Dufour 44 vs 1984 Ericson 38 — Comparison
Dufour 44
1984 Ericson 38
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 44 | 1984 Ericson 38 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Ericson |
| Year | 2005–2010 | 1984–1990 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Bruce King / Ron Holland |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.20 m (43.3 ft) | 11.58 m (38.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.55 m (37.9 ft) | 9.45 m (31.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.10 m (13.5 ft) | 3.66 m (12.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 1.98 m (6.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 9,500 kg (20,944 lbs) | 7,484 kg (16,499 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,000 kg (6,614 lbs) | 3,175 kg (7,000 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 82.0 m² (883 ft²) | 60.0 m² (646 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 30 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 114 L (30.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 350 L (92.5 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 44 and 1984 Ericson 38 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 44 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1984 Ericson 38 is a 1980s offering from Ericson from USA. The Dufour 44 was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1984 Ericson 38 was designed by Bruce King / Ron Holland.
In terms of size, the Dufour 44 measures 13.20m (43.3ft) overall with a beam of 4.10m, compared to the 1984 Ericson 38 at 11.58m (38.0ft) with a 3.66m beam. The Dufour 44 is 1.62m longer than the 1984 Ericson 38. The Dufour 44 displaces approximately 27% 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 1984 Ericson 38, with an SA/D of 15.93 and 60.0 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 1984 Ericson 38 has a comfort ratio of 20.1 and a capsize screening value of 0.75. The ballast ratios are 31.6% for the Dufour 44 and 42.4% for the 1984 Ericson 38, 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 1984 Ericson 38 offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 200L water and 114L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1984 Ericson 38 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 · 1984 Ericson 38