Dufour 45E vs 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 — Comparison
Dufour 45E
2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 45E | 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Beneteau |
| Year | 2008–2011 | 2014–2018 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Nauta Design / Finot-Conq |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.80 m (45.3 ft) | 14.60 m (47.9 ft) |
| LWL | 11.90 m (39.0 ft) | 13.10 m (43.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.20 m (13.8 ft) | 4.56 m (15.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 10,500 kg (23,149 lbs) | 11,500 kg (25,353 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,200 kg (7,055 lbs) | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 88.0 m² (947 ft²) | 98.0 m² (1,055 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 57 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 380 L (100.4 gal) | 400 L (105.7 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 10 |
| Cabins | 3 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 45E and 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 45E is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 is a modern offering from Beneteau from France. The Dufour 45E was penned by Umberto Felci. The 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 was designed by Nauta Design / Finot-Conq.
In terms of size, the Dufour 45E measures 13.80m (45.3ft) overall with a beam of 4.20m, compared to the 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 at 14.60m (47.9ft) with a 4.56m beam. The 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 is 0.80m longer than the Dufour 45E. The 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 displaces approximately 10% 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 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48, with an SA/D of 19.54 and 98.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 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 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 has a comfort ratio of 12.8 and a capsize screening value of 0.81. The ballast ratios are 30.5% for the Dufour 45E and 30.4% for the 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 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 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 offers 10 berths in 4 cabins with 400L water and 200L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Dufour 45E 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 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The 2014 Beneteau Oceanis 48 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.