Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 vs Dufour 40 — Comparison
Dufour 40
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 | Dufour 40 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Jeanneau | Dufour |
| Year | 2016 | 2007–2012 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Daniel Andrieu | Umberto Felci |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 10.94 m (35.9 ft) | 12.05 m (39.5 ft) |
| LWL | 10.10 m (33.1 ft) | 10.55 m (34.6 ft) |
| Beam | 3.55 m (11.6 ft) | 3.85 m (12.6 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 1.95 m (6.4 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 5,100 kg (11,244 lbs) | 7,800 kg (17,196 lbs) |
| Ballast | 1,900 kg (4,189 lbs) | 2,400 kg (5,291 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 61.0 m² (657 ft²) | 68.0 m² (732 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 21 HP | 40 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 80 L (21.1 gal) | 160 L (42.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 120 L (31.7 gal) | 300 L (79.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 5 | 8 |
| Cabins | 1 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 and Dufour 40 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 is a modern design by Jeanneau from France, while the Dufour 40 is a 2000s offering from Dufour from France. The Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 was penned by Daniel Andrieu. The Dufour 40 was designed by Umberto Felci.
In terms of size, the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 measures 10.94m (35.9ft) overall with a beam of 3.55m, compared to the Dufour 40 at 12.05m (39.5ft) with a 3.85m beam. The Dufour 40 is 1.11m longer than the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600. The Dufour 40 displaces approximately 53% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 has generous sail power for spirited sailing with an SA/D ratio of 20.92 and 61.0 m² of sail area. The Dufour 40, with an SA/D of 17.56 and 68.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 13.5) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.83). The Dufour 40 has a comfort ratio of 16.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 37.3% for the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 and 30.8% for the Dufour 40, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 provides 5 berths in 1 cabin with 120L of water capacity and 80L of fuel. The Dufour 40 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 300L water and 160L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Dufour 40 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 Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600 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 40 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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