All new Dufou 41

[Wansworth]

Awful,this idea that everybody should have to look at such an ugly shape and to compound it with windows left right and centre what happened to style and grace.Probably the view from your bed or kitchen is wonderful but at what cost?

 

[Concerto]

I have to agree with you. It looks ugly and brash. For those who want to see what its like:

Dufour 41 sailboat

Knowing that large hull windows are causing the greatest number of waranty claims with many builders, why are they still just relying on just adhesive without any mechanical fixings is beyond me.

 

[LittleSister]

Awful,this idea that everybody should have to look at such an ugly shape and to compound it with windows left right and centre what happened to style and grace.Probably the view from your bed or kitchen is wonderful but at what cost?

All grist to the mill for my campaign for an eyesore tax!

 

[LittleSister]

such an ugly shape and to compound it with windows left right and centre what happened to style and grace.

Knowing that large hull windows are causing the greatest number of waranty claims with many builders, why are they still just relying on just adhesive without any mechanical fixings is beyond me.

One can solve most of those problems with new hull technologies that hide the lines, and avoid the need for windows.

 

[Wansworth]

One can solve most of those problems with new hull technologies that hide the lines, and avoid the need for windows.

View attachment 150028

?

 

[westernman]

Awful,this idea that everybody should have to look at such an ugly shape and to compound it with windows left right and centre what happened to style and grace.Probably the view from your bed or kitchen is wonderful but at what cost?

I am sure when you are on the boat looking out through one of those windows, that you will be very happy to have them, and not care what other people think.

If you care what other people think, you need to buy the right kind of BMW.

 

[Supertramp]

A month ago while leaving at 5 am to catch the tide we snagged a line while leaving our berth and the boat was pinned against the finger pontoon at an angle. Cold, dark, a bit tired and we resolved without damage. But would side windows take that sort of mistreatment? Probably they are stronger than the hull....

There is a world of difference between those buying new boats and those with older ones. Buy new and you choose the style/space/performance balance plus less deterioration to battle with. Buy old and you spend less, accept some compromises and put more work in. Same applies to houses.

The Dufour looks glamorous. I wonder if the challenges it's 4th owner will face 25 years on will be greater or lesser than those of todays owners of 25yr+ boats?

 

[Blueboatman]

What’s one more floating fantasia ?

If you drew a typical profile of a 1000berth marina and it’s boats and submitted it in a riverside development proposal in front of 1000 houses or a village -look, I want to change the view to look more like this ….

You’d probably get planning permission ??

 

[Stemar]

It certainly lacks the row away factor, but I rather doubt many purchasers would be rowing away from that. I'd see them mostly going from marina to marina, where those windows are more out of sight. I expect it goes pretty well and the interior will please the distaff side, which will please the skipper*.


*Yes, I know that's a sexist stereotype, but it's still true for the majority of sailing families, especially at that price level.

 

[Bobc]

Pig ugly.

There was a boat recently pulled into Cornwall by the RNLI which was sinking because the hull windows had blown in by waves. You can keep them as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Bobc]

If you really want "super mega fugly", here you go.

 

[Supertramp]

It certainly lacks the row away factor, but I rather doubt many purchasers would be rowing away from that. I'd see them mostly going from marina to marina, where those windows are more out of sight. I expect it goes pretty well and the interior will please the distaff side, which will please the skipper*

You don't get much of a view out of hullside windows in my marina!

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We have a lovely view on our mooring, the Dufour would probably fit in our space. Ideal for life on a mooring, but how do people feel about life on board heeled at a very moderate 25 degrees?

 

[Stemar]

We have a lovely view on our mooring, the Dufour would probably fit in our space. Ideal for life on a mooring, but how do people feel about life on board heeled at a very moderate 25 degrees?

I haven't seen the inside, but I would expect wide open spaces, with plenty of space to fall and break something. Not my kind of boat, even if I had the money.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I haven't seen the inside, but I would expect wide open spaces, with plenty of space to fall and break something. Not my kind of boat, even if I had the money.

You are correct, the interior is on that link above. It’s like a proper gin palace motor cruiser. The opposite of our boat. It is actually impossible to fall over in a Dragonfly, there just isn’t the room.

 

[geem]

A month ago while leaving at 5 am to catch the tide we snagged a line while leaving our berth and the boat was pinned against the finger pontoon at an angle. Cold, dark, a bit tired and we resolved without damage. But would side windows take that sort of mistreatment? Probably they are stronger than the hull....

There is a world of difference between those buying new boats and those with older ones. Buy new and you choose the style/space/performance balance plus less deterioration to battle with. Buy old and you spend less, accept some compromises and put more work in. Same applies to houses.

The Dufour looks glamorous. I wonder if the challenges it's 4th owner will face 25 years on will be greater or lesser than those of todays owners of 25yr+ boats?

It may not take 25 years before those challenges arise. Our friends have a Jen 45 deck saloon. At 10 years the windows started to leak. They have had real difficulty getting those windows rebedded and leak free. The fact that the side ones are curved doesn't help. But all four have leaked badly. They have a very low opinion of Jenneau as a builder. They are now considering a new Oyster. I wonder how that will compare.
There is a new Oyster 48 anchored behind us. I watched them anchor last night. I thought the skipper was standing on the seat then realised he was standing on the cockpit floor. I wonder what the motion would be like at sea. The boom is so high to clear the cockpit as well. Oh, and it rolls a lot at anchor. Not all design development is progress
Edit: typo. The windows started to leak at 10 years. Corrected that

 

[Bobc]

It has a very voluminous bow section, and I bet it'll really stop-up when punching into waves.

Not a handrail or hand-hold in sight below and nothing to brace yourself against when the boat is heeling.

It is a marina gin-palace/motor boat or probably more likely, a floating holiday home.

 

[lustyd]

I think it looks nice. I'll take being a bit more careful about falling over inside if it means at the end of the passage I can enjoy the surroundings above and below deck rather than feeling trapped in a dark wooden box.

 

[Blueboatman]

People new to sailing will buy these things spanking new - holiday home yippee !- and therefore won’t necessarily know what they might be missing ..
A couple of challenging ( uncomfortable )passages and the marina-centric lifestyle quickly becomes de facto

 

[Wansworth]

It may not take 25 years before those challenges arise. Our friends have a Jen 45 deck saloon. At 20 years the windows started to leak. They have had real difficulty getting those windows rebedded and leak free. The fact that the side ones are curved doesn't help. But all four have leaked badly. They have a very low opinion of Jenneau as a builder. They are now considering a new Oyster. I wonder how that will compare.
There is a new Oyster 48 anchored behind us. I watched them anchor last night. I thought the skipper was standing on the seat then realised he was standing on the cockpit floor. I wonder what the motion would be like at sea. The boom is so high to clear the cockpit as well. Oh, and it rolls a lot at anchor. Not all design development is progress

Making room for ensuite king size bedroom and jacuzzi ?