Dufour 45E vs Hunter 356 — Comparison
Dufour 45E
Hunter 356
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 45E | Hunter 356 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Hunter |
| Year | 2008–2011 | 2000–2005 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Glenn Henderson |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.80 m (45.3 ft) | 10.82 m (35.5 ft) |
| LWL | 11.90 m (39.0 ft) | 9.30 m (30.5 ft) |
| Beam | 4.20 m (13.8 ft) | 3.53 m (11.6 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 1.80 m (5.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 10,500 kg (23,149 lbs) | 5,443 kg (12,000 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,200 kg (7,055 lbs) | 2,177 kg (4,799 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 88.0 m² (947 ft²) | 53.0 m² (571 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 21 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 76 L (20.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 380 L (100.4 gal) | 151 L (39.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 6 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 45E and Hunter 356 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 45E is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the Hunter 356 is a 2000s offering from Hunter from USA. The Dufour 45E was penned by Umberto Felci. The Hunter 356 was designed by Glenn Henderson.
In terms of size, the Dufour 45E measures 13.80m (45.3ft) overall with a beam of 4.20m, compared to the Hunter 356 at 10.82m (35.5ft) with a 3.53m beam. The Dufour 45E is 2.98m longer than the Hunter 356. The Dufour 45E displaces approximately 93% 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 Hunter 356, with an SA/D of 17.40 and 53.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. 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 Hunter 356 has a comfort ratio of 16.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.80. The ballast ratios are 30.5% for the Dufour 45E and 40.0% for the Hunter 356, 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 Hunter 356 offers 6 berths in 2 cabins with 151L water and 76L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Hunter 356 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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