2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large vs 2000 Sabre 386 — Comparison
2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large
2000 Sabre 386
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large | 2000 Sabre 386 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Sabre |
| Year | 2007–2012 | 2000–2007 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Jim Taylor |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 12.77 m (41.9 ft) | 11.58 m (38.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.12 m (36.5 ft) | 9.75 m (32.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.01 m (13.2 ft) | 3.56 m (11.7 ft) |
| Draft | 2.00 m (6.6 ft) | 1.75 m (5.7 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 9,000 kg (19,842 lbs) | 7,257 kg (15,999 lbs) |
| Ballast | 2,800 kg (6,173 lbs) | 2,948 kg (6,499 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 77.0 m² (829 ft²) | 60.5 m² (651 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) | 189 L (49.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large and 2000 Sabre 386 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 2000 Sabre 386 is a 2000s offering from Sabre from USA. The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large was penned by Umberto Felci. The 2000 Sabre 386 was designed by Jim Taylor.
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 2000 Sabre 386 at 11.58m (38.0ft) with a 3.56m beam. The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large is 1.19m longer than the 2000 Sabre 386. The 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large displaces approximately 24% 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 2000 Sabre 386, with an SA/D of 16.40 and 60.5 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 2000 Sabre 386 has a comfort ratio of 19.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.74. The ballast ratios are 31.1% for the 2007 Dufour 425 Grand Large and 40.6% for the 2000 Sabre 386, 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 2000 Sabre 386 offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 189L water and 114L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2000 Sabre 386 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.