Dufour 40

Sail Magazine - June 2003
By Bill Springer

Back in the early 1970's, advertisements for Dufour Yachts featured a bikini-clad woman on deck and described company founder Michel Dufour's philosophy. "A boat …like a woman should be beautiful, exciting, and responsive". An entire thesis could be written on the political incorrectness of this ad campaign - and I'm not going to touch that - but the new Dufour 40 is an obvious attempt by current Dufour designers to add a bit more flash to the line.

Oliver Poncin bought the company from Michel Dufour in 1988 and built semicustom boats for the French charter industry until 1995, when the company reintroduced its Classic line of production boats. Cantiere del Pardo joined Dufour with a significant investment in 2001, and with its evident Italian influence - Umberto Felci's plumb bow, large steering wheel, low-slung coachroof, and powerful sailplan- the 40 is the first of a new generation of Dufours built to provide high performance, comfortable accommodations, and a sleek, modern look. New 44- and 34-foot models showing the same design philosophy are also debuting this year.

On Deck

Since the boat is intended to be both club racer and comfortable cruiser, the cockpit has both racing and cruising influences. Racers will particularly like the helm. With the steering quadrant almost directly beneath the steering pedestal, steering-cable friction and slop are minimized. The large wheel provides a precise feel. It's perfectly sized to drive comfortably from either coaming, and both standing and sitting visibility are excellent. Cruisers will like the ability to sail shorthanded. The primaries and mainsheet are within arm's reach of the helm. The cockpit is spacious and the seats are comfortable. The helm station is well laid out and secure, but farther forward I found myself looking in vain for convenient bracing points.

Other on deck features are simple, functional, and well executed. Stern access is excellent. The helm seat swings open to reveal steps down to a small swim platform. Anti-skid surfaces are effective, and the boat's low coachroof and wide side decks make it easy to go forward. Lifeline stanchions are sturdy and properly sized. The standard teak toe rail adds a touch of class (as well as the need for a touch of maintenance), jib cars are adjustable from the cockpit, and, as with almost every new boat, all halyards and reefing lines lead back to stoppers and winches on the coachroof close to the cockpit. The anchor locker houses an optional recessed windlass.

Below Decks

Interior volume is bolstered by the boat's nearly 13-foot beam being carried almost all the way aft and its generous underwater profile. There is nothing revolutionary about the accommodations plan, but it does make excellent use of the deceptively voluminous space. Even with the sleek coachroof, headroom in the saloon measures 6 feet, 6 inches. Numerous opening ports and hatches provide excellent ventilation. The saloon settee is comfortable and long enough to be used as a sea berth, and the seat opposite the settee can be used as a second sea berth.

It's obvious the accommodations were designed to be safe and comfortable under sail. Handhold's and brace points are numerous and were right where I needed them. With its large chart table, ample area to mount electronics, and comfortable seat, the nav station is well-suited to offshore work. The L-shaped galley, with a three-burner stove, double sink, small refrigerator, and adequate counter space, is straightforward and functional.

Three different accommodations plans are available. I tested the two-cabin version, which has the master stateroom forward, and aft cabin, and a large sail locker; three-cabin versions are available with one or two heads. On all three versions, the common areas are the same. Both staterooms on my test boat had comfortable berths, decent ventilation, and adequate stowage. The bright Moabi mahogany veneer woodwork on the bulkheads and cabinets and the teak-and-holly sole was generally well done, but I did find some small gaps in the joinery, and as with most new boats some sawdust in the shallow bilge.

Under Sail

My plan for this test was to skirt the Gulf Stream on a delivery from Miami to Ft-Lauderdale, Florida, to get a good idea of how this boat would react to offshore conditions. While it wasn't blowing a full gale against the Stream, I did a feel for what this boat is all about. In 13 knots apparent, flying a full-batten main and 140 percent genoa (a self-tacking jib is an option), we logged 6.2 knots upwind and tacked through 80 to 85 degrees. Broad-reaching, we hit 6 knots.

The boat had a pleasant motion and cut an extremely clean wake through the water. We accelerated out of tacks quickly, and the boat did not need constant attention to keep in the groove. As a cruiser, I would thoroughly enjoy making speedy offwind passages on this boat, and I wouldn't shy away from upwind work either. I liked the single-handing-friendly features and the ground-tackles layout. The casual racer in me also sees the benefits of this design; it's fast and responsive

Engine and Systems

Under power, the Dufour 40 was maneuverable and surprise-free. The large rudder and bulbed keel allowed the boat to pivot quickly. At cruising rpm we logged speeds in the high 6-knot range, and maximum rpm bumped speeds above 7 knots. Access to the Volvo diesel was good under the companionway steps. Thick engine-room sound proofing ensures engine noise will be kept to a minimum even at maximum revs.

Like many French boats, the companionway stairs are equipped with a fire-extinguisher port. Smart and safe. Batteries are easily accessible and secure in their own boxes; electronics installation is clean, and wiring is well labeled.

CONCLUSION

There's no question this boat is sleeker than the Classic line, and it accomplishes its mission of being a comfortable cruiser / racer. I like the way it sailed. I like the simple yet effective accomodation plan, and I like the way it looks. With an approachable base price of just uner $200,000, even with some of the boat's small niggles, there's a good chance that the new owners will realize that the new Dufour 40 is "beautiful, exciting, and responsive," just as the old ad said. Bill Springer

Dufour 40 - Specifications

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