The Dufour 34 is and respectable in club racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
6.8 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 25.4′, the Dufour 34 tops out around 6.8 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √25.4′ LWL = 6.8 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
141s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
Ballast / Displacement
40.0%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
300
Moderate-heavy — carries provisions well, deliberate in light air.
Hull Speed
6.8kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
6lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Dufour 34 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Viking 34
Dufour 34
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
Islander 34
Tartan 33
Grampian 34
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Dufour 34.
| Dufour 34 | Columbia 34 Mk Ii | Grampian 34 | Islander 34 | Tartan 33 | Viking 34 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 33.6 | 33.6 | 33.6 | 33.6 | 33.7 | 33.6 |
| LWL | 25.4 | 27.3 | 26.5 | 25.0 | 28.8 | 27.2 |
| Beam | 10.8 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 11.0 | 9.8 |
| Displacement | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Ballast | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Sail Area | — | 526 | 551 | 471 | 531 | 540 |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | 141 | — | 171 | 147 | 153 | 129 |
| SA/Disp | — | 16.1 | 16.9 | 15.9 | 18.4 | 20.2 |
| Bal/Disp | 40.0 | 39.2 | — | 31.7 | — | — |
| Comfort | — | 29.6 | 30.2 | 27.1 | 21.0 | 22.5 |
| Capsize | — | 1.75 | 1.75 | 1.84 | 2.04 | 1.90 |
| Hull Speed | — | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.7 | 7.2 | 7.0 |