Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 vs Dufour 520 Grand Large — Comparison
Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54
Dufour 520 Grand Large
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 | Dufour 520 Grand Large |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Dufour |
| Year | 2020 | 2012–2017 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Berret-Racoupeau | Felci Yacht Design |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 16.80 m (55.1 ft) | 15.80 m (51.8 ft) |
| LWL | 14.75 m (48.4 ft) | 13.85 m (45.4 ft) |
| Beam | 4.98 m (16.3 ft) | 4.69 m (15.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.40 m (7.9 ft) | 2.45 m (8.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 16,500 kg (36,376 lbs) | 14,500 kg (31,967 lbs) |
| Ballast | 5,200 kg (11,464 lbs) | 4,600 kg (10,141 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 120.0 m² (1,292 ft²) | 110.0 m² (1,184 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 80 HP | 75 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 350 L (92.5 gal) | 300 L (79.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 600 L (158.5 gal) | 550 L (145.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 10 |
| Cabins | 4 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 and Dufour 520 Grand Large represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 is a modern design by Beneteau from France, while the Dufour 520 Grand Large is a modern offering from Dufour from France. The Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 was penned by Berret-Racoupeau. The Dufour 520 Grand Large was designed by Felci Yacht Design.
In terms of size, the Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 measures 16.80m (55.1ft) overall with a beam of 4.98m, compared to the Dufour 520 Grand Large at 15.80m (51.8ft) with a 4.69m beam. The Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 is 1.00m longer than the Dufour 520 Grand Large. The Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 displaces approximately 14% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.81 and 120.0 m² of sail area. The Dufour 520 Grand Large, with an SA/D of 18.79 and 110.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 12.7) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.78). The Dufour 520 Grand Large has a comfort ratio of 13.6 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 31.5% for the Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 and 31.7% for the Dufour 520 Grand Large, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 54 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 600L of water capacity and 350L of fuel. The Dufour 520 Grand Large offers 10 berths in 4 cabins with 550L water and 300L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Dufour 520 Grand Large 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 Yacht 54 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.