The new Dufour 44 was launched at the Dusseldorf boat show in January. This stylish Felci design is the big sister to the 37 and 41 that were launched in the last two years and constitute the new generation of Dufours.
The 44 has an interesting hull shape with dramatic full-length chines that keep the wetted surface to a minimum for enhanced sailing performance, while offering a bit of form stability that should keep the boat from heeling more that 15 degrees when sailing upwind. But the real reason for the chines is to provide a lot of interior volume that makes the new 44 seem like a 50-footer.
These modern Euro designs are getting boxier every year and the new 44 embracing that design ethos. The bow and stern are plumb, the topside high and without much flare and the hull-deck joint has a bevel that makes the topsides seem lower than they are. The huge black glazing and ports on the sides, like those on the 37 and 41, define the new Dufour style and comport with a lot of the design thinking in Europe today.
The 44 has a double spreader rig with an option for either a self-tacking jib or as small 110-percent genoa. The bow sprit is standard and doubles as the anchor roller and the tacking point for a downwind reacher or Code 0. These new Dufour designs sail better than most and are easy for a couple to handle in all conditions from the cockpit.
The cockpit has twin wheels and a centerline table that will seat six. The fold-down transom creates a large swim platform with steps down to it on both side. An attractive option is the electric grill and sink built into the aft end of the cockpit that is accessible from the swim platform. I’d definitely opt for this.
Dufour offers four interior plans with three or four cabins and two different galley designs. Finished in light veneers and light fabrics, the saloon and cabins are bright and airy. This is enhanced by the numerous opening hatches and the side hull windows.
Dufour has been reinventing the concept of the mid-size family cruiser and doing so with a futuristic style that shows real imagination. A cruising family will find that the new 44 meets almost all of their sailing needs.
Watch the video from SV Tonic above.
Visit the Dufour website here.
