2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large vs 1985 Irwin 38 — Comparison
2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large
1985 Irwin 38
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large | 1985 Irwin 38 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Irwin |
| Year | 2007–2012 | 1985–1991 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Ted Irwin |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.77 m (41.9 ft) | 11.58 m (38.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.12 m (36.5 ft) | 9.45 m (31.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.01 m (13.2 ft) | 3.66 m (12.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.00 m (6.6 ft) | 1.83 m (6.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 9,000 kg (19,842 lbs) | 7,484 kg (16,499 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,800 kg (6,173 lbs) | 3,175 kg (7,000 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 77.0 m² (829 ft²) | 60.0 m² (646 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 40 HP | 35 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 140 L (37.0 gal) | 114 L (30.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 280 L (74.0 gal) | 227 L (60.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large and 1985 Irwin 38 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1985 Irwin 38 is a 1980s offering from Irwin from USA. The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1985 Irwin 38 was designed by Ted Irwin.
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 1985 Irwin 38 at 11.58m (38.0ft) with a 3.66m beam. The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large is 1.19m longer than the 1985 Irwin 38. The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large displaces approximately 20% 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 1985 Irwin 38, with an SA/D of 15.93 and 60.0 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 1985 Irwin 38 has a comfort ratio of 20.1 and a capsize screening value of 0.75. The ballast ratios are 31.1% for the 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large and 42.4% for the 1985 Irwin 38, 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 1985 Irwin 38 offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 227L water and 114L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1985 Irwin 38 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.