Dufour 470 vs 2015 Elan 450 — Comparison
Dufour 470
2015 Elan 450
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 470 | 2015 Elan 450 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Elan |
| Year | 2018 | 2015–2019 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Slovenia |
| Designer | Felci Yacht Design | Rob Humphreys |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.23 m (46.7 ft) | 13.85 m (45.4 ft) |
| LWL | 12.80 m (42.0 ft) | 12.20 m (40.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.39 m (14.4 ft) | 4.28 m (14.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.25 m (7.4 ft) | 2.20 m (7.2 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,200 kg (24,692 lbs) | 10,800 kg (23,810 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 94.0 m² (1,012 ft²) | 95.0 m² (1,023 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 57 HP | 40 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 220 L (58.1 gal) | 160 L (42.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 440 L (116.2 gal) | 350 L (92.5 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 8 |
| Cabins | 4 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 470 and 2015 Elan 450 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 470 is a modern design by Dufour from France, while the 2015 Elan 450 is a modern offering from Elan from Slovenia. The Dufour 470 was penned by Felci Yacht Design. The 2015 Elan 450 was designed by Rob Humphreys.
In terms of size, the Dufour 470 measures 14.23m (46.7ft) overall with a beam of 4.39m, compared to the 2015 Elan 450 at 13.85m (45.4ft) with a 4.28m beam. The Dufour 470 is 0.38m longer than the 2015 Elan 450. The Dufour 470 displaces approximately 4% 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 2015 Elan 450, with an SA/D of 19.75 and 95.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2015 Elan 450 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 2015 Elan 450 has a comfort ratio of 14.8 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 31.3% for the Dufour 470 and 32.4% for the 2015 Elan 450, 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 2015 Elan 450 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 350L water and 160L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2015 Elan 450 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 2015 Elan 450 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.