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Dufour T7
Designer: Jean-Louis Noir  ·  Builder: Dufour  ·  First built: 1980
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About the Dufour T7

Designed by Jean-Louis Noir and built by the respected French shipyard Dufour from 1980 to 1983, this compact 22-footer represents an intriguing blend of coastal cruising capability and trailer-friendly convenience. With only 250 hulls produced during its brief production run, the T7 has become a relatively uncommon sight on modern waters. The boat's most distinctive feature is its swing keel design, which allows the 4.50-foot draft to be reduced for shallow water exploration, beaching, or trailering. This flexibility makes it particularly appealing for coastal cruising and gunkholing in areas where traditional deep-draft boats cannot venture. The fractional sloop rig provides balanced sail handling, while the generous sail area of 237 square feet delivers respectable performance for a boat of this size. At 2,360 pounds with nearly half that weight in ballast, the T7 strikes a reasonable balance between stability and transportability. The comfort ratio of 10.73 suggests this is primarily a daysailer or weekend cruiser rather than an extended cruising platform, while the capsize screening formula of 2.46 indicates it's best suited for protected waters and coastal sailing rather than offshore passages. For sailors seeking an affordable entry into swing keel cruising with French styling, the T7 offers a unique combination of practicality and character.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 21.75 ft / 6.63 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.25 ft / 6.17 m
Beam 8.17 ft / 2.49 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Min Draft 1.00 ft / 0.30 m
Displacement 2,360.00 lb / 1,070 kg
Ballast 1,100.00 lb / 499 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 237.00 ft² / 22.02 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Swing Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Jean-Louis Noir
Builder Dufour
First Built 1980
Last Built 1983
Number Built 250
Owner Reviews

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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
 21.44
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
 46.61
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
 126.88
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
 10.73
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
 2.46
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. 6.03 kn
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. 591.14 pounds/inch
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