From France With Flair:
Sail Magazine - July 2000
Just Launched review of the Dufour 36 Classic
By Tom Linskey
A vacuum-bagged hull (solid laminate below the waterline, PVC foam-cored above), a performance underbody topped by a generous-size masthead rig, and a French-flair mahogany interior are the strong suits of the Dufour 36 Classic. The boat is solidly built and well put together, and the attractive two-cabin interior will serve family cruisers well. The boat's performance is uneven, however, in terms of a few systems, accommodation- plan, and on-deck details.
Under sail the Dufour 36 Classic is easy and rewarding to steer. The combination of a minimum-wetted-surface, flared-wedge lead keel and high-aspect-ratio spade rudder add up to speed and responsiveness. The helm station is secure and offers clear visibility, but the teak- trimmed cockpit is small. Sail- handling gear is basic; a second cabin top winch is needed to better handle the sail-control lines (including the mainsheet) that are led back to the cockpit. Under power the boat cruises at 6.6 knots at 3,000 rpm and responds well to its fixed, Dufour 36 Classic two-bladed sail-drive prop.
The side decks are relatively wide for easy movement on deck, and, on deck safety is average (the cabin top hand- holds should extend farther forward, and lifeline gates are needed to make boarding easier and safer). The anchor well is large, and the boat's aluminum mooring cleats are substantial, but the lifeline stanchion base attachments need beefing up.
Below deck the Dufour 36 Classic boasts a goodly amount of solid Khaya mahogany joiner work, including hefty fiddles and moldings. The owner's cabin forward has a large amount of stowage and hanging-locker space and features a built-in seat opposite the diagonal double berth. The guest cabin, aft under the cockpit, is less roomy and needs more ventilation.
The saloon and fore-and- aft-style galley function well. The forward-facing nav area has an average amount (25 inches by 31 inches) of table space, could use more chart and tool stowage, and has a smaller-than-average amount of space for electronics. Ventilation in the main cabin, courtesy of four opening ports, is superior.
Stowage for provisions and personal gear throughout the Dufour 36 Classic is well- placed and above average in amount, the boat's tankage (42 gallons of fuel, 90 gallons of water) is generous, and the wet locker is big enough to handle two couples' foul- weather gear. The head compartment is secure enough to use in a seaway, but the showering arrangement (the sink's spray nozzle) is uninspired.
Engine access and sound- proofing and access to the electrical panel are above average, with quality components used in the electrical and mechanical systems. Overall, the Dufour 36 Classic has plenty of interior amenities and cargo- and crew-carrying capacity for coastal cruising and, with a few performance and hardware changes/upgrades, has the potential to take its owners farther.
Dufour 36 Classic
Designer: Mortain & Mavrikos
Builder:
Dufour Yachts, 1 rue Blaise Pascal, BP 24, Perigny, La Rochelle, France
Tel: 011-33-546-300-760 Fax: 011-33-546-454-696
U.S. agent: Dufour Yachts USA Inc., 1 Chelsea Court, Annapolis, MD 21403
Construction:
Hull of polyester laminate with vacuum-bagged high-density foam core and quadraxial
glass; molded floors and longitudinal stringers are laminated to the hull.
| LOA | 36'4" |
| LWL | 30'1" |
| Beam | 12'4" |
| Draft (std/Shoal) | 5'10"/4'9" |
| Displacement (Std) | 13000 lbs |
| (Shoal) | 14010 lbs |
| Power | 30 hp Volvo Diesel |
| Sail Area (100% foretriangle) | 565 sq ft |
| Fuel/Water/Waste | 42/90/15 gal |
| Sail area-displ. ratio | 16.3 |
Price
$141,139 (FOB East Coast) "Grand Cruiser" Version includes UK Sailmakers mainsail and 130 percent furling genoa. Whitlock steering, Lofrans 1,000 watt windlass, Lewmar hatches and winches. Rutgerson ports, Autohelm ST60 electronics package(including autopilot), battery charger, and shorepower.
NOTE FROM DUFOUR: Pricing and specifications have been modified for new 2001 models
Picture Captions in the Article: (Page 68 of July 2000 Sail Magazine)
1) Dufour 36 Classic: Family cruiser, mahogany interior
2) 1 Photo of 36 under sail
3) Layout and profile sketch
This article was written by Tom Linskey and published in the July 2000 edition of Sail Magazine.
Pictures from the article have not been reproduced in the reading room
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