Dufour 44 vs 1979 Pearson 37 — Comparison
Dufour 44
1979 Pearson 37
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 44 | 1979 Pearson 37 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Pearson |
| Year | 2005–2010 | 1979–1985 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | William Shaw |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.20 m (43.3 ft) | 11.28 m (37.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.55 m (37.9 ft) | 8.69 m (28.5 ft) |
| Beam | 4.10 m (13.5 ft) | 3.43 m (11.3 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 1.83 m (6.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 9,500 kg (20,944 lbs) | 7,258 kg (16,001 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,000 kg (6,614 lbs) | 3,084 kg (6,799 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 82.0 m² (883 ft²) | 56.0 m² (603 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 28 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 95 L (25.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 350 L (92.5 gal) | 190 L (50.2 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 6 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 44 and 1979 Pearson 37 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 44 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1979 Pearson 37 is a 1970s offering from Pearson from USA. The Dufour 44 was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1979 Pearson 37 was designed by William Shaw.
In terms of size, the Dufour 44 measures 13.20m (43.3ft) overall with a beam of 4.10m, compared to the 1979 Pearson 37 at 11.28m (37.0ft) with a 3.43m beam. The Dufour 44 is 1.92m longer than the 1979 Pearson 37. The Dufour 44 displaces approximately 31% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Dufour 44 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.57 and 82.0 m² of sail area. The 1979 Pearson 37, with an SA/D of 15.18 and 56.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The Dufour 44 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Dufour 44 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 15.4) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.78). The 1979 Pearson 37 has a comfort ratio of 24.1 and a capsize screening value of 0.71. The ballast ratios are 31.6% for the Dufour 44 and 42.5% for the 1979 Pearson 37, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Dufour 44 provides 8 berths in 3 cabins with 350L of water capacity and 200L of fuel. The 1979 Pearson 37 offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 190L water and 95L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1979 Pearson 37 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 44 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 44 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.
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Or view individual specs: Dufour 44 · 1979 Pearson 37