Dufour 45E vs 2000 Sabre 386 — Comparison
Dufour 45E
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 45E | 2000 Sabre 386 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Sabre |
| Year | 2008–2011 | 2000–2007 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Jim Taylor |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.80 m (45.3 ft) | 11.58 m (38.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.90 m (39.0 ft) | 9.75 m (32.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.20 m (13.8 ft) | 3.56 m (11.7 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 1.75 m (5.7 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 10,500 kg (23,149 lbs) | 7,257 kg (15,999 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,200 kg (7,055 lbs) | 2,948 kg (6,499 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 88.0 m² (947 ft²) | 60.5 m² (651 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 35 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 114 L (30.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 380 L (100.4 gal) | 189 L (49.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 45E and 2000 Sabre 386 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 45E is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 2000 Sabre 386 is a 2000s offering from Sabre from USA. The Dufour 45E was penned by Umberto Felci. The 2000 Sabre 386 was designed by Jim Taylor.
In terms of size, the Dufour 45E measures 13.80m (45.3ft) overall with a beam of 4.20m, compared to the 2000 Sabre 386 at 11.58m (38.0ft) with a 3.56m beam. The Dufour 45E is 2.22m longer than the 2000 Sabre 386. The Dufour 45E displaces approximately 45% 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 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 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 2000 Sabre 386 has a comfort ratio of 19.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.74. The ballast ratios are 30.5% for the Dufour 45E and 40.6% for the 2000 Sabre 386, 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 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 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 · 2000 Sabre 386