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Dufour 40
Designer: Umberto Felci  ·  Builder: Dufour Yachts  ·  First built: 2005
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About the Dufour 40

French shipyard Dufour's 40-foot offering represents a well-balanced approach to cruising sailboat design, embodying the builder's decades of experience in creating boats that blend performance with comfort. This mid-sized cruiser falls into that sweet spot where sailing enthusiasts find a boat capable of both spirited coastal adventures and comfortable extended passages. Built with Dufour's characteristic attention to interior volume optimization, the boat maximizes living space without sacrificing sailing characteristics. The design philosophy emphasizes ease of handling, making it accessible to couples or small crews who want to venture beyond protected waters without requiring a large sailing team. The hull design strikes a thoughtful balance between stability and performance, allowing the boat to handle a variety of conditions with confidence. While not specifically designed as a racing machine, it possesses enough sailing ability to satisfy those who enjoy spirited passages and the occasional club race. Interior accommodations typically reflect Dufour's reputation for creating livable spaces that work well for both short coastal hops and longer cruising adventures. The boat's size and configuration make it particularly well-suited for sailors transitioning from smaller boats or those seeking a capable platform for regional cruising with occasional offshore passages.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 40.42 ft / 12.32 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 35.24 ft / 10.74 m
Beam 12.80 ft / 3.90 m
Max Draft 5.41 ft / 1.65 m
Displacement 17,196.00 lb / 7,800 kg
Ballast 6,206.00 lb / 2,815 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 866.41 ft² / 80.49 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Umberto Felci
Builder Dufour Yachts
First Built 2005
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
96
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
20.89
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
24.22
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
1.99
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. 7.95
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
3.1
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 48.1
J (Foretriangle Base) 13.75
P (Mainsail Luff) 46.75
E (Mainsail Foot) 17.22
SA Fore 330.69
SA Main 402.52
How It Compares

vs. Bavaria 40 Jj, Catalina 400, Hunter 405 Legend

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Dufour 40 ★
40.4 ft
Bavaria 40 Jj
40.4 ft
Catalina 400
40.5 ft
Hunter 405 Legend
40.5 ft
LWL
Dufour 40 ★
35.2 ft
Bavaria 40 Jj
34.5 ft
Catalina 400
34.8 ft
Hunter 405 Legend
34.8 ft
Beam
Dufour 40 ★
12.8 ft
Bavaria 40 Jj
13.5 ft
Catalina 400
13.5 ft
Hunter 405 Legend
13.7 ft
Displacement
Dufour 40 ★
17 lbs
Bavaria 40 Jj
19 lbs
Catalina 400
18 lbs
Hunter 405 Legend
19 lbs
Ballast
Dufour 40 ★
6 lbs
Bavaria 40 Jj
7 lbs
Catalina 400
7 lbs
Hunter 405 Legend
7 lbs
Sail Area
Dufour 40 ★
866 sq ft
Bavaria 40 Jj
790 sq ft
Catalina 400
808 sq ft
Hunter 405 Legend
780 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Dufour 40 ★
96 s/nm
Bavaria 40 Jj
108 s/nm
Catalina 400
102 s/nm
Hunter 405 Legend
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Dufour 40 ★
20.9
Bavaria 40 Jj
17.2
Catalina 400
18.9
Hunter 405 Legend
17.5
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Dufour 40 ★
Bavaria 40 Jj
35.6 %
Catalina 400
40.0 %
Hunter 405 Legend
40.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Dufour 40 ★
24.2
Bavaria 40 Jj
Catalina 400
23.8
Hunter 405 Legend
24.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Dufour 40 ★
1.99
Bavaria 40 Jj
Catalina 400
2.06
Hunter 405 Legend
2.05
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Dufour 40 ★
Bavaria 40 Jj
216
Catalina 400
190
Hunter 405 Legend
200
Hull Speed
Dufour 40 ★
8.0 kts
Bavaria 40 Jj
Catalina 400
7.9 kts
Hunter 405 Legend
7.9 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Dufour 40 ★
3.1
Bavaria 40 Jj
Catalina 400
3.1
Hunter 405 Legend
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