The Dufour 48 Sail is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 46.3′, the Dufour 48 Sail tops out around 9.1 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √46.3′ LWL = 9.1 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
SA / Displacement
19.5
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Displacement / Length
164
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
15.4
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
3.18
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
26lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
15.4
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
3.18
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Dufour 48 Sail sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
3.9 |
4.9 |
5.5 |
5.7 |
| Close Reach60° |
4.7 |
5.9 |
6.6 |
6.9 |
| Beam Reach90° |
5.8 |
7.3 |
8.2 |
8.8 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
5.3 |
6.7 |
7.5 |
8.2 |
| Run150–180° |
4.3 |
5.4 |
6.0 |
6.3 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (9.1 kts),
SA/D (19.5), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Dufour 48 Sail — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–18 kts
18–26 kts
26+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–26 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
26+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Dufour 48 Sail.
|
Dufour 48 Sail |
Boreal 47 2 |
Cyber 4800 |
Etap 48Ds |
St Francis 48 |
Tartan 4700 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
47.2 |
47.1 |
47.6 |
47.4 |
47.4 |
46.9 |
| LWL |
46.3 |
41.8 |
46.9 |
41.0 |
42.5 |
39.5 |
| Beam |
26.3 |
14.4 |
24.3 |
14.8 |
26.3 |
14.1 |
| Displacement |
36 |
30 |
16 |
29 |
24 |
28 |
| Ballast |
— |
8 |
— |
9 |
— |
9 |
| Sail Area |
1 |
1 |
1 |
839 |
1 |
1 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
84 |
| SA/Disp |
19.5 |
17.9 |
33.3 |
14.3 |
27.5 |
17.8 |
| Bal/Disp |
— |
27.8 |
— |
31.8 |
— |
34.8 |
| Comfort |
15.4 |
30.7 |
— |
29.1 |
— |
30.6 |
| Capsize |
3.18 |
1.86 |
— |
1.92 |
— |
1.86 |
| Hull Speed |
9.1 |
8.7 |
— |
8.6 |
— |
8.4 |