Catalina 385 vs Dufour 470 — Comparison
Dufour 470
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Catalina 385 | Dufour 470 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Catalina | Dufour |
| Year | 2006–2014 | 2018 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | USA | France |
| Designer | Gerry Douglas | Felci Yacht Design |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 11.73 m (38.5 ft) | 14.23 m (46.7 ft) |
| LWL | 10.21 m (33.5 ft) | 12.80 m (42.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.76 m (12.3 ft) | 4.39 m (14.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.06 m (6.8 ft) | 2.25 m (7.4 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 8,165 kg (18,001 lbs) | 11,200 kg (24,692 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,175 kg (7,000 lbs) | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 65.0 m² (700 ft²) | 94.0 m² (1,012 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 35 HP | 57 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 114 L (30.1 gal) | 220 L (58.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 242 L (63.9 gal) | 440 L (116.2 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 7 | 10 |
| Cabins | 2 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Catalina 385 and Dufour 470 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Catalina 385 is a 2000s design by Catalina from USA, while the Dufour 470 is a modern offering from Dufour from France. The Catalina 385 was penned by Gerry Douglas. The Dufour 470 was designed by Felci Yacht Design.
In terms of size, the Catalina 385 measures 11.73m (38.5ft) overall with a beam of 3.76m, compared to the Dufour 470 at 14.23m (46.7ft) with a 4.39m beam. The Dufour 470 is 2.50m longer than the Catalina 385. The Dufour 470 displaces approximately 37% 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 470, with an SA/D of 19.07 and 94.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Dufour 470 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 470 has a comfort ratio of 13.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.79. The ballast ratios are 38.9% for the Catalina 385 and 31.3% for the Dufour 470, 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 470 offers 10 berths in 4 cabins with 440L water and 220L 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 470 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 470 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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