Beneteau First 40 vs Dufour 385 Grand Large — Comparison
Beneteau First 40
Dufour 385 Grand Large
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 40 | Dufour 385 Grand Large |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Dufour |
| Year | 2006–2012 | 2006–2010 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Umberto Felci |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.16 m (39.9 ft) | 11.53 m (37.8 ft) |
| LWL | 10.58 m (34.7 ft) | 10.10 m (33.1 ft) |
| Beam | 3.80 m (12.5 ft) | 3.68 m (12.1 ft) |
| Draft | 2.15 m (7.1 ft) | 1.90 m (6.2 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 7,000 kg (15,432 lbs) | 7,100 kg (15,653 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,500 kg (5,512 lbs) | 2,150 kg (4,740 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 74.0 m² (797 ft²) | 62.0 m² (667 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 40 HP | 29 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 150 L (39.6 gal) | 130 L (34.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 280 L (74.0 gal) | 250 L (66.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 6 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 40 and Dufour 385 Grand Large represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 40 is a 2000s design by Beneteau from France, while the Dufour 385 Grand Large is a 2000s offering from Dufour from France. The Beneteau First 40 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The Dufour 385 Grand Large was designed by Umberto Felci.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 40 measures 12.16m (39.9ft) overall with a beam of 3.80m, compared to the Dufour 385 Grand Large at 11.53m (37.8ft) with a 3.68m beam. The Beneteau First 40 is 0.63m longer than the Dufour 385 Grand Large. The Dufour 385 Grand Large displaces approximately 1% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 40 has generous sail power for spirited sailing with an SA/D ratio of 20.55 and 74.0 m² of sail area. The Dufour 385 Grand Large, with an SA/D of 17.05 and 62.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Beneteau First 40 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 40 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 14.9) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.80). The Dufour 385 Grand Large has a comfort ratio of 17.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 35.7% for the Beneteau First 40 and 30.3% for the Dufour 385 Grand Large, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau First 40 provides 8 berths in 3 cabins with 280L of water capacity and 150L of fuel. The Dufour 385 Grand Large offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 250L water and 130L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Dufour 385 Grand Large 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 Beneteau First 40 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Beneteau First 40 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.