Sailboat Dufour 44 for sale

Dufour 44 for sale: a space-saving marvel that’s a joy to sail

If you’re looking for a new sailing boat of your own in the 13–14-metre class, you shouldn’t overlook the Dufour 44 on your shortlist. Although the long-established shipyard in La Rochelle is one of the ‘Big 5’ major series manufacturers, it deliberately adopts a rather low-key approach and has been building its image as a maker of ‘special boats’ for years: They are keen to set themselves apart, particularly from their French counterparts at Beneteau and Jeanneau – and, in our opinion, they’re doing a very good job of it.

A Dufour yacht has always been ‘a bit different’. Whilst the yachts built before the turn of the millennium were designed more for performance, sailing capabilities and definitely regatta capability (much like the Dehlers within the Hanse Yachts Group), the company has increasingly shifted its focus towards family cruising, particularly with the huge boom in the charter industry in the early 2010s. Today, Dufour sailing yachts tend to be robust, very spacious and, in terms of sailing performance, no longer have much in common with their predecessors – such as the Dufour 36 E, which remain very popular on the second-hand boat market. Nevertheless: any modern Dufour can always be ordered with a thoroughly capable rig – and it certainly doesn’t sail any worse than the competition.

The Dufour 44 is a ‘mid-range’ model

With the Dufour 44, launched in 2024, the shipyard is filling a sort of ‘gap’ in the market. After all, 44-foot cruising yachts are rather rare. In actual figures, the hull of the Dufour 44 is exactly 13.10 m long, which means its only direct competitor is the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440 – a modern design by Marc Lombard. However, with a hull length of 12.64 m, this yacht is noticeably smaller. Although the Hanse 458, with a hull length of 13.55 m, is only marginally larger, it is one of the last sailing yachts in the Hanse range to still be built using the old Judel/Vrolijk designs and does not, like the (then significantly larger) Hanse 460, conform to the very latest lines from the Greifswald-based shipyard. Its direct competitors are therefore, in our view, a much smaller ‘44’ from Jeanneau and – somewhat of an exaggeration, but we’ll allow ourselves this little dig – an ‘outdated’ model from Hanse.

The other competitors, such as Beneteau and Bavaria, have decided to skip the 13-metre class and are instead offering the brand-new (and impressively well-executed) Oceanis 47, the previously mentioned (and truly superb) Hanse 460, and the (particularly beautiful below deck) Bavaria C46 – models that are significantly larger than the Dufour 44. As all these yachts are often mentioned in the same breath, you should be aware of the differences in size and, consequently, the sometimes significant differences in budget.

Dufour 44 for sale – The concept works: light, air and plenty of relaxation

When you step aboard the Dufour 44 for the first time, you’ll quickly notice that ‘limbo’ space that comes with a boat of this size – 13 metres – for example, in the cockpit. Here, the yacht already offers some lovely features that you’d normally only expect to find on much larger boats, such as the attractive steps on either side of the large swim platform with its fully equipped outdoor kitchen (plancha BBQ, sink and fridge). On the other hand, you do notice the ‘cramped’ feel here, as the yacht’s width of 4.45 metres isn’t quite enough to accommodate split cockpit tables with a central aisle, as is the case on the larger Dufour 48. However, these are all things that a sailing family or a male crew on a charter will have no trouble getting used to, as the boat’s high freeboard is immediately noticeable, particularly below deck: plenty of natural light, plenty of space even in the cabins, and, as a result, cruising luxury await you here.

Buy a Dufour 44 – Hull, design, construction & sail plan

Infusion and injection: stiffness achieved through vacuum

As with all other Dufour yachts, the shipyard uses modern vacuum-assisted GRP manufacturing technology to produce the yacht’s two largest components. Unlike the – significantly cheaper – ‘hand-lay-up’ method, the glass fibre mats and foam sandwich panels are placed ‘dry’ into the lamination moulds. These are then sealed airtight and a strong negative pressure (not a true vacuum, therefore) is generated inside using powerful suction pumps. The resin is then fed in via inlet hoses at the other end of the mould. Instead of the inexpensive polyester, vinyl ester and sometimes epoxy resin are used. The ‘vacuum’ draws the resin evenly into even the furthest corners of the mould. The pressure compresses everything very tightly together. The process is much more comfortable for the staff and also quicker.

For the Dufour 44, the hull is manufactured using vacuum infusion, whilst the deck is produced using vacuum injection. With infusion, there is only one ‘attractive’ side, namely the outside. As the inside of the hull will later be completely concealed, there is no need to worry about the appearance of the ‘B-side’. It’s different with the deck: here, both the ‘A-side’ – that is, the deck you’ll be walking on later – and the inside, the ‘B-side’, need to look smart. After all, when you’re below deck, you want it to look nice too. That’s why two moulds are used for injection moulding, whereas only one is used for infusion moulding.

Despite this higher-quality manufacturing process, Dufour yachts are sometimes heavier in terms of final weight compared with the competition. The Dufour 44, for example, with a displacement of 10.2 tonnes, is significantly heavier than the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440, which weighs 8.5 tonnes. Even the considerably larger Beneteau Oceanis 47, at 10.9 tonnes, is only marginally heavier. Therefore, if agile sailing performance is important to you in your new yacht, you should always opt for the rig option with the maximum sail area from Dufour and not do without a gennaker and Code 0 for light winds of around and below 10 knots.

Echoes of Dufour’s past as a performance artist

It is a balancing act that designer Umberto Felci has to master here with Dufour. On the one hand, the yachts have to hold their own in the ‘shark tank’ of the charter market. Orders from the major fleet operators often account for between 30 and over 50 per cent of annual production: a guaranteed source of income in times of commercial uncertainty and significant reluctance to buy in the private owner market.

On the other hand, the aim is to continue living up to the reputation of ‘well-sailing production yachts’: Here, the main competition comes from the Vendée, as Beneteau’s Oceanis models are built specifically for this target group, and traditionally, Hanse yachts from Germany are also renowned for their excellent sailing performance.

Umberto Felci therefore ensures that his hulls, regardless of their freeboard and volume above the waterline, have as little wetted surface area as possible below the waterline. Keeping the ‘lateral plan’ this small results in less friction – and greater speed. Furthermore, he opts for the deep single-rudder configuration for the steering system. This provides better feedback to the helmsmen and thus enables more direct, agile handling of the yacht. In contrast to the ‘Grand Large’ series from a few years ago, the rudders on the new Dufours are now positioned considerably further aft, which has a very positive effect on the yachts’ handling. As previously recommended, equipping the Dufour 44 with a large, overlapping genoa and a classic battened mainsail instead of the furling version is essential to fully realise the hull’s potential.

‘Easy’ or ‘Ocean’ – the rig options for the Dufour 44

In the charter business, it is often the case that only one person can sail the boat. Furthermore, the focus is usually not necessarily on covering distance, but rather on anchoring, spending quality time in harbour and relaxing. The ‘Easy Sailing’ rig is designed with this in mind. Just two winches control the simple self-tacking jib and the furling mainsail; everything is designed for ‘fail-safe’ and single-handed operation. However, sailing can only be truly enjoyable here in moderate to strong winds, as the yacht, with its relatively small sail area, needs quite a bit of wind to sail well.

It’s best to buy the ‘Ocean’ package straight away, which includes a classic battened mainsail that flares out towards the stern. Thanks to its convex leech, this offers more sail area. The battens create a genuine airfoil profile; this sail shape is significantly more effective and offers better performance than the concave-cut, smaller and completely profile-less furling mainsail.

Either way, you shouldn’t do without a gennaker (for half-to-downwind courses) and a Code 9 (for half-to-close-hauled courses), as the yacht needs plenty of sail area in winds below 10 knots TWS. As for the keels, you also have the choice between the attractive, deep 2.20 m standard keel or a 1.75 m short keel, although the latter increases the yacht’s weight even further.

Buy a Dufour 44 – All the information for skippers and sailors

She is the big-little sister of the Dufour 48

That’s how one might briefly describe the Dufour 44 – and it would be accurate. The Dufour 48 and the Dufour 44 were both designed by Felci and interior designer Ardizio, and in fact differ only in terms of size and the compromises necessitated by the available space. If you love the Dufour 48, then you’re sure to like the Dufour 44 as well – a lovely alternative for anyone who finds the overall budget for a Dufour 48 a bit too high in the end. On the other hand, even if you do have the funds for the larger Dufour, opting for the smaller model certainly has its advantages: the Dufour 44 does (almost) everything the 48 can do, but for significantly less money. In the basic versions, that’s a mere 60,000 euros net! And with that budget, a family could almost sail round the world on a sabbatical for a whole year …

Conversely, the Dufour 48 is a lovely alternative for anyone who feels the Dufour 44 lacks that ‘certain something’ or the ‘final touch’: For example, the cockpit is significantly more luxurious on its bigger sister, and the integrated sun loungers on the yacht’s foredeck are a major comfort feature of the boat. Not to mention that the boat’s interior volume is noticeably larger.

If the choice is between a brand-new Dufour 44 and a good second-hand Dufour 48, the decision certainly becomes even more complex. We therefore always recommend viewing the yachts ‘in the flesh’ before making a purchase. The major boat shows are ideal for this, but it’s always best to book at least a week’s charter on the yacht in question.

The Dufour 44 as a cruising yacht

The Dufour 44 is, of course, certified to CE Category A. This means it is suitable for use in ‘unlimited offshore’ waters, although, like all other mass-produced yachts, we see this yacht being used more on the ‘barefoot route’ in blue-water areas than in the designated, challenging heavy-weather waters. If you’re planning a break, want to cross the Atlantic, or even wish to live and work on the yacht for a while, it is certainly suitable for serious use as a cruising vessel. The 13-metre hull length offers sufficient stability even in ocean swells, and with the ‘large’ rig, good daily mileages are possible in the trade winds. When equipping the yacht for such a voyage, layouts with as few cabins and bathrooms as possible are preferable, so that you have enough storage space. Additional equipment, such as solar, wind or hydro generators, enhances self-sufficiency on board. Dufour yachts still sail to distant destinations today – although this is more the exception than the rule. Most owners buy this yacht as the perfect holiday boat, a swimming platform whilst at anchor and an oasis of calm away from everyday life.

Dufour is taking an aggressive stance on pricing

Time and again in the past, Dufour’s shipyard and dealers have attracted attention with eye-catching discount promotions. Dufour’s starting prices are traditionally very attractive – in the case of the Dufour 44, the base model currently costs just under 354,000 euros including German VAT. By comparison, the Oceanis 47 currently costs €440,000 including German VAT. However, appearances can often be deceiving: if you are interested in buying a Dufour, you should always work out the full cost of the boat (or have it worked out for you): often, the so-called ‘mandatory packs’ are not included in the base price for Dufour. For the Dufour 44, for example, this currently costs 21,420 euros including German VAT …

Nevertheless, setting aside the sales tactics employed by Dufour’s marketing department, it may be worth taking a slightly ‘tougher’ line with dealers and the shipyard during negotiations: as the shipyard’s output is much lower than that of Jeanneau or Beneteau, for example, each individual sale counts all the more. They may therefore be more willing to make concessions under certain circumstances. Just give it a go …

Buy a Dufour 44 – comfort below deck

Four layouts – a landmark decision

The work of Dufour’s interior designer, Luca Ardizio, cannot be praised highly enough. We have rarely seen interiors in the mass-production segment that are so harmoniously balanced with the lines created by the exterior designers. Usually, yacht designers and the interior design department do not tend to work all that closely together. And usually, one has to live with the other’s decisions. This seems to have been different, particularly with the Dufour 44 and Dufour 48. Want an example? The windows are positioned on the outside exactly where you need them on the inside. And at exactly the right height. Another example? Very few forward cabins are designed in such a way that, whilst lying down, you can actually enjoy the view of the anchorage through the hull windows. It works brilliantly on Dufour yachts, and on Beneteaus too. With other brands, not so much.

The Dufour 44 is available in four layouts: 3 cabins with 2 bathrooms, 3 cabins with 3 bathrooms, or 4 cabins with 4 bathrooms. Hang on, that’s only three layouts?! That’s right, because there’s also a fundamental decision to be made, and that concerns the galley.

A longitudinal galley or a ‘front kitchen’?

The Dufour 44 also offers a feature that, surprisingly, very few production yachts provide, and which is also rather rare even in the higher-end segment: the forward galley. Here, the galley is positioned across the entire width of the saloon, directly against the forward bulkhead. This has many advantages, quite apart from the truly stylish design aspect. Firstly, the galley is situated directly above the yacht’s centre of rotation. You are, so to speak, cooking on the keel. Naturally, this is where there is the least movement, which will be a particular boon to the ship’s cook, especially in rough seas. Secondly, the forward galley creates a sort of additional ‘barrier’ between the yacht’s much-frequented, quasi ‘public’ saloon and the very private and intimate owner’s area at the bow. This contributes pleasantly to a sense of well-being, particularly when sailing with family or on trips with friends.

However, the versions with the longitudinal galley also have undeniable advantages: this galley offers more storage space than the forward layout, and the port-side area – where the dinette is located – is generally more spacious. Although the dining table remains the same in both variants, with the forward layout you lose the small navigation corner for the skipper, whilst the saloon feels more spacious. Either way – both variants have their own charm, which is why it’s best to view both in person before making a purchase.

Buy a Dufour 44 – A brilliant saloon with one detail that takes some getting used to

We like Luca Ardizio’s interior design: it’s very modern, fresh and bright. Dufour yachts are renowned for their numerous, generously sized windows, both in the hull and on deck. They feature light-coloured woods of high-quality craftsmanship, some lovely solid wood details and surprising, clever solutions. There is one detail, however, that you have to like: the dining table in the saloon.

Just like on the Dufour 48, this is also very unusual. Ardizio has departed from the usual square shape and has placed a hexagon in the saloon. It is unquestionably the centrepiece of the saloon and thus the visual focal point. It immediately catches the eye and thus provokes an instant reaction in most people: you either love it or hate it. Although this table shape is very practical, as everyone at the table has exactly the same amount of space, its exotic shape certainly gives rise to passionate discussions. As you really cannot help but look at it and will always have to interact with this table, you should examine this detail very closely before deciding to buy.

Plenty of space – and, above all, light – in the cabins

The cabins are all spacious, very light and tastefully designed. Dufour has fitted the 44 with really stylish cockpit upholstery and beautiful inlaid woodwork below deck. All the berths are generously sized. In the 3-cabin version, we particularly like the layout where guests also have a separate shower and toilet at the stern. White panelling and white-lacquered furniture surfaces give the saloon a light and airy feel, although this comes across even more impressively on the Dufour 48. Combine light wood tones with a dark floor, and choose stylish fabrics for the upholstery – this will turn the Dufour into your very own dream boat.

Summary and conclusion

Could the Dufour 44 be your next yacht?

In conclusion, we can praise the yacht’s versatility and its modern, fresh design, both inside and out. As the Dufour 44 cannot be directly compared with most other yachts in this segment, it neither needs to nor can it take on the 45- and 46-foot yachts. It therefore presents an interesting alternative, in keeping with the motto ‘go small(er) – go now!’. The interior is very welcoming, and the cockpit offers plenty of lovely features for relaxing and feeling at ease. It’s just as much fun as a pure pleasure craft and holiday base as it is as a serious cruising yacht.

Buy the Dufour 44 – What we particularly like about it:

• A modern design and a ‘bold’ look compared with its more conservative competitors.
• A beautiful open-plan kitchen offers a change from the usual monotony.
• There are many possible combinations when specifying the requirements.

Buying a Dufour 44 – Here’s what you need to look out for:

• The shipyard’s pricing policy.
• A ‘controversial’ dinner table in the salon.
• A relatively heavy fuselage; requires a large wing area.

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