Dufour 310 Grand Large vs 1979 O'Day 28 — Comparison
Dufour 310 Grand Large
1979 O'Day 28
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 310 Grand Large | 1979 O'Day 28 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | O'Day |
| Year | 2015–2020 | 1979–1985 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Felci Yacht Design | C. Raymond Hunt |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 9.43 m (30.9 ft) | 8.53 m (28.0 ft) |
| LWL | 8.45 m (27.7 ft) | 7.01 m (23.0 ft) |
| Beam | 3.13 m (10.3 ft) | 2.84 m (9.3 ft) |
| Draft | 1.60 m (5.2 ft) | 1.37 m (4.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 4,150 kg (9,149 lbs) | 2,722 kg (6,001 lbs) |
| Ballast | 1,230 kg (2,712 lbs) | 1,089 kg (2,401 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 40.0 m² (431 ft²) | 31.0 m² (334 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 15 HP | 10 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 80 L (21.1 gal) | 38 L (10.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 120 L (31.7 gal) | 57 L (15.1 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 4 | 5 |
| Cabins | 1 | 1 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 310 Grand Large and 1979 O'Day 28 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 310 Grand Large is a modern design by Dufour from France, while the 1979 O'Day 28 is a 1970s offering from O'Day from USA. The Dufour 310 Grand Large was penned by Felci Yacht Design. The 1979 O'Day 28 was designed by C. Raymond Hunt.
In terms of size, the Dufour 310 Grand Large measures 9.43m (30.9ft) overall with a beam of 3.13m, compared to the 1979 O'Day 28 at 8.53m (28.0ft) with a 2.84m beam. The Dufour 310 Grand Large is 0.90m longer than the 1979 O'Day 28. The Dufour 310 Grand Large displaces approximately 52% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Dufour 310 Grand Large has moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising with an SA/D ratio of 15.74 and 40.0 m² of sail area. The 1979 O'Day 28, with an SA/D of 16.16 and 31.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The 1979 O'Day 28 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Dufour 310 Grand Large offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 18.3) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.78). The 1979 O'Day 28 has a comfort ratio of 18.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.81. The ballast ratios are 29.6% for the Dufour 310 Grand Large and 40.0% for the 1979 O'Day 28, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Dufour 310 Grand Large provides 4 berths in 1 cabin with 120L of water capacity and 80L of fuel. The 1979 O'Day 28 offers 5 berths in 1 cabin with 57L water and 38L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1979 O'Day 28 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 1979 O'Day 28 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The 1979 O'Day 28 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.