Dufour 44 vs 2013 Elan 350 — Comparison
Dufour 44
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 44 | 2013 Elan 350 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Elan |
| Year | 2005–2010 | 2013–2018 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Slovenia |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Rob Humphreys |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.20 m (43.3 ft) | 10.67 m (35.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.55 m (37.9 ft) | 9.30 m (30.5 ft) |
| Beam | 4.10 m (13.5 ft) | 3.46 m (11.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 2.00 m (6.6 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 9,500 kg (20,944 lbs) | 6,100 kg (13,448 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,000 kg (6,614 lbs) | 1,850 kg (4,079 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 82.0 m² (883 ft²) | 58.0 m² (624 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 21 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 80 L (21.1 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 2013 Elan 350 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 44 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 2013 Elan 350 is a modern offering from Elan from Slovenia. The Dufour 44 was penned by Umberto Felci. The 2013 Elan 350 was designed by Rob Humphreys.
In terms of size, the Dufour 44 measures 13.20m (43.3ft) overall with a beam of 4.10m, compared to the 2013 Elan 350 at 10.67m (35.0ft) with a 3.46m beam. The Dufour 44 is 2.53m longer than the 2013 Elan 350. The Dufour 44 displaces approximately 56% 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 2013 Elan 350, with an SA/D of 17.65 and 58.0 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 2013 Elan 350 has a comfort ratio of 19.0 and a capsize screening value of 0.76. The ballast ratios are 31.6% for the Dufour 44 and 30.3% for the 2013 Elan 350, 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 2013 Elan 350 offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 170L water and 80L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2013 Elan 350 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 · 2013 Elan 350