Beneteau First 36.7 vs Dufour 40 — Comparison
Beneteau First 36.7
Dufour 40
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 36.7 | Dufour 40 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Dufour |
| Year | 2002–2008 | 2007–2012 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Umberto Felci |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 11.25 m (36.9 ft) | 12.05 m (39.5 ft) |
| LWL | 9.65 m (31.7 ft) | 10.55 m (34.6 ft) |
| Beam | 3.58 m (11.7 ft) | 3.85 m (12.6 ft) |
| Draft | 1.98 m (6.5 ft) | 1.95 m (6.4 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 5,800 kg (12,787 lbs) | 7,800 kg (17,196 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,100 kg (4,630 lbs) | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 65.0 m² (700 ft²) | 68.0 m² (732 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 29 HP | 40 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 120 L (31.7 gal) | 160 L (42.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 300 L (79.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 7 | 8 |
| Cabins | 2 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 36.7 and Dufour 40 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 36.7 is a 2000s design by Beneteau from France, while the Dufour 40 is a 2000s offering from Dufour from France. The Beneteau First 36.7 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The Dufour 40 was designed by Umberto Felci.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 36.7 measures 11.25m (36.9ft) overall with a beam of 3.58m, compared to the Dufour 40 at 12.05m (39.5ft) with a 3.85m beam. The Dufour 40 is 0.80m longer than the Beneteau First 36.7. The Dufour 40 displaces approximately 34% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 36.7 has generous sail power for spirited sailing with an SA/D ratio of 20.46 and 65.0 m² of sail area. The Dufour 40, with an SA/D of 17.56 and 68.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Beneteau First 36.7 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 36.7 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 15.9) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.80). The Dufour 40 has a comfort ratio of 16.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 36.2% for the Beneteau First 36.7 and 30.8% for the Dufour 40, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau First 36.7 provides 7 berths in 2 cabins with 200L of water capacity and 120L of fuel. The Dufour 40 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 300L water and 160L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Dufour 40 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 Beneteau First 36.7 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 40 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.