Dufour 40 vs 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41 — Comparison
Dufour 40
2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 40 | 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Beneteau |
| Year | 2007–2012 | 2012–2016 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Finot-Conq |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.05 m (39.5 ft) | 12.43 m (40.8 ft) |
| LWL | 10.55 m (34.6 ft) | 10.89 m (35.7 ft) |
| Beam | 3.85 m (12.6 ft) | 3.99 m (13.1 ft) |
| Draft | 1.95 m (6.4 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 7,800 kg (17,196 lbs) | 8,500 kg (18,739 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) | 2,600 kg (5,732 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 68.0 m² (732 ft²) | 74.0 m² (797 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 40 HP | 40 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 160 L (42.3 gal) | 140 L (37.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 300 L (79.3 gal) | 250 L (66.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 8 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 40 and 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 40 is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41 is a modern offering from Beneteau from France. The Dufour 40 was penned by Umberto Felci. The 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41 was designed by Finot-Conq.
In terms of size, the Dufour 40 measures 12.05m (39.5ft) overall with a beam of 3.85m, compared to the 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41 at 12.43m (40.8ft) with a 3.99m beam. The 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41 is 0.38m longer than the Dufour 40. The 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41 displaces approximately 9% 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 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41, with an SA/D of 18.05 and 74.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41 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 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41 has a comfort ratio of 16.0 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 30.8% for the Dufour 40 and 30.6% for the 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41, 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 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 250L water and 140L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Dufour 40 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 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: Both boats provide similar accommodation, making either a viable choice for living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.
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Or view individual specs: Dufour 40 · 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 41