Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 vs Dufour 470 — Comparison
Beneteau Oceanis 46.1
Dufour 470
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 | Dufour 470 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Dufour |
| Year | 2018 | 2018 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Berret-Racoupeau | Felci Yacht Design |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.60 m (47.9 ft) | 14.23 m (46.7 ft) |
| LWL | 13.14 m (43.1 ft) | 12.80 m (42.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.49 m (14.7 ft) | 4.39 m (14.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.25 m (7.4 ft) | 2.25 m (7.4 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,000 kg (24,251 lbs) | 11,200 kg (24,692 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,300 kg (7,275 lbs) | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 93.0 m² (1,001 ft²) | 94.0 m² (1,012 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 57 HP | 57 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 220 L (58.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 420 L (111.0 gal) | 440 L (116.2 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 10 |
| Cabins | 4 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 and Dufour 470 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 is a modern design by Beneteau from France, while the Dufour 470 is a modern offering from Dufour from France. The Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 was penned by Berret-Racoupeau. The Dufour 470 was designed by Felci Yacht Design.
In terms of size, the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 measures 14.60m (47.9ft) overall with a beam of 4.49m, compared to the Dufour 470 at 14.23m (46.7ft) with a 4.39m beam. The Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 is 0.37m longer than the Dufour 470. The Dufour 470 displaces approximately 2% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 19.10 and 93.0 m² of sail area. The Dufour 470, with an SA/D of 19.07 and 94.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 12.4) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.81). The Dufour 470 has a comfort ratio of 13.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.79. The ballast ratios are 30.0% for the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 and 31.3% for the Dufour 470, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 420L of water capacity and 200L of fuel. The Dufour 470 offers 10 berths in 4 cabins with 440L water and 220L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Dufour 470 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 Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: Both boats provide similar accommodation, making either a viable choice for living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.