Dufour 45E vs 1987 Cape Dory 40 — Comparison
Dufour 45E
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 45E | 1987 Cape Dory 40 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Cape Dory |
| Year | 2008–2011 | 1987–1992 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Carl Alberg |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.80 m (45.3 ft) | 12.19 m (40.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.90 m (39.0 ft) | 9.45 m (31.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.20 m (13.8 ft) | 3.66 m (12.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 1.68 m (5.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 10,500 kg (23,149 lbs) | 8,618 kg (18,999 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,200 kg (7,055 lbs) | 3,629 kg (8,001 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 88.0 m² (947 ft²) | 64.5 m² (694 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Full |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 40 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 151 L (39.9 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 380 L (100.4 gal) | 284 L (75.0 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 45E and 1987 Cape Dory 40 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 45E is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1987 Cape Dory 40 is a 1980s offering from Cape Dory from USA. The Dufour 45E was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1987 Cape Dory 40 was designed by Carl Alberg.
In terms of size, the Dufour 45E measures 13.80m (45.3ft) overall with a beam of 4.20m, compared to the 1987 Cape Dory 40 at 12.19m (40.0ft) with a 3.66m beam. The Dufour 45E is 1.61m longer than the 1987 Cape Dory 40. The Dufour 45E displaces approximately 22% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Dufour 45E has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.64 and 88.0 m² of sail area. The 1987 Cape Dory 40, with an SA/D of 15.59 and 64.5 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The Dufour 45E has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Dufour 45E offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 15.3) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.77). The 1987 Cape Dory 40 has a comfort ratio of 22.3 and a capsize screening value of 0.72. The ballast ratios are 30.5% for the Dufour 45E and 42.1% for the 1987 Cape Dory 40, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Dufour 45E provides 8 berths in 3 cabins with 380L of water capacity and 200L of fuel. The 1987 Cape Dory 40 offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 284L water and 151L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1987 Cape Dory 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 Dufour 45E 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 45E 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 45E · 1987 Cape Dory 40