Dufour 385 Grand Large vs 1984 Ericson 38 — Comparison
1984 Ericson 38
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 385 Grand Large | 1984 Ericson 38 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Ericson |
| Year | 2006–2010 | 1984–1990 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Bruce King / Ron Holland |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 11.53 m (37.8 ft) | 11.58 m (38.0 ft) |
| LWL | 10.10 m (33.1 ft) | 9.45 m (31.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.68 m (12.1 ft) | 3.66 m (12.0 ft) |
| Draft | 1.90 m (6.2 ft) | 1.98 m (6.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 7,100 kg (15,653 lbs) | 7,484 kg (16,499 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,150 kg (4,740 lbs) | 3,175 kg (7,000 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 62.0 m² (667 ft²) | 60.0 m² (646 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 29 HP | 30 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 130 L (34.3 gal) | 114 L (30.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 6 | 7 |
| Cabins | 2 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 385 Grand Large and 1984 Ericson 38 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 385 Grand Large is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1984 Ericson 38 is a 1980s offering from Ericson from USA. The Dufour 385 Grand Large was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1984 Ericson 38 was designed by Bruce King / Ron Holland.
In terms of size, the Dufour 385 Grand Large measures 11.53m (37.8ft) overall with a beam of 3.68m, compared to the 1984 Ericson 38 at 11.58m (38.0ft) with a 3.66m beam. The 1984 Ericson 38 is 0.05m longer than the Dufour 385 Grand Large. The 1984 Ericson 38 displaces approximately 5% 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 1984 Ericson 38, with an SA/D of 15.93 and 60.0 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 1984 Ericson 38 has a comfort ratio of 20.1 and a capsize screening value of 0.75. The ballast ratios are 30.3% for the Dufour 385 Grand Large and 42.4% for the 1984 Ericson 38, 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 1984 Ericson 38 offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 200L water and 114L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1984 Ericson 38 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 1984 Ericson 38 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 · 1984 Ericson 38