Catalina 385 vs Dufour 44 — Comparison
Dufour 44
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Catalina 385 | Dufour 44 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Catalina | Dufour |
| Year | 2006–2014 | 2005–2010 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | USA | France |
| Designer | Gerry Douglas | Umberto Felci |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 11.73 m (38.5 ft) | 13.20 m (43.3 ft) |
| LWL | 10.21 m (33.5 ft) | 11.55 m (37.9 ft) |
| Beam | 3.76 m (12.3 ft) | 4.10 m (13.5 ft) |
| Draft | 2.06 m (6.8 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 8,165 kg (18,001 lbs) | 9,500 kg (20,944 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,175 kg (7,000 lbs) | 3,000 kg (6,614 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 65.0 m² (700 ft²) | 82.0 m² (883 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 35 HP | 55 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 114 L (30.1 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 242 L (63.9 gal) | 350 L (92.5 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 7 | 8 |
| Cabins | 2 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Catalina 385 and Dufour 44 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Catalina 385 is a 2000s design by Catalina from USA, while the Dufour 44 is a 2000s offering from Dufour from France. The Catalina 385 was penned by Gerry Douglas. The Dufour 44 was designed by Umberto Felci.
In terms of size, the Catalina 385 measures 11.73m (38.5ft) overall with a beam of 3.76m, compared to the Dufour 44 at 13.20m (43.3ft) with a 4.10m beam. The Dufour 44 is 1.47m longer than the Catalina 385. 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 Catalina 385 has moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising with an SA/D ratio of 16.29 and 65.0 m² of sail area. The Dufour 44, with an SA/D of 18.57 and 82.0 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 Catalina 385 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 18.9) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.75). The Dufour 44 has a comfort ratio of 15.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 38.9% for the Catalina 385 and 31.6% for the Dufour 44, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Catalina 385 provides 7 berths in 2 cabins with 242L of water capacity and 114L of fuel. The Dufour 44 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 350L water and 200L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Catalina 385 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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