Dufour 40 vs 1979 Westerly Fulmar — Comparison
Dufour 40
1979 Westerly Fulmar
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 40 | 1979 Westerly Fulmar |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Westerly |
| Year | 2007–2012 | 1979–1986 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | UK |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Ed Dubois |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.05 m (39.5 ft) | 9.75 m (32.0 ft) |
| LWL | 10.55 m (34.6 ft) | 8.00 m (26.2 ft) |
| Beam | 3.85 m (12.6 ft) | 3.20 m (10.5 ft) |
| Draft | 1.95 m (6.4 ft) | 1.07 m (3.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 7,800 kg (17,196 lbs) | 4,990 kg (11,001 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) | 1,814 kg (3,999 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 68.0 m² (732 ft²) | 36.0 m² (388 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Bilge |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 40 HP | 18 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 160 L (42.3 gal) | 68 L (18.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 300 L (79.3 gal) | 136 L (35.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 6 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 40 and 1979 Westerly Fulmar represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 40 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1979 Westerly Fulmar is a 1970s offering from Westerly from UK. The Dufour 40 was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1979 Westerly Fulmar was designed by Ed Dubois.
In terms of size, the Dufour 40 measures 12.05m (39.5ft) overall with a beam of 3.85m, compared to the 1979 Westerly Fulmar at 9.75m (32.0ft) with a 3.20m beam. The Dufour 40 is 2.30m longer than the 1979 Westerly Fulmar. The Dufour 40 displaces approximately 56% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Dufour 40 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 17.56 and 68.0 m² of sail area. The 1979 Westerly Fulmar, with an SA/D of 12.53 and 36.0 m² of canvas, offers modest sail power for its displacement. The Dufour 40 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Dufour 40 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 16.4) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.78). The 1979 Westerly Fulmar has a comfort ratio of 22.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.75. The ballast ratios are 30.8% for the Dufour 40 and 36.4% for the 1979 Westerly Fulmar, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Dufour 40 provides 8 berths in 3 cabins with 300L of water capacity and 160L of fuel. The 1979 Westerly Fulmar offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 136L water and 68L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1979 Westerly Fulmar 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 40 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 40 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 40 · 1979 Westerly Fulmar