Dufour 36 Classic vs 2007 Elan 310 — Comparison
Dufour 36 Classic
2007 Elan 310
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 36 Classic | 2007 Elan 310 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Elan |
| Year | 1996–2003 | 2007–2012 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Slovenia |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Rob Humphreys |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 10.90 m (35.8 ft) | 9.34 m (30.6 ft) |
| LWL | 9.60 m (31.5 ft) | 8.10 m (26.6 ft) |
| Beam | 3.50 m (11.5 ft) | 3.10 m (10.2 ft) |
| Draft | 1.80 m (5.9 ft) | 1.85 m (6.1 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 6,200 kg (13,669 lbs) | 4,500 kg (9,921 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,000 kg (4,409 lbs) | 1,300 kg (2,866 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 57.0 m² (614 ft²) | 42.0 m² (452 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 27 HP | 18 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 110 L (29.1 gal) | 60 L (15.9 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 120 L (31.7 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 6 | 5 |
| Cabins | 2 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 36 Classic and 2007 Elan 310 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 36 Classic is a 1990s design by Dufour from France, while the 2007 Elan 310 is a 2000s offering from Elan from Slovenia. The Dufour 36 Classic was penned by Umberto Felci. The 2007 Elan 310 was designed by Rob Humphreys.
In terms of size, the Dufour 36 Classic measures 10.90m (35.8ft) overall with a beam of 3.50m, compared to the 2007 Elan 310 at 9.34m (30.6ft) with a 3.10m beam. The Dufour 36 Classic is 1.56m longer than the 2007 Elan 310. The Dufour 36 Classic displaces approximately 38% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Dufour 36 Classic has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 17.16 and 57.0 m² of sail area. The 2007 Elan 310, with an SA/D of 15.66 and 42.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The Dufour 36 Classic has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Dufour 36 Classic offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 18.0) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.76). The 2007 Elan 310 has a comfort ratio of 21.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.75. The ballast ratios are 32.3% for the Dufour 36 Classic and 28.9% for the 2007 Elan 310, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Dufour 36 Classic provides 6 berths in 2 cabins with 200L of water capacity and 110L of fuel. The 2007 Elan 310 offers 5 berths in 2 cabins with 120L water and 60L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2007 Elan 310 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The Dufour 36 Classic has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Dufour 36 Classic offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.