Dufour 470 vs 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45 — Comparison
Dufour 470
2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 470 | 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Beneteau |
| Year | 2018 | 2012–2017 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Felci Yacht Design | Finot-Conq |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.23 m (46.7 ft) | 13.94 m (45.7 ft) |
| LWL | 12.80 m (42.0 ft) | 12.50 m (41.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.39 m (14.4 ft) | 4.49 m (14.7 ft) |
| Draft | 2.25 m (7.4 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,200 kg (24,692 lbs) | 10,100 kg (22,267 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) | 3,100 kg (6,834 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 94.0 m² (1,012 ft²) | 88.0 m² (947 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 57 HP | 55 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 220 L (58.1 gal) | 180 L (47.6 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 440 L (116.2 gal) | 330 L (87.2 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 8 |
| Cabins | 4 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 470 and 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 470 is a modern design by Dufour from France, while the 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45 is a modern offering from Beneteau from France. The Dufour 470 was penned by Felci Yacht Design. The 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45 was designed by Finot-Conq.
In terms of size, the Dufour 470 measures 14.23m (46.7ft) overall with a beam of 4.39m, compared to the 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45 at 13.94m (45.7ft) with a 4.49m beam. The Dufour 470 is 0.29m longer than the 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45. The Dufour 470 displaces approximately 11% 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 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45, with an SA/D of 19.13 and 88.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45 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 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45 has a comfort ratio of 12.6 and a capsize screening value of 0.83. The ballast ratios are 31.3% for the Dufour 470 and 30.7% for the 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45, 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 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 330L water and 180L 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 2012 Beneteau Oceanis 45 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.