience something incredibly rare, a coming together of man, boat and nature that’s totally instinctive.

Imagine the sound of the hull cutting effortlessly through the water as you steer your course; the feel of the sea breeze pushing past you as you accelerate with the wind in your sails; the sight of the vast ocean and sky as you make headway into the blue.

Setting sail with Dufour is an adventure in superior sailing. It’s guarantee of uncompromising seaworthy excellence that never stints on comfort levels. It’s a dedication to exhilarating performance that’s easy to achieve through highly responsive intuitive design. And it’s promise of good value that doesn’t compromise on durability. By finely balancing these elements, Dufour assures you of a sailing experience that delivers pure, unadulterated sensation.

Now’s the time to embrace your instincts to feel truly alive in the moment. The ocean is out there waiting. Are your ready to connect ?

The adventures of Dufour Owners on Instagram

Sharing is one of the common values between all sailors, and it is as strong as ever today. Many Dufour owners share their cruising stories , advice and experiences on Instagram. For us, this is the best proof that life on a Dufour yacht is an incomparable adventure…

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The beginning of a great adventure … Elisa and Guillaume met 4 years ago. Whereas Guillaume and his father had explored the UK and France from Calais to La Rochelle…
“For us, being on our boat take us away from all the issues we have to face …” Al and Deb are the happy owners of “Korora Bay”, the first…
Let’s cross the world, and discover La Ballerine, a Dufour 460GL in Abu Dhabi  La Ballerine and Elias are the two protagonist of a beautiful story.. Everything begun when Elias…

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Many Dufour Owners have joined the DUFOUR Community website and are sharing photos and locations of their Dufour cruising with the rest of the community. The Dufour family is growing every day and we are very proud of this. Whether you are a new Owner, an Owner for many years, whether you own one of the first Dufour Yachts , a pre-owned Dufour sailboat or have bought new, join us by registering for our Club. It takes just a couple of minutes and you will enjoy many privileged Dufour services.

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Our verdict on the Dufour 310

Graham Snook

  • Graham Snook
  • June 22, 2015

With many sub-32ft boats on the market, Graham Snook visits Plymouth to see if the Dufour 310 stands out from the crowd, here's his verdict on her.

© Graham Snook Photography

© Graham Snook Photography Moral Rights Asserted

© Graham Snook Photography Moral Rights Asserted

What’s she like to sail? The Dufour 310 stands out by having twin wheels, but I’m not convinced that they’re necessary, or even desirable, on a 31ft boat. Like many other systems with two heavy, stainless steel wheels, when you move your wheel there’s an echo of movement from the rotational inertia of the wheel opposite.

© Graham Snook Photography Moral Rights Asserted

Would she suit you and your crew? Masochistic mechanics aside, she’ll make a great boat for a couple with or without children, or those moving up from smaller or older boats. She’s easy to sail and can be handled short-handed. The cockpit coaming is a winch-free area, leaving it safe for little (or big) hands to roam unimpeded. She’s available in three versions: Day Sail, Liberty and Adventure. At 1.90m her draught is quite deep for cruising some parts of the UK, but it does add to her performance – a ballasted centreboard is an option. The Dufour 310’s cockpit makes a good entertaining area when the weather allows, and the saloon could sit six around the large table. She’s nimble enough to be fun to sail and would be a great boat in which to introduce your friends and family to sailing. There’s enough deck stowage for dinghy, fenders, warps and so on. If it wasn’t for the dreadful access to the engine’s service points she’d make a enjoyable port-hopping coastal cruiser.

© Graham Snook Photography

Price (as tested) £111,174 inc VAT LOA 9.67m (31ft 9in) LWL 8.70m (28ft 7in) Beam 3.31m (10ft 10in) Draught 1.90m (6ft 3in) Displacement 4940kg (10,890 lb) Ballast 1300kg  (2,866 lb) Ballast ratio 26.3% Sail area 50.3m2 (541sq ft) SA/D ratio 17.6 Diesel 90lit (20 gal) Water 160lit (35 gal) Engine 20hp diesel saildrive RCD category B Designer Felci Yachts Builder Dufour Yachts UK Agent Network Yacht Brokers Southwest Ltd Tel 01752 605 377

IMAGES

  1. Dufour Yachts announces the launch of a brand new yacht: The new Dufour

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  2. Dufour 37 a unique, powerful and spacious boat

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  3. Yacht de Luxe Dufour 61

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  4. Dufour 37 a unique, powerful and spacious boat

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  5. Dufour 37 a unique, powerful and spacious boat

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  6. Yacht de Luxe Dufour 61

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VIDEO

  1. DUFOUR 61

  2. DUFOUR 530

  3. DUFOUR 560 Grand Large

  4. Dufour Yachts 32

  5. DUFOUR 310 Grand Large

  6. DUFOUR 512 Grand Large

COMMENTS

  1. What about Dufour yachts?

    Jan 27, 2011. #11. Dufour has new owners Bavaria group. Dufour and Grand Soleil are under the new ownership of Bavaria. They will remain as three seperate boatbuilders as as the owners discribe the product lines like the car world. Bavaria is the Volkswagon (German), Dufour is Audi (French) and Grand Soleil is the Porsche (Italian).

  2. Dufour 425 GL: solid, spacious & ocean capable

    Review of the Dufour 425 GL. All of Dufour's Grand Large (GL) range of cruising yachts were designed to maximise internal volume and therefore carry their ample beam all the way from midships to transom. That said, they also offered a good turn of speed and a stable, well-balanced sailing performance in most conditions.

  3. Dufour 390: 'Responsive, fun & forgiving to sail'

    Dufour 390: 'Responsive, fun & forgiving to sail' Creating boats that stand out from the competition can be a challenge for builders of modern family cruising yachts. That means buyers have to scratch beneath the surface to home in on the one that best suits their needs. Do a little scratching, however, and the differences soon appear.

  4. Dufour 41 Review: Innovative Luxury Sailing Yacht

    The Dufour 41's large hull windows mimic the ports on catamarans which bring oodles of light inside. A hard chine runs the length of the hull down low from bow to transom and the forward sections are very full.The freeboard is 16% higher and her decks are up to 30% wider than on her predecessor, the Dufour 412, which launched seven years ago.

  5. Dufour 41: Top 10 Best Best Nominee

    This new 41 comes quickly on the heels of the Dufour 37, one of SAIL 's Top 10 Best Boats of 2023 . Both draw their DNA from their bigger sister the 470 launched two years ago, with the same sheer line and chine that enables the boat to carry maximum volume forward on a narrower profile under the waterline.

  6. Boat Review: Dufour 360

    Dufour has always been a step above many standard production boats in fit and finish quality, and the 360 is no exception. The joinery is precise, the wood grains are quite attractive, and little touches like airlifts on lockers abound. On a more basic, structural level, Dufour hulls are made of vacuum-bagged fiberglass, and the decks are ...

  7. Boat Review: Dufour 530

    The Dufour 530 is available with a 75hp Yanmar diesel and saildrive or a 110hp Volvo Penta engine and straight shaft. Our test boat was equipped with the more powerful engine, and at wide-open throttle and 3,000 rpm, we motored at 8.2 knots on flat water. We found an economical cruising speed of 6.8 knots at 2,400 rpm.

  8. Dufour 61 Review: A Flagship Inspiring Confidence and Wanderlust

    This entire aft section of the cockpit sets Dufour apart from just about any other production boat, adding functionality that often swings the purchase decision toward this brand. Above: The drop down swim platform on a Dufour 61 sailboat. Photo by Dufour Yachts via Stay Nautica S.L. in Barcelona, Spain. Cabin Interior: A Versatile Layout

  9. Dufour 56 Exclusive review: Smooth cruiser offers style and substance

    Given the in-mast reefing, the Dufour 56 seemed to be up to the mark in terms of performance. The log on our test boat gave very different readings on each tack, averaging between 7.5 and 8 knots ...

  10. Dufour 360

    The 360 is an improvement in many areas on her predecessor, the 350, especially around the helm, and is designed to be easy to sail and offer good accommodation filled with natural light. After 54 years of building yachts, Dufour has the knowledge and the experience to make the 360 a perfect cruising yacht for UK and European waters.

  11. Dufour 470 review: Bags of space below

    And once you start looking at comparison boats the Dufour 470 appears tremendously good value for money - providing you can resist ticking too many boxes on the options list. Details LOA: 14.85m ...

  12. Dufour 41 review: game-changing 40-footer

    Verdict. The 41 is all about the volume and space it offers, the extra berths it can provide and the views and natural light it encourages into the boat. But volume comes at a price: weight. The ...

  13. Sailboat Review: Dufour 37

    I quite liked those boats, which sailed well and offered extremely good value; in fact, I often had Dufour at the top of my list of favorite French production boatyards. Then, in 2018, Dufour was acquired by another iconic French yard—catamaran builder Fountaine Pajot—which slowly but surely is stamping its own imprint on the brand.

  14. Boat Review: Dufour 61

    The Dufour 61's cockpit layout is modern in every respect. There are twin wheels aft turning one deep rudder, and I was pleased to see engine controls and a full set of instruments at both helm stations. All lines are led aft under the deck to two pairs of Lewmar 65 winches positioned just in front of each station.

  15. Dufour 37 Review: When Small Feels Big

    Dufour Yachts is in in the process of refreshing their entire line of sleek sailboats and the latest to launch is the Dufour 37 which replaces the popular Dufour 360. The new from-scratch design is focused on generating ample social spaces on a compact 33-foot platform and offers spirited sailing to boot. ... And good news for oenophiles ...

  16. Dufour 32

    Dufour is one of the few yards that has maintained a constant presence at the smaller end of the new yacht market and with the launch of the Dufour 32 is making an effort to stand out from the competition. ... plenty of today's powerful racing yachts achieve good control with a single rudder, for instance. However, part of this improvement is ...

  17. Top 10 Best Boats Review: Dufour 37

    Feb 1, 2024. Original: Feb 27, 2023. Features include: Fantastic cockpit space and layout, Increased sail area for improved performance, twin wheels, single rudder. French builder Dufour Yachts has rolled out another new design bringing their line to eight models from 32 to 61 feet. The new Dufour 37 slots in just above the 32-foot baby of the ...

  18. Dufour Yachts

    Dufour Yachts DNA. Constantly looking to the future, Dufour as a boat Manufacturer, designs each new model to provide pleasure and feel in complete serenity, whatever your cruising project and however you use your yacht.For over 60 years, we have been designing and building innovative, high-performance sailing boats.Marked by an assertive character and an identity recognisable among the crowd ...

  19. Dufour 530 Boat Review

    With the Dufour 530, the French builder continues on its evolving approach to comfortable performance sailing. The 530 we sailed during Boat of the Year sea trials this past fall was set up with an ­in-mast furling main and genoa. Jon Whittle. Like clockwork, each fall for the past decade or so, Dufour Yachts has arrived in Annapolis, Maryland ...

  20. Dufour 2800 review: from the archive

    But the Dufour 2800 is surprisingly well balanced and pleasing to the eye, with the advantage of large amounts of practical, well planned space both above and below decks. The standard fin keel is deep enough to provide good sailing performance and long enough to dry out against a wall with normal due care. A few Dufour 2800s were built with ...

  21. Experience sailing yacht around the world

    Dufour Owners Testimonies. "For us, being on our boat take us away from all the issues we have to face …". Al and Deb are the happy owners of "Korora Bay", the first…. Let's cross the world, and discover La Ballerine, a Dufour 460GL in Abu Dhabi La Ballerine and Elias are the two protagonist of a beautiful story.. Everything begun ...

  22. Our verdict on the Dufour 310

    Diesel 90lit (20 gal) Water 160lit (35 gal) Engine 20hp diesel saildrive. RCD category B. Designer Felci Yachts. Builder Dufour Yachts. UK Agent Network Yacht Brokers Southwest Ltd. Tel 01752 605 377. With many sub-32ft boats on the market, Graham Snook visits Plymouth to see if the Dufour 310 stands out from the crowd, here's his verdict on her.

  23. Boat Review: Dufour 470

    The Dufour 470 is a good example of a modern French performance cruiser. DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION. The Dufour 470 carries the long waterline, hard chines, nearly flush deck and broad stern that have become commonplace of late aboard European boats. Particularly arresting is the chine that runs the entire length of the hull immediately below the ...