Onboard
Pacific Yachting - January 2001
Dufour 36 Classic : By Sven Donaldson
The first new Dufour delivered locally in at least 20 years is also a foot in the door for Sunsail, one of the world's largest charter operators
Above: Underway the Dufour 36 is well-balanced and fast, thanks partly to its conventional mainsail.
IN THE MID,'60s, France's Dufour gained recognition as an industry leader in design and production techniques, but it lost momentum and dropped out of sight during the '80s. New investors revived the marque in the mid-'90s, and the rebirth was an instant success.
The 36 Classic is likely the first new Dufour to arrive in the Pacific Northwest in more than two decades. The boat is interesting because Dufour does things differently from other French yards. Dufour is represented locally through the newly-established B.C. branch of Sunsail, one of the largest and most successful international yacht charter companies.
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION My strongest impression of the Dufour 36 from the Toronto Boat Show last winter was the amazing accommodations that designers Mortain and Mavrikios provide within the confines of a reasonably slippery 35'4" hull. The key design decision was a linear rnidships galley, which makes it possible to include a full-sized head compartment and nav station while still retaining the option of twin private aft cabins with double berths.
The Classic 36 is a beamy boat with a fairly broad transom (although hardly extreme by today's standards). Her underbody has a little more rocker than many contemporaries, which keeps the transom lip well clear of the water at rest-this is an advantage because it keeps performance from suffering too much when the boat is heavily laden. Comparatively "soft," rounded bilges translate into low wetted surface-a boost to light air performance, although at some cost in form stability. The standard, cast-lead keel offers a ballast ratio of only 27%, but the centre of gravity is quite low thanks to its inverted, semi-bulb configuration.
Construction is similar to other series-built sailboats, with a couple of notable differences: First, the grid-type interior pan is not only bonded to the hull, but reinforced with secondary laminations. Second, the hull above the water- line is cored with high-density PVC foam, applied under vacuum to achieve a void-free bond. The deck moldings are also cored (with balsa) resulting in a stiff, lightweight structure with good insulating properties.
The hull deck joint is primarily bonded, although self-tapping screws (driven into encapsulated wood) secure the assembly while the urethane adhesive/sealant sets. The aluminum cap rail is screwed and bonded in a separate operation. No doubt some would prefer a through-bolted joint, but Dufour's approach is good enough to meet Bureau Veritas Category A (unrestricted offshore) standards.
The deck stepped mast of the Classic 36 sits atop the main bulkhead and the chain, plate anchorages are only slightly further aft, virtually eliminating transverse hull distortion caused by rig loads. The spade rudder is suspended on hefty, self-aligning ball and socket bearings and the standard steering gear is WhitlockÌs rod-and crank arm type. The result is a system that should never bind up, even if grossly overloaded.
FIT-OUT Dufour's standard Classic 36 is nicely equipped for coastal cruising, although many buyers opt for the "Grand Cruiser" package which adds an electric wind, lass, second cabin top winch, extra electronics, autopilot, and more battery capacity. Also available is a performance package with a racier mainsail, spinnaker gear, deck gear upgrades, and a folding prop. All boats share a 30hp, freshwater cooled Volvo sail drive diesel, in- stalled beneath the companionway with easy access to maintenance points. The sound, proofing job is among the best I've seen any, where, and the soft, mounted sail drive does a good job of isolating low-frequency vibrations.
A modular approach to construction ensures good access to plumbing and electrical runs. Likewise, a hinge-down main electrical panel and labeled wiring should make troubleshooting relatively painless. Components are generally of very good quality and are neatly installed.
ACCOMMODATIONS Dufour offers a mix-and-match approach to interior layouts in the Classic 36. Being destined for charter, the review boat featured twin aft stateroom's, but private buyers may prefer the single, cabin version which offers a slightly larger double berth, deeper cockpit locker to starboard and an extra measure of galley space (with the head compartment shifted further aft).
Likewise, there are two options for the forward cabin: a conventional vee-berth combined with a second head immediately forward of the main bulkhead, or an offset double berth in lieu of the extra toilet.
On the port side of the saloon is an L, shaped dinette, featuring a large mahogany table. An island bench provides seating on a third side of the table, as well as an essential back rest or safety rail for the cook. The nav station-also to port and aft of the dinette--offers a sizable chart table, comfortable seat, and provisions for accommodating built-in electronics.
The open galley puts the cook near the centre of the social circle, but might lead to a sense of insecurity while attempting to prepare meals in rough conditions. One seamanlike solution is a clip-on safety belt for the cook to lean back against, but the standard back rail should suffice in our waters. To vent cooking heat, there's a small opening hatch over the stove, as well as a large one near the middle of the saloon overhead. There's a double sink just forward of the gimbaled propane stove, and aft, a top- loading cold box with 12V refrigeration.
The decor is classic European-plenty of varnished mahogany and spare, almost understated styling. All in all, a very attractive, livable interior, though I would have liked to see a few more all-weather vents for times when rain or spray preclude opening the hatches.
UNDERWAY After a long string of sail tests aboard boats with in-the-mast furling, it was refreshing to find that B.C.'s first Dufour 36 was equipped a conventional main. Although the additional mainsail roach area is modest, it has a disproportionate effect on helm balance, and hence upwind performance. For a rig like the Dufour's with a tall, narrow fore triangle and relatively long boom, mainsail area is especially valuable.
The Z-Spar mast has two pairs of slightly swept spreaders. The diagonals terminate at the lower shroud tips, making it necessary to go part-way up the rig to adjust tuning- something more often seen on racing boats. There's a baby stay to prevent mast pumping in head seas. A 130% genoa and furling gear are supplied as standard.
Sailing in a 10-12kt breeze, the Dufour Classic 36 displayed a respectable turn of upwind speed, averaging around 5.75kts and tacking through 95-1000. On a close reach, we saw speeds in the mid, sixes. As always, replacing the fixed prop with -a folder would make a noticeable difference--probably at least a half knot. The helm was positive, and driver seating quite comfortable, particularly to leeward. Lateral stability is average, neither particularly stiff nor tender.
In harbour, a transom gate provides access to the built, in swim grid. Thanks to high, ramp, style coamings, the cockpit lockers offer plenty of stowage space. Teak decking is standard for the cockpit seating, but optional elsewhere. All in all, a spacious and livable cockpit that compliments an equally livable interior.
Dufour's Classic 36 is a very good all, around sailboat--sturdy enough to venture off-shore when desired, quick enough to tick off some serious miles, spacious enough to handle a fair-sized crowd, and priced to compete in an extremely tough European market. Sunsail plans to exhibit this boat at Northwest boat shows through the coming season, and I wouldn't be surprised if; "Dufour sightings" became quite common place within a year or so.
Dufour 36 Classic
Length Overall............... 36' 4"
Hull Length...................... 35' 4"
LWL............................. 30' 1"
Beam......................... 12' 4"
Draft (std) ........... 5' 10"
Draft (shoal)............ 4' 5"
Ballast ................... 3,528 lbs
Displ.(light) ...... 13,000 lbs
Sail Area ..... 565sq-ft
SA/D.............. 16.4
D/L................... 213
Power................ 30hp
Fuel.................... 35gals (imp.)
Built by Dufour Yachts, France.
Imported by Dufour Yachts USA, Annapolis, MD.
Sold by Sunsail, Vancouver.
This article was written by Sven Donaldson and published in the
January 2001 edition of Pacific Yachting
|
