Dufour 44 vs 1986 Westerly Oceanlord — Comparison
Dufour 44
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 44 | 1986 Westerly Oceanlord |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Westerly |
| Year | 2005–2010 | 1986–1992 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | UK |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Ed Dubois |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.20 m (43.3 ft) | 12.04 m (39.5 ft) |
| LWL | 11.55 m (37.9 ft) | 9.75 m (32.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.10 m (13.5 ft) | 3.81 m (12.5 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 1.83 m (6.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 9,500 kg (20,944 lbs) | 9,980 kg (22,002 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,000 kg (6,614 lbs) | 3,629 kg (8,001 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 82.0 m² (883 ft²) | 68.0 m² (732 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 50 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 182 L (48.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 350 L (92.5 gal) | 340 L (89.8 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 44 and 1986 Westerly Oceanlord represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 44 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord is a 1980s offering from Westerly from UK. The Dufour 44 was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1986 Westerly Oceanlord was designed by Ed Dubois.
In terms of size, the Dufour 44 measures 13.20m (43.3ft) overall with a beam of 4.10m, compared to the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord at 12.04m (39.5ft) with a 3.81m beam. The Dufour 44 is 1.16m longer than the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord. The 1986 Westerly Oceanlord displaces approximately 5% 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 1986 Westerly Oceanlord, with an SA/D of 14.90 and 68.0 m² of canvas, offers modest sail power for its displacement. 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 1986 Westerly Oceanlord has a comfort ratio of 23.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.71. The ballast ratios are 31.6% for the Dufour 44 and 36.4% for the 1986 Westerly Oceanlord, 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 1986 Westerly Oceanlord offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 340L water and 182L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1986 Westerly Oceanlord 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 · 1986 Westerly Oceanlord