Dufour 385 Grand Large vs 1983 Nautor Swan 44 — Comparison
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 385 Grand Large | 1983 Nautor Swan 44 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Nautor Swan |
| Year | 2006–2010 | 1983–1991 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Finland |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Sparkman & Stephens |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 11.53 m (37.8 ft) | 13.41 m (44.0 ft) |
| LWL | 10.10 m (33.1 ft) | 10.36 m (34.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.68 m (12.1 ft) | 3.86 m (12.7 ft) |
| Draft | 1.90 m (6.2 ft) | 2.29 m (7.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 7,100 kg (15,653 lbs) | 11,340 kg (25,000 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,150 kg (4,740 lbs) | 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 62.0 m² (667 ft²) | 82.0 m² (883 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 29 HP | 55 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 130 L (34.3 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 350 L (92.5 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 6 | 7 |
| Cabins | 2 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 385 Grand Large and 1983 Nautor Swan 44 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 385 Grand Large is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1983 Nautor Swan 44 is a 1980s offering from Nautor Swan from Finland. The Dufour 385 Grand Large was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1983 Nautor Swan 44 was designed by Sparkman & Stephens.
In terms of size, the Dufour 385 Grand Large measures 11.53m (37.8ft) overall with a beam of 3.68m, compared to the 1983 Nautor Swan 44 at 13.41m (44.0ft) with a 3.86m beam. The 1983 Nautor Swan 44 is 1.88m longer than the Dufour 385 Grand Large. The 1983 Nautor Swan 44 displaces approximately 60% 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 1983 Nautor Swan 44, with an SA/D of 16.50 and 82.0 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 1983 Nautor Swan 44 has a comfort ratio of 22.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.69. The ballast ratios are 30.3% for the Dufour 385 Grand Large and 40.0% for the 1983 Nautor Swan 44, 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 1983 Nautor Swan 44 offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 350L water and 200L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1983 Nautor Swan 44 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 1983 Nautor Swan 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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Or view individual specs: Dufour 385 Grand Large · 1983 Nautor Swan 44