Catalina 385 vs Dufour 45E — Comparison
Dufour 45E
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Catalina 385 | Dufour 45E |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Catalina | Dufour |
| Year | 2006–2014 | 2008–2011 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | USA | France |
| Designer | Gerry Douglas | Umberto Felci |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 11.73 m (38.5 ft) | 13.80 m (45.3 ft) |
| LWL | 10.21 m (33.5 ft) | 11.90 m (39.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.76 m (12.3 ft) | 4.20 m (13.8 ft) |
| Draft | 2.06 m (6.8 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 8,165 kg (18,001 lbs) | 10,500 kg (23,149 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,175 kg (7,000 lbs) | 3,200 kg (7,055 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 65.0 m² (700 ft²) | 88.0 m² (947 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) | 380 L (100.4 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 7 | 8 |
| Cabins | 2 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Catalina 385 and Dufour 45E represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Catalina 385 is a 2000s design by Catalina from USA, while the Dufour 45E is a 2000s offering from Dufour from France. The Catalina 385 was penned by Gerry Douglas. The Dufour 45E 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 45E at 13.80m (45.3ft) with a 4.20m beam. The Dufour 45E is 2.07m longer than the Catalina 385. The Dufour 45E displaces approximately 29% 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 45E, with an SA/D of 18.64 and 88.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Dufour 45E 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 45E has a comfort ratio of 15.3 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 38.9% for the Catalina 385 and 30.5% for the Dufour 45E, 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 45E offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 380L 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 45E 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 45E 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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