Dufour 40 vs 1999 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 — Comparison
Dufour 40
1999 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 40 | 1999 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Jeanneau |
| Year | 2007–2012 | 1999–2003 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Daniel Andrieu |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.05 m (39.5 ft) | 11.17 m (36.6 ft) |
| LWL | 10.55 m (34.6 ft) | 9.70 m (31.8 ft) |
| Beam | 3.85 m (12.6 ft) | 3.66 m (12.0 ft) |
| Draft | 1.95 m (6.4 ft) | 1.75 m (5.7 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 7,800 kg (17,196 lbs) | 6,500 kg (14,330 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) | 2,200 kg (4,850 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 68.0 m² (732 ft²) | 57.0 m² (614 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 40 HP | 29 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 160 L (42.3 gal) | 100 L (26.4 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 300 L (79.3 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 40 and 1999 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 40 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1999 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 is a 1990s offering from Jeanneau from France. The Dufour 40 was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1999 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 was designed by Daniel Andrieu.
In terms of size, the Dufour 40 measures 12.05m (39.5ft) overall with a beam of 3.85m, compared to the 1999 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 at 11.17m (36.6ft) with a 3.66m beam. The Dufour 40 is 0.88m longer than the 1999 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37. The Dufour 40 displaces approximately 20% 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 1999 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37, with an SA/D of 16.63 and 57.0 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 1999 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 has a comfort ratio of 17.3 and a capsize screening value of 0.79. The ballast ratios are 30.8% for the Dufour 40 and 33.9% for the 1999 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37, 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 1999 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 200L water and 100L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1999 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 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.