Dufour 44 vs 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur — Comparison
Dufour 44
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 44 | 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Wauquiez |
| Year | 2005–2010 | 1988–1998 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Jean-Marie Finot |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.20 m (43.3 ft) | 10.21 m (33.5 ft) |
| LWL | 11.55 m (37.9 ft) | 8.38 m (27.5 ft) |
| Beam | 4.10 m (13.5 ft) | 3.28 m (10.8 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 1.70 m (5.6 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 9,500 kg (20,944 lbs) | 5,443 kg (12,000 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,000 kg (6,614 lbs) | 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 82.0 m² (883 ft²) | 47.0 m² (506 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 22 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 90 L (23.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 350 L (92.5 gal) | 170 L (44.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 6 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 44 and 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 44 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur is a 1980s offering from Wauquiez from France. The Dufour 44 was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur was designed by Jean-Marie Finot.
In terms of size, the Dufour 44 measures 13.20m (43.3ft) overall with a beam of 4.10m, compared to the 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur at 10.21m (33.5ft) with a 3.28m beam. The Dufour 44 is 2.99m longer than the 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur. The Dufour 44 displaces approximately 75% 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 Wauquiez Gladiateur, with an SA/D of 15.43 and 47.0 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 Wauquiez Gladiateur has a comfort ratio of 21.6 and a capsize screening value of 0.75. The ballast ratios are 31.6% for the Dufour 44 and 41.7% for the 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur, 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 Wauquiez Gladiateur offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 170L water and 90L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1988 Wauquiez Gladiateur 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 Wauquiez Gladiateur