Dufour 40 vs 2008 Sabre 452 — Comparison
Dufour 40
2008 Sabre 452
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 40 | 2008 Sabre 452 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Sabre |
| Year | 2007–2012 | 2008–2015 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Jim Taylor |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.05 m (39.5 ft) | 13.72 m (45.0 ft) |
| LWL | 10.55 m (34.6 ft) | 11.58 m (38.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.85 m (12.6 ft) | 4.09 m (13.4 ft) |
| Draft | 1.95 m (6.4 ft) | 1.98 m (6.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 7,800 kg (17,196 lbs) | 11,340 kg (25,000 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) | 4,309 kg (9,500 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 68.0 m² (732 ft²) | 84.0 m² (904 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 40 HP | 75 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 160 L (42.3 gal) | 227 L (60.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 300 L (79.3 gal) | 340 L (89.8 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 40 and 2008 Sabre 452 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 40 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 2008 Sabre 452 is a 2000s offering from Sabre from USA. The Dufour 40 was penned by Umberto Felci. The 2008 Sabre 452 was designed by Jim Taylor.
In terms of size, the Dufour 40 measures 12.05m (39.5ft) overall with a beam of 3.85m, compared to the 2008 Sabre 452 at 13.72m (45.0ft) with a 4.09m beam. The 2008 Sabre 452 is 1.67m longer than the Dufour 40. The 2008 Sabre 452 displaces approximately 45% 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 2008 Sabre 452, with an SA/D of 16.91 and 84.0 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 2008 Sabre 452 has a comfort ratio of 17.9 and a capsize screening value of 0.73. The ballast ratios are 30.8% for the Dufour 40 and 38.0% for the 2008 Sabre 452, 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 2008 Sabre 452 offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 340L water and 227L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2008 Sabre 452 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 · 2008 Sabre 452