Dufour 40 vs 1990 Sabre 36 — Comparison
Dufour 40
1990 Sabre 36
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 40 | 1990 Sabre 36 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Sabre |
| Year | 2007–2012 | 1990–1998 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Roger Hewson |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.05 m (39.5 ft) | 10.97 m (36.0 ft) |
| LWL | 10.55 m (34.6 ft) | 9.14 m (30.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.85 m (12.6 ft) | 3.35 m (11.0 ft) |
| Draft | 1.95 m (6.4 ft) | 1.60 m (5.2 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 7,800 kg (17,196 lbs) | 5,897 kg (13,001 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) | 2,449 kg (5,399 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 68.0 m² (732 ft²) | 52.5 m² (565 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 40 HP | 28 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 160 L (42.3 gal) | 76 L (20.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 300 L (79.3 gal) | 151 L (39.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 6 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 40 and 1990 Sabre 36 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 40 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1990 Sabre 36 is a 1990s offering from Sabre from USA. The Dufour 40 was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1990 Sabre 36 was designed by Roger Hewson.
In terms of size, the Dufour 40 measures 12.05m (39.5ft) overall with a beam of 3.85m, compared to the 1990 Sabre 36 at 10.97m (36.0ft) with a 3.35m beam. The Dufour 40 is 1.08m longer than the 1990 Sabre 36. The Dufour 40 displaces approximately 32% 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 1990 Sabre 36, with an SA/D of 16.34 and 52.5 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. 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 1990 Sabre 36 has a comfort ratio of 19.3 and a capsize screening value of 0.74. The ballast ratios are 30.8% for the Dufour 40 and 41.5% for the 1990 Sabre 36, 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 1990 Sabre 36 offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 151L water and 76L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1990 Sabre 36 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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