Dufour 45E vs 2012 Sabre 48 — Comparison
Dufour 45E
2012 Sabre 48
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 45E | 2012 Sabre 48 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Sabre |
| Year | 2008–2011 | 2012 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Jim Taylor |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.80 m (45.3 ft) | 14.63 m (48.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.90 m (39.0 ft) | 12.50 m (41.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.20 m (13.8 ft) | 4.30 m (14.1 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 10,500 kg (23,149 lbs) | 13,608 kg (30,000 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,200 kg (7,055 lbs) | 5,216 kg (11,499 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 88.0 m² (947 ft²) | 96.0 m² (1,033 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 100 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 284 L (75.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 380 L (100.4 gal) | 454 L (119.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 45E and 2012 Sabre 48 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 45E is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 2012 Sabre 48 is a modern offering from Sabre from USA. The Dufour 45E was penned by Umberto Felci. The 2012 Sabre 48 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 2012 Sabre 48 at 14.63m (48.0ft) with a 4.30m beam. The 2012 Sabre 48 is 0.83m longer than the Dufour 45E. The 2012 Sabre 48 displaces approximately 30% 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 2012 Sabre 48, with an SA/D of 17.11 and 96.0 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 2012 Sabre 48 has a comfort ratio of 17.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.72. The ballast ratios are 30.5% for the Dufour 45E and 38.3% for the 2012 Sabre 48, 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 2012 Sabre 48 offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 454L water and 284L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2012 Sabre 48 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.