Back to Search

Dufour 39 Frers

Designer: German Frers  ·  Builder: Dufour (Fra)  ·  First built: 1982
+ Add to Compare
About the Dufour 39 Frers

Designed by the renowned Argentine naval architect German Frers, this sleek 39-footer represents Dufour's successful foray into performance-oriented cruising during the 1980s and early 1990s. Built in France from 1982 to 1994, with 160 hulls completed, the Dufour 39 Frers strikes an appealing balance between comfort and sailing ability that made it popular among discerning cruisers. The Frers design philosophy shines through in the boat's elegant lines and well-proportioned hull. With a fin keel and spade rudder configuration, she offers responsive handling and respectable performance under sail. The masthead sloop rig provides excellent sail-carrying ability, while the moderate displacement keeps her lively in lighter conditions. Her comfort ratio of 24.26 suggests a boat that won't pound in a seaway, making her well-suited for coastal cruising and moderate offshore passages. The fiberglass construction is robust and well-executed, typical of Dufour's reputation for quality builds during this era. Sailors appreciate the boat's predictable handling characteristics and ability to maintain speed in varying conditions. While not a dedicated racer, the 39 Frers can hold her own in club racing while providing the amenities needed for extended cruising adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 39.30 ft / 11.98 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 30.51 ft / 9.30 m
Beam 12.47 ft / 3.80 m
Max Draft 6.75 ft / 2.06 m
Displacement 14,991.00 lb / 6,800 kg
Ballast 6,990.00 lb / 3,171 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 669.00 ft² / 62.15 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer German Frers
Builder Dufour (FRA)
First Built 1982
Last Built 1994
Number Built 160
Related Sailboats First 407 Beneteau · Oceanis 390 Beneteau · J39 · X 119 · Dufour 39 Cc
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Known Issues & What to Watch For

No known issues documented for this model yet.

Own or have surveyed a Dufour 39 Frers? Submit a known issue

Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 17.67
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 46.63
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 235.64
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 24.26
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.03
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.40 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.38
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,359.42 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 17.66
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 48.20 ft / 14.69 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.20 ft / 4.63 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 42.00 ft / 12.80 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.40 ft / 4.39 m
SA Fore 366.32 ft² / 34.03 m²
SA Main 302.40 ft² / 28.09 m²
SA Total (100%) 668.72 ft² / 62.13 m²
Est. Forestay Length 50.54 ft / 15.40 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Westerbeke
Engine Model 4108
Engine Type Diesel
Fuel Capacity 29 gals / 110 L
Water Capacity 53 gals / 201 L
How It Compares

vs. Dufour 39 Cc, First 407 Beneteau, J39, Oceanis 390 Beneteau, X 119

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Dufour 39 Frers ★
39.3 ft
Dufour 39 Cc
39.3 ft
First 407 Beneteau
39.3 ft
J39
39.4 ft
Oceanis 390 Beneteau
39.4 ft
X 119
39.4 ft
LWL
Dufour 39 Frers ★
30.5 ft
Dufour 39 Cc
31.8 ft
First 407 Beneteau
34.8 ft
J39
32.5 ft
Oceanis 390 Beneteau
33.1 ft
X 119
33.6 ft
Beam
Dufour 39 Frers ★
12.5 ft
Dufour 39 Cc
12.6 ft
First 407 Beneteau
12.3 ft
J39
12.4 ft
Oceanis 390 Beneteau
13.1 ft
X 119
10.7 ft
Displacement
Dufour 39 Frers ★
14 lbs
Dufour 39 Cc
15 lbs
First 407 Beneteau
15 lbs
J39
12 lbs
Oceanis 390 Beneteau
17 lbs
X 119
11 lbs
Ballast
Dufour 39 Frers ★
6 lbs
Dufour 39 Cc
4 lbs
First 407 Beneteau
5 lbs
J39
5 lbs
Oceanis 390 Beneteau
6 lbs
X 119
4 lbs
Sail Area
Dufour 39 Frers ★
669 sq ft
Dufour 39 Cc
—
First 407 Beneteau
806 sq ft
J39
799 sq ft
Oceanis 390 Beneteau
710 sq ft
X 119
794 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Dufour 39 Frers ★
17.7
Dufour 39 Cc
—
First 407 Beneteau
21.1
J39
23.3
Oceanis 390 Beneteau
16.7
X 119
25.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Dufour 39 Frers ★
46.6 %
Dufour 39 Cc
29.0 %
First 407 Beneteau
39.1 %
J39
—
Oceanis 390 Beneteau
35.0 %
X 119
42.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Dufour 39 Frers ★
24.3
Dufour 39 Cc
—
First 407 Beneteau
22.9
J39
20.1
Oceanis 390 Beneteau
25.1
X 119
21.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Dufour 39 Frers ★
2.03
Dufour 39 Cc
—
First 407 Beneteau
1.99
J39
2.12
Oceanis 390 Beneteau
2.02
X 119
1.90
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Dufour 39 Frers ★
235
Dufour 39 Cc
217
First 407 Beneteau
160
J39
—
Oceanis 390 Beneteau
216
X 119
134
Hull Speed
Dufour 39 Frers ★
7.4 kts
Dufour 39 Cc
—
First 407 Beneteau
7.9 kts
J39
7.6 kts
Oceanis 390 Beneteau
7.7 kts
X 119
7.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Dufour 39 Frers ★
2.4
Dufour 39 Cc
—
First 407 Beneteau
3.8
J39
3.9
Oceanis 390 Beneteau
—
X 119
4.7
Find a Dufour 39 Frers For Sale
Y YachtWorld Brokerage listings S Sailboat Listings Sailboats only C Craigslist National search F Facebook Marketplace Local listings B boats.com Global marketplace