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Dufour 34
Sail Magazine - May 2004
By Bill Springer
All my days on the water should be as perfect as
the day we took a Dufour 34 out for a spin after the
Miami Boat Show. We caught the back end of February
cold front that produced steady 12 to 15 knot
northerly winds, sunny skies, and comfortable
temperatures. As we motored out of the marina, it
was obvious that I couldn't have scheduled this test
any better. The smallest boat in the revamped,
restyled Dufour line of Umberto Felci design, the 34
is a peppy performance cruiser built to excel in
exactly the conditions we encountered
Under Sail
This boat's owner is a racer who likes to cruise.
He's already had the boat just a short time, but has
already participated in several distance races and
plans to cruise from Miami to the Bahamas as well.
the boat was equipped for the test with factory
Dacron sails (North 3DL sails are on the way), a
1,000 square foot asymmetric spinnaker, and the
standard (4-foot, 11-inch) keel for the sailing on
shoaly Biscayne Bay.
The boat moved easily through the water at a quiet 7
knots under power, and the helm was smooth and
perfectly balanced. We soon set sail and went hard
on the breeze, again churning out 7 knots, even with
factory sails. Granted, we were riding a perfect
breeze in flat water and the boat didn't have to
fight with swells or gusts. It was a pleasure to
drive and responded beautifully to subtle helm
corrections. Tacking with the 140 percent genoa was
straightforward, and we quickly accelerated up to
speed as we settled in on the opposite tack. Tacking
angles were between 75 and 80 degrees.
Teak-topped seats on the coaming provide a
comfortable perch from which to drive on either
tack. Welcome wedge-shape brace points (many boats
I've seen in this range lack this important feature)
that are molded into the sole behind the helm
provided solid footing as we heeled. Primary winches
are mounted on the coaming within easy reach of the
helm, and the mainsheet traveler runs along a track
in front of the helm, making it simultaneously
accessible and out of the way.
After grooving to windward for a while, we set the
kite on the optional** removable 4-foot carbon-fiber
bowsprit (it is secured in a sturdy stainless ring
on the bow roller) and blasted off on a broad reach.
The apparent wind moved forward and boatspeed
settled in at 7.5 knots, frequently nudging 8 knots.
The helm provided the same two-finger responsiveness
and control as it did upwind.
On Deck
 The
deck layout successfully melds cruising and racing
features. The comfortable teak-trimmed cockpit seats
are deep, long enough to stretch out on, and provide
excellent brace points. Cockpit coamings are angled
outboard for secure seating to windward when the
boat heels. Sitting against the angled coachroof
bulkhead looking aft will no doubt be the place of
choice for on-watch cruisers. The removable transom
seat and split backstay provide easy access through
the transom. A small swim platform and removable
ladder are other cruiser-friendly features.
Racers will approve of the uncluttered cockpit;
there's room for four race crew to work without
getting in each others' way. They'll also appreciate
the low-friction steering system, the oversized
wheel, and steering-pod instrument mounts that are
easy to see on both tacks. Deck hardware is high
quality and sufficiently reinforced with backing
plates. running rigging leads minimize friction and
put sail controls in the cockpit exactly where a
cruiser or racer would want them. The low, sleek
coachroof profile and well placed antiskid make it
safe and easy to go forward. The teak toerail
(bolted through the sturdy bonded hull to deck
joint) provides a nice aesthetic touch.
Accommodations
 The
below decks layout is not revolutionary, but it does
provide an effective, no-nonsense living space well
suited to a night on the hook in a peaceful
anchorage and to racing through the night on a
distance course. Numerous opening ports and hatches
provide excellent ventilation and the straight
saloon seats are comfortable and long enough to
double as sea berths. Hand holds and brace points
are numerous and right where you need them. the nav
center's large chart table, ample space to mount
electronics, and comfortable seat are well suited to
offshore work. And the moderately sized L-shaped
galley, with a two-burner stove, small refrigerator,
solid brace points, and counters with 3 inch
fiddles, meets the requirements of a seagoing cook.
Two and three cabin accommodation plans are
available. The boat I sailed was the two cabin
version (shown), which has the master stateroom
forward, a smaller guest cabin aft, and a large sail
locker. The common areas are the same on both
versions. Bot staterooms had adequate stowage and
comfortable berths, thought the forward berth comes
to a pretty sharp point at the bow and may force
those sharing it to negotiate for foot space.
However, this is certainly not the first 34 footer
to make this compromise, and the berth is well over
6 feet long. The aft cabin is necessarily tight
because of the cockpit well, but is similar to most
aft cabins in this size range. Stowage space is just
what you'd expect on a mid-size performance cruiser
and seems adequate for extended coastal cruising.
The level of finis of the bright Moabi mahogany
veneer woodwork on the bulkheads and cabinets, the
genuine teak-and-holly sole, and systems and engine
installation are a notch above satisfactory. Engine
access behind the companion way steps is excellent.
CONCLUSION
The Dufour 34 is an excellent all-round boat that
combines sailing performance, comfortable
accommodations, and striking good looks in a package
that could appeal to dyed-in-the wool racers,
cruisers who appreciate a fast, responsive boat, and
even new sailors. It's just the right amount of boat
for those who want the comfort and performance of a
performance cruiser without sacrificing the ease and
maneuverability of a small boat. BILL SPRINGER
______________________________________
Dufour 34 - Specifications
______________________________________
Price: $154,500 (FOB Baltimore, MD)
includes aluminum mast with 9/10 fractional rig
swept back spreaders, Dacron main and 140% roller
furling
jib, rigid boomvang, split backstay, Harken deck
hardware
and winches, teak trimmed cockpit seats, batteries,
battery
charger, 2 burner, gimbaled stove w/oven,
refrigeration,
seawater foot pump in galley, hot and cold pressure
water, stereo with 2 speakers, groundtackle,
docklines
______________________________________
Designer: Umberto Felci/Dufour
Design Team
______________________________________
Builder: Dufour Yachts, La
Rochelle, France
______________________________________
U.S. Distribution: Dufour Yachts
USA
1 Chelsea Court, Annapolis MD
tel: 410-268-6417 : www.DufourYachts.com
______________________________________
Construction: Hull is built of hand
laid, solid fiberglass
below the water line and fiberglass vacuum-bagged
over a PVC core above the waterline. The PVC
foam-cored deck is built by Resin Transfer Molding.
Structural frames are laminated to the hull. The
semi elliptical rudder is cored with closed cell
foam. Mooring cleats and deck-hardware attachment
points are backed with aluminum. The bolt on
standard keel is cast iron. Mooring.
______________________________________
LOA - 34' 5"
LWL - 29' 11"
Beam - 11' 10"
Draft (std/deep) 4'11" / 6'3"
Displacement 10, 978 / 10,387 lbs
Ballast 3,938 / 3,300 lbs
Sail Area 555 sq. ft.
(100% foretriangle)
Fuel/water/waste 27/70/13
Displ-length ratio 183
Sail area-disp. ratio 18
______________________________________________________________
Manufacturers Note:
** The carbon fiber bowsprit and mounts are not
options from the Factory. These were custom
fabricated and installed by the owner.
______________________________________________________________
This article was written by Bill Springer, and published in the May
2004 issue of Sail Magazine.
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