Dufour 44 vs 2014 Elan 400 — Comparison
Dufour 44
2014 Elan 400
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 44 | 2014 Elan 400 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Elan |
| Year | 2005–2010 | 2014–2018 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Slovenia |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Rob Humphreys |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.20 m (43.3 ft) | 12.07 m (39.6 ft) |
| LWL | 11.55 m (37.9 ft) | 10.50 m (34.4 ft) |
| Beam | 4.10 m (13.5 ft) | 3.90 m (12.8 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 9,500 kg (20,944 lbs) | 8,200 kg (18,078 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,000 kg (6,614 lbs) | 2,600 kg (5,732 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 82.0 m² (883 ft²) | 76.0 m² (818 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 30 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 120 L (31.7 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 350 L (92.5 gal) | 250 L (66.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 44 and 2014 Elan 400 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 44 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 2014 Elan 400 is a modern offering from Elan from Slovenia. The Dufour 44 was penned by Umberto Felci. The 2014 Elan 400 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 2014 Elan 400 at 12.07m (39.6ft) with a 3.90m beam. The Dufour 44 is 1.13m longer than the 2014 Elan 400. The Dufour 44 displaces approximately 16% 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 2014 Elan 400, with an SA/D of 18.99 and 76.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2014 Elan 400 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 2014 Elan 400 has a comfort ratio of 17.1 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 31.6% for the Dufour 44 and 31.7% for the 2014 Elan 400, 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 2014 Elan 400 offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 250L water and 120L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2014 Elan 400 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 2014 Elan 400 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 · 2014 Elan 400