Dufour 470 vs 1984 Ericson 38 — Comparison
Dufour 470
1984 Ericson 38
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 470 | 1984 Ericson 38 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Ericson |
| Year | 2018 | 1984–1990 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Felci Yacht Design | Bruce King / Ron Holland |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.23 m (46.7 ft) | 11.58 m (38.0 ft) |
| LWL | 12.80 m (42.0 ft) | 9.45 m (31.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.39 m (14.4 ft) | 3.66 m (12.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.25 m (7.4 ft) | 1.98 m (6.5 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,200 kg (24,692 lbs) | 7,484 kg (16,499 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) | 3,175 kg (7,000 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 94.0 m² (1,012 ft²) | 60.0 m² (646 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 57 HP | 30 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 220 L (58.1 gal) | 114 L (30.1 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 440 L (116.2 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 7 |
| Cabins | 4 | 2 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 470 and 1984 Ericson 38 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 470 is a modern design by Dufour from France, while the 1984 Ericson 38 is a 1980s offering from Ericson from USA. The Dufour 470 was penned by Felci Yacht Design. The 1984 Ericson 38 was designed by Bruce King / Ron Holland.
In terms of size, the Dufour 470 measures 14.23m (46.7ft) overall with a beam of 4.39m, compared to the 1984 Ericson 38 at 11.58m (38.0ft) with a 3.66m beam. The Dufour 470 is 2.65m longer than the 1984 Ericson 38. The Dufour 470 displaces approximately 50% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Dufour 470 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 19.07 and 94.0 m² of sail area. The 1984 Ericson 38, with an SA/D of 15.93 and 60.0 m² of canvas, offers moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising. The Dufour 470 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Dufour 470 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 13.7) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.79). The 1984 Ericson 38 has a comfort ratio of 20.1 and a capsize screening value of 0.75. The ballast ratios are 31.3% for the Dufour 470 and 42.4% for the 1984 Ericson 38, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Dufour 470 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 440L of water capacity and 220L of fuel. The 1984 Ericson 38 offers 7 berths in 2 cabins with 200L water and 114L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1984 Ericson 38 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 470 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 470 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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Or view individual specs: Dufour 470 · 1984 Ericson 38