Dufour 44 vs 1988 Valiant Esprit 37 — Comparison
Dufour 44
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 44 | 1988 Valiant Esprit 37 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Valiant |
| Year | 2005–2010 | 1988–1996 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Bob Perry |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.20 m (43.3 ft) | 11.28 m (37.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.55 m (37.9 ft) | 9.14 m (30.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.10 m (13.5 ft) | 3.47 m (11.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 1.65 m (5.4 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 9,500 kg (20,944 lbs) | 7,257 kg (15,999 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,000 kg (6,614 lbs) | 2,948 kg (6,499 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 82.0 m² (883 ft²) | 58.0 m² (624 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Modified full |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 35 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 132 L (34.9 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 350 L (92.5 gal) | 246 L (65.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 6 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 44 and 1988 Valiant Esprit 37 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 44 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1988 Valiant Esprit 37 is a 1980s offering from Valiant from USA. The Dufour 44 was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1988 Valiant Esprit 37 was designed by Bob Perry.
In terms of size, the Dufour 44 measures 13.20m (43.3ft) overall with a beam of 4.10m, compared to the 1988 Valiant Esprit 37 at 11.28m (37.0ft) with a 3.47m beam. The Dufour 44 is 1.92m longer than the 1988 Valiant Esprit 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 1988 Valiant Esprit 37, with an SA/D of 15.72 and 58.0 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 1988 Valiant Esprit 37 has a comfort ratio of 22.2 and a capsize screening value of 0.72. The ballast ratios are 31.6% for the Dufour 44 and 40.6% for the 1988 Valiant Esprit 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 1988 Valiant Esprit 37 offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 246L water and 132L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1988 Valiant Esprit 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 · 1988 Valiant Esprit 37