Dufour 40 vs 1997 Tartan 3700 — Comparison
Dufour 40
1997 Tartan 3700
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 40 | 1997 Tartan 3700 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Tartan |
| Year | 2007–2012 | 1997–2006 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Tim Jackett |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.05 m (39.5 ft) | 11.28 m (37.0 ft) |
| LWL | 10.55 m (34.6 ft) | 9.75 m (32.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.85 m (12.6 ft) | 3.66 m (12.0 ft) |
| Draft | 1.95 m (6.4 ft) | 1.98 m (6.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 7,800 kg (17,196 lbs) | 7,031 kg (15,501 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) | 2,948 kg (6,499 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 68.0 m² (732 ft²) | 62.0 m² (667 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 40 HP | 35 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 160 L (42.3 gal) | 130 L (34.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 300 L (79.3 gal) | 220 L (58.1 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 6 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 40 and 1997 Tartan 3700 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 40 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1997 Tartan 3700 is a 1990s offering from Tartan from USA. The Dufour 40 was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1997 Tartan 3700 was designed by Tim Jackett.
In terms of size, the Dufour 40 measures 12.05m (39.5ft) overall with a beam of 3.85m, compared to the 1997 Tartan 3700 at 11.28m (37.0ft) with a 3.66m beam. The Dufour 40 is 0.77m longer than the 1997 Tartan 3700. The Dufour 40 displaces approximately 11% 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 1997 Tartan 3700, with an SA/D of 17.16 and 62.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. 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 1997 Tartan 3700 has a comfort ratio of 18.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 30.8% for the Dufour 40 and 41.9% for the 1997 Tartan 3700, 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 1997 Tartan 3700 offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 220L water and 130L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1997 Tartan 3700 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.