2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large vs 1981 Nautor Swan 36 — Comparison
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large | 1981 Nautor Swan 36 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Nautor Swan |
| Year | 2007–2012 | 1981–1989 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Finland |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Sparkman & Stephens |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.77 m (41.9 ft) | 10.97 m (36.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.12 m (36.5 ft) | 8.53 m (28.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.01 m (13.2 ft) | 3.35 m (11.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.00 m (6.6 ft) | 1.98 m (6.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 9,000 kg (19,842 lbs) | 6,350 kg (13,999 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,800 kg (6,173 lbs) | 2,722 kg (6,001 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 77.0 m² (829 ft²) | 54.5 m² (587 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 40 HP | 28 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 140 L (37.0 gal) | 100 L (26.4 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 280 L (74.0 gal) | 180 L (47.6 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 6 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large and 1981 Nautor Swan 36 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1981 Nautor Swan 36 is a 1980s offering from Nautor Swan from Finland. The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1981 Nautor Swan 36 was designed by Sparkman & Stephens.
In terms of size, the 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large measures 12.77m (41.9ft) overall with a beam of 4.01m, compared to the 1981 Nautor Swan 36 at 10.97m (36.0ft) with a 3.35m beam. The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large is 1.80m longer than the 1981 Nautor Swan 36. The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large displaces approximately 42% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.08 and 77.0 m² of sail area. The 1981 Nautor Swan 36, with an SA/D of 16.15 and 54.5 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 16.1) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.77). The 1981 Nautor Swan 36 has a comfort ratio of 22.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.72. The ballast ratios are 31.1% for the 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large and 42.9% for the 1981 Nautor Swan 36, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large provides 8 berths in 3 cabins with 280L of water capacity and 140L of fuel. The 1981 Nautor Swan 36 offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 180L water and 100L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1981 Nautor Swan 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 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large 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: 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large · 1981 Nautor Swan 36