Dufour 44 vs Hunter 380 — Comparison
Dufour 44
Hunter 380
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 44 | Hunter 380 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Hunter |
| Year | 2005–2010 | 2001–2005 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Glenn Henderson |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.20 m (43.3 ft) | 11.58 m (38.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.55 m (37.9 ft) | 10.06 m (33.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.10 m (13.5 ft) | 3.76 m (12.3 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 1.83 m (6.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 9,500 kg (20,944 lbs) | 7,257 kg (15,999 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,000 kg (6,614 lbs) | 2,722 kg (6,001 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 82.0 m² (883 ft²) | 64.0 m² (689 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 35 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 114 L (30.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 350 L (92.5 gal) | 227 L (60.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 44 and Hunter 380 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 44 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the Hunter 380 is a 2000s offering from Hunter from USA. The Dufour 44 was penned by Umberto Felci. The Hunter 380 was designed by Glenn Henderson.
In terms of size, the Dufour 44 measures 13.20m (43.3ft) overall with a beam of 4.10m, compared to the Hunter 380 at 11.58m (38.0ft) with a 3.76m beam. The Dufour 44 is 1.62m longer than the Hunter 380. 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 Hunter 380, with an SA/D of 17.35 and 64.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. 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 Hunter 380 has a comfort ratio of 17.3 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 31.6% for the Dufour 44 and 37.5% for the Hunter 380, 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 Hunter 380 offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 227L water and 114L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Hunter 380 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 · Hunter 380