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• Sailboat Guide

Dufour Arpege 30

Dufour Arpege 30 is a 29 ′ 11 ″ / 9.1 m monohull sailboat designed by Michel Dufour and built by Dufour Yachts between 1966 and 1976.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Besides being a truly innovative design that set a new standard at the time, the ARPEGE is also one of Dufours most successful models, financially and on the race course. For the US market, the ARPEGE was sold in 2 versions, one at 30 feet and one at just under 30 feet, the latter to accommodate the MORC rule. Some boats had a deeper keel than the one shown here. More than 1500 were sold world wide.

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Legendary sailboats - Dufour Arpège, a mass-produced sailboat that performs well under sail

June 10 2023

Written by Yachting Art Magazine English Edition

Engineer and naval architect Michel Dufour drew up the plans for the Arpège in 1966, with the aim of building a big brother to his first boat, the Dufour Sylphe.

Arpège is a monohull sailboat built by Dufour Yachts in La Rochelle. The Arpège is a sailboat with a fixed keel, rigged as a sloop. The Arpège is one of Dufour's best sellers, enabling the yard to really take off and become a mass production shipyard. 

The story of the Arpège actually began with the creation of the Dufour Sylphe: with the Sylphe, designed in 1964, Michel Dufour had a 6.52 m sailboat that was a real hit. Almost 410 units were sold until it was withdrawn from production in 1974. 

The manufacturer immediately realised that the success of the Dufour Sylphe needed to be consolidated by the development of a larger model, an essential addition to its product range. So it decided to tackle a larger model, the Arpège.

Right from the drawing board, the Arpège was an innovative and ambitious sailboat.

Innovative and ambitious, but also high-performance!

Michel Dufour conceived the Arpège as a racing cruiser, a fast unit with a beautiful hull and a meticulous construction.

To achieve this, he innovated by designing the hull-deck assembly in polyester laminate with full counter-moulding - a sort of ancestor of injection moulding - and by equipping the Arpège with high-quality rigging and deck fittings.

For the interior layout, Michel Dufour opted for a welcoming interior, with an impeccable finish for cruising, but also cleverly designed for racing, with a sail locker and toilets at the bow, a saloon offering four berths that could be used for sleeping , and a navigation area at the companionway with a large chart table, galley and two watch berths under the cockpit benches.

The Arpège became a true benchmark, with 1493 units produced, and established itself as one of the legendary boats in the history of French yachting.

Specifications of the Dufour Arpège :

Naval architect: Michel Dufour - Construction: polyester - Tonnage: 7.46 tx - Year launched: 1967 - Withdrawn from the market: 1977 - Hull length: 9.25 m - Length at waterline: 6.70 m - Beam: 3. 00 m - Air draught: 11.50 m - Standard draught: 1.35 m - Maximum draught: 1.50 m - Light displacement: 3 300 kg - Ballast: 1 500 kg - Cabins: 2 - Berths: 6 max - Water: 90l - Engine: 18hp - Upwind sail area : 48.50 m2 - Mainsail: 17.00 m2 - Headsail: 31.50 m2.

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BoatNews.com

Arpège, what panache upwind for this mythical sailing boat!

How to choose the right pre-owned sailboat? This week, a portrait of the Arpège from the Dufour shipyard. A legendary sailboat renowned for its nautical qualities. A yacht that's not afraid of heavy weather, very solid, but rather heavy, with a little difficulty expressing itself in light airs.

• Starting at 6,000 euros for a model from the first generation, 1967 to 1970. 12,000 euros for an Arpège with recent sails and engine.
• 1,500 copies from 1967 to 1976

This model has become mythical, and its owners are real addicts, not often ready to change toys. And to make matters worse, their association organizes a "world championship" for them every summer! If you add access to the classics circuit to the age of the yacht, you'll discover a particularly high-performance yacht at près âeuros the most modern yachts don't work any better - capable of making a success of a family cruise, a club regatta, as well as a rendezvous with yachts with briquetted varnish. A program so wide-ranging that it can suit every yachtsman. The interior fittings are from another era. A partition separates the companionway with the galley and chart table from the saloon and berths. A navigation area separated from the sleeping area, closed by a double door. The atmosphere remains very convivial and this layout is perfectly suited to life at sea.

L'Arpège was built in 3 versions:

• Classic sloping board
• Tableau droit (for 2 years)
• Modern, slightly extended inverted board

There are also 2 draught versions: 1.35 or 1.65 m.

Bateaux.com diagnosis

Points to check: the engine (often replaced, which is a good thing) and the condition of the deck. Early models sometimes suffer from delamination. Watch out for the balsa sandwich, which suffers from a bit of slack underfoot... It's annoying, difficult to repair, but structurally unimportant. The âeuros cables, especially the âeuros cables, need to be closely inspected. If in doubt, replace them if they are more than 10 years old.

" The boat makes almost 7 knots at best, but no more than 8 downwind. Only 6.5 metres to the waterline, which inevitably limits speed "

Jean-François Mury, former owner of an Arpège

• Very elegant line
• Excellent upwind walker
• Very comfortable at sea
• Construction quality
• Rolls a lot downwind in the breeze
• Difficult to install a bathing ladder on early models âeuros classic table
• No double berth
• Limited performance in light airs
• Tight cockpit
• Reduced visibility at the helm

But what's missing?

Sail plan, deck plan and carène âeuros she's already very wide for the era - are admittedly dated.

The equivalent today?

The Dufour 310, an honest fast cruiser, lacks the brilliance of its ancestor. So why not the turbulent Pogo 30?

Dufour Arpège

• Material: polyester
• Shipyard : Dufour
• Architect: Michel Dufour
• Hull length: 9.25 m
• Length at waterline: 6.70 m
• Width: 3.00 m
• Draft: 1.35 or 1.50 m
• Light weight: 3.30 t
• Ballast: 1.20 t
• Sail area: 48.50 m2
• Mainsail: 17.00 m2
• Genoa: 31.50 m2
• Engine: IB 18 hp diesel

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New and used Dufour Yachts Arpege for sale

• Dufour Yachts Arpege

Search for a Dufour Yachts Arpege on the worlds largest network. We have Dufour Yachts Arpege brokers and sellers from around the world at great prices.

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Dufour Dufour Arpege Boat for Sale

• accommodation
• mechanical and rigging
• Manufacturer: Dufour
• Location: Itchenor, Chichester
• LOA: 30'4" (9.25m)
• Beam: 9' 11'' (3.02m)
• Draft: 1.68
• Keel: Fin keel
• ID no.: 03451
• Watertank Size: 40 Litres
• Engine Make: Volvo Penta MD2B
• Horsepower: 25hp
• Drive Type: Shaft drive
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Fuel Tank Size: 40 Litres

Broker Remarks

Fainleog is an excellent example of the Arpege class. Arpege's have an excellent racing record and now make fine fast cruisers. An Arpege could be compared to a contessa 32 but with more room and a lower price. The Arpege was designed by Michael Dufour in 1966 as the first of his volume production boats. It quickly gained a reputation in Half Ton Cup racing. However, it was also a spacious boat, with a very broad beam for its time, as a review in 1966 commented "it is astonishing how much space below the increase in beam makes. A total of 1136 were built between 1966 and 1975.The keel is a cast iron fin, with an exaggerated bulb, that tails towards the back and has a broad, flat base. The keel is fitted into a recess moulded into the hull bottom. The narrow rudder has a deep narrow skeg, and Fainleog has had a wheel installed in place of the original tiller. Access in to the cabin is very good due to it's wide hatch, two steps take you onto the engine cover and then the sole. At the foot of the companionway, the navigation area is to starboard and the galley to port. The chart table has a large sloping top chart table, with a large tray below. The galley and navigation area can be closed off from the rest of the cabin. The saloon has two settees with storage below and pilot berths outboard. The fore-peak, contains the heads, storage and a sail-bin. Arpege's have gained a reputation as a high performance and tough boat. Fainleog has being regularly used and looked after. She's winterised every year for the necessary maintenance and although she has the original engine this has been well maintained and runs smoothly. She's moored on a swing mooring in Itchenor and viewing is highly recommended. Please contact Simon Flowers of Network Yacht Brokers Chichester on 02392 637466 to arrange a viewing.

Accommodation

4 Berths in 2 cabins 2 saloon berths with option to convert 1 to a double 2 quarter berths Galley Port side Plastimo Neptune 2000 Gimballed 2 burner cooker with grill 2 sinks with pumped cold water supply Fridge - Under chart table Various lockers for storage Chart Table Starboard side forward facing Good sized sloped table with excellent storage below Heads Jabsco sea toilet sink and cold water supplyMirror and stowage  Saloon 2 berths Excellent stowage beneath and alongside Wooden grab rails  Forepeak  Large storage area Hanging locker with shelves 

Mechanical and Rigging

Volvo Penta MD2B - Original 25hp engine that's been well maintained Shaft Drive 2 bladed prop  2 x Batteries charged from solar panel & engine Fibreglass Tender including - Mast, sail, oars & 2.5hp Mariner Outboard Avon inflatable dinghy  Construction   Cast iron fin keel with bulb Skeg mounted rudder Blue topsides - Re - Painted 2012 Rigging Bermudan Rig Furling Genoa Medium sized Genoa Spinnaker Storm Jib Main Sail Main Sail Bag Spinaker Pole Stainless steel standing rigging - New 2002

Deck Equipment 2 x mast winches  2 x coach roof winches 2 x Harken 40 self tailing sheet winches  2 x Additional sheet winches Anchor with chain and warp Wheel steering Iroko cockpit grating GRP hull, deck and superstructure Navigation Equipment Navigation lights Deck light Autohelm ST4000+ Autopilot Brookes & Gatehouse wind speed & direction  Clipper Depth Clipper Log Clipper Depth - Mounted at chart table Plastimo compass Hand bearing compass Aqua-Marine 5600 VHF Radio - Mounted at chart table MLR FX312 GPS - Mounted at chart table Safety Equipment   Radar reflector Horseshoe life buoy Fenders & warps Gas alarm Insulated gas bottle locker Bilge pump

Contact NYB Chichester

• Address: Network Yacht Brokers Chichester Blackrock Yachting ltd Unit D3 Chichester Marina Chichester PO20 7EJ
• Telephone: [+44] [0] 1243 550042 --> [+44] [0] 1243 550042
• Fax: 01243 550042
• Email: [email protected]
• Link to full office details

Disclaimer : Blackrock Yachting Limited t/a Network Yacht Brokers Brighton offers the details of this vessel for sale but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of the information contained in the specification or warrant the condition of the vessel or equipment. A buyer should instruct his agents, or surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered for sale subject to no prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

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Sailing Yachts Dufour

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, Dufour yachts suit your desires and your boating programme to offer you amazing and comfortable sailing experiences and the pride of owning an elegant and safe yacht from an emblematic brand…

Our range of sailing yachts

The Dufour range of sailing boats comprises 9 iconic models, designed to suit every sailing programme. For long-term family cruising, or enjoyable weekends along the coast, or for racing and pushing the experience of heeling to the max. For over 60 years, Dufour yachts has a boat manufacturer have demonstrated their adaptability and versatility through beautiful innovations.

Dufour 37 sailboat

Dufour 390 sailboat

Dufour 430 sailboat

Dufour 44 Sailboat

Dufour 470 sailboat

Dufour 530 sailboat

Dufour 56 sailboat

Dufour 61 Sailboat

Dufour Virtual marina

Just as if you were really there… Embark aboard the model of your choice from the Dufour sailing yacht range thanks to an immersive tour that begins on the pontoons of the new Dufour Virtual Marina, offering the most realistic visiting experience ever! Exterior views of the range, visits from the deck of the boats to the interior by choosing the Vintage and the version that suits you… Everything is brought together to offer you a complete and interactive opportunity to discover the range from the comfort of your own home…

Dufour Sailing boats experience

Owners of Dufour sailing boats are sailing all the seas of the world… Because their stories are our greatest pride and joy… Because these sailing stories are for us the best proof that the Dufour experience is both unique and shared… We invite you to discover, through real stories, Instagram photos or even from the Dufour community site, a glimpse of what life on board a Dufour Yacht is all about…

Environmental commitments

Dufour is committed to preserving the oceans and marine wildlife, and is launching with Fountaine Pajot, its own collaborative innovation platform #ODSeaLab . An accelerator of technological solutions whose goal is to transform production processes and the choice of materials, and mainly to implement innovations in renewable energy production , electricity storage and the electrification of propulsion and life on board..

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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Dufour 425 GL: solid, spacious & ocean capable

• Duncan Kent
• February 15, 2021

Solidly built, spacious and fast, the Dufour 425 GL was one of the most popular boats in Dufour’s Grand Large range, as Duncan Kent discovers

The Dufour 425 GL has a practical deck layout for short-handed crews. Credit: JM Rieupeyrout/Dufour Yachts

Product Overview

Dufour 425 gl, manufacturer:.

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.

Design & construction of the Dufour 426 GL

The Dufour 425 GL was never classed as a blue water cruising yacht, but is steadfast enough to cross oceans with the right gear and was built solidly enough to easily withstand heavy seas and high winds.

Her fine bows, plumb stem and long waterline made her quick and slam-free to windward, while her shallow bilge sections and broad stern made her slippery off the wind.

The hand-built hull and deck was robustly constructed using waterproof resins for integrity and durability.

Headroom of 2m/6ft 6in and plenty of portlights makes it bright below. Credit: P Contin

With substantial Twaron-reinforced longitudinal hull stringers and a hefty, moulded floor framework, she is stiff and strong.

Her deck is a vacuum-infused polyester resin moulding with a balsa core for insulation and extra stiffness.

She sports a deep fin keel with a cast iron ballast bulb at the foot, which means she’s stiff in a blow.

An equally deep, semi-balanced spade rudder ensures she tracks well and doesn’t lose her grip on the water when heavily heeled.

A spacious and practical deck layout ensures ease of handling for short-handed crews, with the running rigging kept simple and convenient.

Her side decks are wide and uncluttered, thanks to inboard genoa tracks and narrow shroud base.

This allows easy and safe access forward to where an equally clear foredeck allows the crew to work at the ground tackle and headsails.

A below-deck windlass and deep, deck-accessible anchor chain locker make anchoring simple, as do the chunky twin bow rollers, which enable a second anchor to be deployed in bad weather.

The Dufour 425 GL has twin wheels, which open the cockpit up and, along with the wide, drop-down helm seat, allow excellent access through the transom gate and onto the boarding platform and folding ladder.

Reef at around 20 knots apparent for a more comfortable ride, though the Dufour 425 GL will stand up to more. Credit: Dufour Yachts

In the centre is a stout, twin-leaf table with grab bar, compass and instrument console.

In the three-cabin model both seat lockers are shallow, whereas with only two cabins one is full-depth and positively cavernous.

The liferaft even has its own dedicated locker.

All sheets, reefing lines and the kicker are led aft.

The genoa winches are immediately beside the helms, but the mainsheet terminates on the coachroof and can be annoying to use if you are single-handing in gusty conditions.

Rig & sails

Her rig is 15/16ths fractional, with twin swept spreaders, 135% furling genoa and a two-reef, semi-battened mainsail.

The cap shrouds and lowers terminate on a single chainplate each side, but this is massively reinforced below with sturdy backing fillets moulded into the hull sides.

The backstay is bifurcated with chainplates low on the transom and no quick adjustment possible.

The 425GL is spacious down below and headroom is a lofty 2m/6ft 6in.

The dinette, with linear galley, is the nautical equivalent of the popular domestic kitchen-diner.

Some love it, others loathe it, but in general it works well for a family cruising boat at anchor.

Cooking at sea can be precarious, but not impossible and the cook is aided by using the seatback as a bum rest.

An island berth makes the forecabin comfortable. Credit: P Contin

The galley is well equipped with plenty of stowage, though the fridge is small.

For long-term cruising, I would convert the bench seat into a fridge-freezer.

Worktop lighting is excellent.

There is an abundance of sturdy handholds all round, including a full length one above the galley.

The saloon seating comprises a large, U-shaped settee with thick, contoured cushions and an equally well-padded bench seat opposite.

Linear galley can make cooking under way tricky. Credit: P Contin

If the convertible saloon option was chosen, the table drops down to create an additional double berth.

There is good stowage under the cushions, except aft where the hot water tank sits, and more in cave lockers behind the seat backs.

There are also two good lockers above and a decent bookshelf with fiddle rail.

Ventilation is good, with plenty of opening ports and hatches keeping it bright and cheerful.

The large, forward-facing navigation station is great for those into full-size paper charts and wide-ranging below deck instrumentation.

Continues below…

The well balanced and responsive Dufour 30 Classic

Duncan Kent finds out you get plenty for your money in the 30ft coastal cruising market when he looks at…

A 33ft yacht sporting a large cockpit, twin helms, wet bar and grill, and down below she has nine berths…

Extra photographs from Yacxhting Monthly’s test of the Dufour 385

There’s ample console space, some of which is angled to allow a radar-chart plotter to be seen through the companionway, as well as a decent circuit breaker panel with voltmeter and tank gauge.

There is stowage in the seat and in the table support and another useful stowage bin alongside.

A choice between two or three cabins, and two or three heads was offered.

The 3/3 version was primarily for chartering and can feel cramped.

The 2/2 and 3/2 were more popular with cruisers, and with only two aft cabins there was more room for blue water kit and stowage for extra deck gear.

A full-sized chart table and plenty of space for instruments. Credit: P Contin

The forecabin is the largest cabin and has a large, comfy island berth, ample stowage, a small seat and a compact heads with a shower.

The aft cabin berths were equally generous, although head clearance above the berth was more limited.

Each had good clothes stowage, ample dressing area and two opening ports for cross ventilation.

The standard, naturally aspirated 40hp Volvo is easily accessed for maintenance, both via the companionway steps, which raise on a top hinge, and/or by removing the quarter panels in each of the aft cabins.

The 425’s limited wetted surfaces and lengthy waterline give her an impressive turn of speed both in light and heavy airs.

Thanks to her fine bows and plumb stem, she also slices through the chop, rather than slamming and dumping spray on the decks.

The Dufour 425 GL also has a deep, balanced rudder for maximum bite, but effortless helm, and for increased stability the bulk of her cast iron ballast is in a large bulb on the bottom of the hydrodynamically designed foil keel.

She is close-winded on a beat, keeping up momentum until just below 35° off the apparent wind.

A deep, balanced rudder provides stability and an effortless helm. Credit: JM Rieupeyrout/Dufour Yachts

Freeing off to a close reach nudges the log closer to 8 knots in 16-20 knots apparent, and she remains stiff, well-balanced and predictable even in strong gusts.

Off the wind, she flies with the right sails and is well capable of 8-9 knots with a full gennaker in 16-18 knots of true wind.

Swept spreaders do limit the boom angle, though, so gybing downwind is the safer option.

A comfortable point for the first reef is around 20 knots apparent, although she’ll hang on in there confidently up to 24 knots if you don’t mind risking your tea!

Under power, the engine is powerful enough to push this easily driven hull through a chop at a steady 6 knots cruising speed.

She handles well and bites quickly astern, although some will have had the optional bow thruster fitted for easy close-quarter manoeuvring in tight marinas.

Owners’ experiences

S/Y Olieta (2008)

Mike and Carol Perry bought Olieta in October 2019 and currently keep her in the UK, although they plan to move out to Greece soon.

She is a three-cabin two-heads model launched in 2008.

Asked how she has been so far, Mike said: ‘I have not had sufficient opportunity to sail her much just yet, but the construction appears to be of good quality. However, the previous owner had severely neglected her and much time has been spent on repairs and renewals. So far, I have had to fit new running and standing rigging, have the Webasto heater and the bilge pump rebuilt, fix a domestic water leak (filter fitted after the pump, strangely, causing it to jam with debris), remake all the electrical connections and fully service the sails and furling systems.

‘The windlass also disintegrated on first use,’ Mike added, ‘and the engine, with only 950 hours use, now requires a full overhaul of its fuel system.

Mike has found Olieta balanced and responsive on the water. Credit: Mike Perry

‘Our first big purchase was a bespoke cockpit enclosure. I have also fitted carpets and a new sprung mattress in the master cabin while we lived on her during the first lockdown.’

Mike started sailing 60 years ago in dinghies with his father.

He then spent the next 45 years racing dinghies throughout Europe, starting with National 12s and then graduating to trapezing asymmetrics.

For the past 20 years, he has cruised Greek waters, crewing for friends and family.

In the 2000s he had a share in a Beneteau 321 in the Ionian, before purchasing a Bavaria 38 in the same area in 2011.

Mike continued: ‘Carol, my wife, is my regular sailing partner (not crew, because she is more than that to me). We are often joined by family, including grandchildren and friends. We cruise the Ionian if our guests are less experienced and further afield for the more adventurous.

‘My reason for choosing Olieta is perhaps curious. Late in 2018, I came across a Dufour 425GL for sale and I was struck by her lines. Moving forward to May 2019, I was sailing in the Ionian and met up with sailing friends at a favourite mooring-restaurant. With them was Alan, the owner of a Dufour 425 GL. In conversation it transpired that Alan had also competed in National 12s in the 1970s and we must have competed against each other. He had gone on to be a professional sailmaker. So, if a professional sailmaker chose the Dufour 425 GL, that was a pretty good endorsement for me.

‘ Olieta is presently in the UK and was our home while we were between houses. Subject to circumstances, we will sail her out to Greece in 2021 or 2022. I have only properly sailed her on my delivery trip from Ipswich to Brighton, but I was extremely pleased with the performance, which was balanced and responsive.

‘So far Carol and I have only had one opportunity to take her out this summer and this was a long weekend to Chichester with no wind. We are both pleased with her but still need more time to adjust to her extra size. I was a little surprised at the amount of prop walk going astern, by comparison with our Bavaria, which had effectively the same saildrive. Having twin wheels makes access to the dockside so much easier, particularly when Med mooring, and allows Carol to see more easily from the helm.’

When asked if Olieta is comfortable to live on for extended periods, Mike exclaimed, ‘Very! We were liveaboards during the lockdown. She has a very similar layout to our Bavaria 38, but the additional space makes it so much more comfortable. Now that we are retired, we will be making an extended cruise in the next year or two. But before we depart, we shall be adding radar, AIS, solar charging and perhaps a wind generator.’

S/Y Cdream (2010)

Cdream is owned by Derek and Glynis Beaumont and kept on the Mediterranean coast of Spain.

She has the three-cabin layout with two heads, plus reversible air conditioning throughout, LED lighting, carpets for the winter, a full bimini and Tek-Dek in the cockpit.

They have been sailing for 50 years, their previous boats being a Westerly Konsort and a Westerly Vulcan.

‘Under sail, the Dufour 425 performs extremely well and she is surprisingly fast,’ says Derek.

‘We sail mainly as a couple and find her easy to handle thanks to everything being controlled from the cockpit. Her only fault is she doesn’t like to reverse to starboard under power.

‘She is very comfortable living aboard and we also have the conversion for an extra double berth in the main saloon.’

What the experts say

Nick Vass, Marine Surveyor B,Sc B,Ed HND FRINA MCMS DipMarSur YS

www.omega-yachtservices.co.uk

The Dufour 425 GL’s beamy stern requires twin steering wheels, which might require attention in 20 years time, but Dufour deck hardware and steering gear is generic, well tested and no different to that found on twin-wheel Beneteau Oceanis and Jeanneau Sun Odyssey yachts.

Dufours are a joy to survey as everything is easily accessible.

They were designed with the charter market in mind, where access to steering gear, keel bolts, seacocks and engine is important.

Two problems that I encounter on the Dufour 425 GL are the toilet holding tank hoses, which can degrade and begin to perish, and some flexing on the deck.

Creaking decks are a bit of a feature on Dufours and not normally a problem, but check that the teak slats bonded onto the deck, cockpit seats and cockpit sole are not coming away as they will one day become a liability and are expensive to replace.

This problem, however, is common to all moderately priced cruising yachts.

The Volvo Penta diesel engine is excellent.

You might need to flush the coolant system and replace the exhaust elbow as they can clog up with limescale and salt.

Like most other modestly-priced and even high-priced yachts, Dufour fitted cheap and nasty nickel-plated brass seacocks.

Be prepared to replace them with plastic, DZR or bronze seacocks that are less susceptible to corrosion.

I have found fewer issues with keels and rudders on Dufours, compared to other reasonably priced yachts, and the hull stiffening around the keel is definitely better.

I consider the 1966 designed Arpège to be the grandmother of modern yachts.

It was such a departure from the narrow beamed GRP yachts of the time, many derived from the classic Folkboat lines, mostly wet boats with deep, long keels.

The beamy Arpège with her spacious, well-designed modern interior must have come as a shock as they were fast.

Stability was provided by beam buoyancy, not just by a heavy keel, and this trend prevails to this day with Beneteau, Jeanneau, Bavaria and Dufour.

Dufour began as builders of fast mid-range cruisers and has kept that standing despite a few ups and downs.

Under the ownership of Olivier Poncin, Dufour bought Gib’Sea in 1998 and continued some of the Gib’Sea range under the Dufour name.

Ben Sutcliffe-Davies, Marine Surveyor, member of the Yacht Brokers Designers & Surveyors Association (YDSA)

Ben Sutcliffe- Davies has been in the marine industry for over 40 years as a long- time boat builder, has been surveying craft for over 20 years and is a Full Member of the YDSA.

www.bensutcliffemarine.co.uk

The Dufour 425 Grand Large was a reasonably well put together vessel from Dufour.

Many went into the charter market, so I would recommend finding out the history of the boat before purchase as charter work adds years of wear and tear.

All of the wiring on the Dufour 425 GLs I’ve surveyed has been tin coated to American specifications which reduces corrosion.

The sail drive was a compact fit — check the service history.

Some manufacturers recommended that the main gasket rubber be replaced every five to seven years, others prefer seasonal checks.

Look out for corrosion, and for signs of water in the oil, especially if the boat was used commercially.

The working deck could have more grab rails and locations to clip on.

I surveyed one Dufour 425 GL where the saloon deck vent had become caught in the genoa sheet, which is believed to be a common issue if the vent is left open.

Lastly, if you do a lot of anchoring I recommend fitting a stem shield as the bow roller is quite upright.

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This midsize cruiser has options to suit all kinds of sailors

I have a soft spot for Dufour boats. I once sailed the Chicago-Mackinac Race in a Dufour Arpege 30. We were the slowest rated boat in the race and we lived up to our rating. I remember the heat and the bugs.

This new Dufour 37, designed by Felci Yachts has an L/B of 2.63. It’s almost as beamy as a Valiant 40 with an L/B of 3.2. This hull is all sailing length. There is no figure given for DWL so I’ll use the LOD for the D/L 181. There is a chine about 12 inches above the DWL starting about 30 inches aft of the stem. It’s not a hard corner, but I have a problem using the term “soft chine.”  That’s an oxymoron but in this case it’s descriptively accurate. 

All that beam is carried aft give or take about 2.5 inches of taper. Note also how the beam is pulled forward. The race for useful interior volume is off and running. Draft is listed at 6 feet 3 inches but that must be for the “Performance” version or the “Ocean” version. I have no draft number for the “Easy” version. Yes, they do offer three versions of this design. 

When I look at this interior I think of the Esprit 37 I bought 43 years ago.  It  had a very comfortable layout but you could put the Esprit layout inside this Dufour with room to spare. This is a huge layout for a 37-foot boat. You have one quarter cabin with an athwartships double berth and head aft or you can have one head more amidships and mirror image quarter cabins with fore and aft double berths. The forward cabin has a centerline double berth that is accessible from  either side. This is probably the roomiest forward cabin I have ever seen. All in all, these are impressive layouts and it shows what you can do when you have copious beam.

The LOA with the short sprit is 32 feet 9 inches. All three versions include a self-tacking jib track. The Easy deck emphasizes simplicity and ease of handling. The Ocean deck brings sheets and the mainsheet traveler close to the helm stations. Halyards and vang controls are lead aft under the coachroof to emerge at port and starboard winches at the companionway. The Easy and Ocean versions have a large cockpit dining table. The Performance version appears to be identical to the Ocean deck but with the cockpit table eliminated. The mainsheet traveler is aft on the Performance version, which also has an adjustable backstay. The renderings show what looks like a teak deck for the Performance and Ocean versions.  I really like the extra big cockpit and clear side decks.

The specifications only give me rig dimensions for one rig, 567 square feet of sail using I, J, E and P. I don’t know which version these dimensions are for but it’s all I have and the SA/D is 15.43. I would assume the Performance version has a higher SA/D than that. Spreaders on this fractional rig are swept 31 degrees. That’s a lot of sweep. It will prohibit running dead downwind wing and wing as so many cruising sailors like to sail. Note how far forward on the boom the mainsheet is on the Easy and Ocean versions. It’s almost a vang at that location.

Note the knuckle in the topsides just below the sheer. This is a nice touch and will reduce the appearance of bulk. It’s a good looking boat if you like contemporary styling. 

LOA 35’4”; LWL 30’6”; Beam 12’6”; Draft 6’3”; Displ. 14,273 lb.; Ballast 4,100 lb.; Sail area 592 sq. ft.; Auxiliary 18.8 hp; Fuel 42 gal.; Water 46 gal.; L/B 2.63; D/L 181; SA/D 15.43

Our best estimate of the sailaway price: $187,000 

Dufour Yachts

11 rue Blaise Pascal 17187 

Périgny, France

www.dufour-yachts.com

Also in Perry on Design

• Dragonfly 40
• Wallyrocket 51
• Clubswan 28
• Beneteau Oceanis 37.1
• M.A.T. 12.2

Also from Robert H. Perry

• Bahasa Indonesia
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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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