Dufour 385 Grand Large vs 1979 O'Day 28 — Comparison
1979 O'Day 28
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 385 Grand Large | 1979 O'Day 28 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | O'Day |
| Year | 2006–2010 | 1979–1985 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | C. Raymond Hunt |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 11.53 m (37.8 ft) | 8.53 m (28.0 ft) |
| LWL | 10.10 m (33.1 ft) | 7.01 m (23.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.68 m (12.1 ft) | 2.84 m (9.3 ft) |
| Draft | 1.90 m (6.2 ft) | 1.37 m (4.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 7,100 kg (15,653 lbs) | 2,722 kg (6,001 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,150 kg (4,740 lbs) | 1,089 kg (2,401 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 62.0 m² (667 ft²) | 31.0 m² (334 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 29 HP | 10 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 130 L (34.3 gal) | 38 L (10.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 57 L (15.1 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 6 | 5 |
| Cabins | 2 | 1 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 385 Grand Large and 1979 O'Day 28 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 385 Grand Large is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1979 O'Day 28 is a 1970s offering from O'Day from USA. The Dufour 385 Grand Large was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1979 O'Day 28 was designed by C. Raymond Hunt.
In terms of size, the Dufour 385 Grand Large measures 11.53m (37.8ft) overall with a beam of 3.68m, compared to the 1979 O'Day 28 at 8.53m (28.0ft) with a 2.84m beam. The Dufour 385 Grand Large is 3.00m longer than the 1979 O'Day 28. The Dufour 385 Grand Large displaces approximately 161% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Dufour 385 Grand Large has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 17.05 and 62.0 m² of sail area. The 1979 O'Day 28, with an SA/D of 16.16 and 31.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The Dufour 385 Grand Large has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Dufour 385 Grand Large offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 17.4) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.77). The 1979 O'Day 28 has a comfort ratio of 18.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.81. The ballast ratios are 30.3% for the Dufour 385 Grand Large and 40.0% for the 1979 O'Day 28, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Dufour 385 Grand Large provides 6 berths in 2 cabins with 250L of water capacity and 130L of fuel. The 1979 O'Day 28 offers 5 berths in 1 cabin with 57L water and 38L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1979 O'Day 28 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 385 Grand Large 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 385 Grand Large 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 385 Grand Large · 1979 O'Day 28