youen
Well-Known Member
Any feedback.Is there something wrong in the building.How is she if you compare with X Yacht or Elan
Thanks
Youen
Thanks
Youen
Dufour 34
- Thread starter youen
- Start date
flaming
Well-Known Member
You don't say which X yacht or Elan, new or used?
If used it'll probably be the X332 and Elan333, if new both of these have been replaced by the X34 and Elan340 repectively.
For use as a fast cruiser the Dufour is a very good boat, quick, comfortable and easily sailed short handed with the genoa winches within easy reach of the helm.
For use as a racer the Dufour has some limitations, namely the back of the cockpit would get very crowded. The standard spec running rigging is also of mediocre quality and would need upgrading to use racing string sails.
In comparison to the others, the build quality seems very similar to the Elans, but a small step back from the X.
The X332 and Elan333 are very fine boats, well sought after on the second hand market and very capable as fast cruisers whilst being very competitive on the race course under IRC. The X332 also has a small amount of class racing with a national championship.
If it's new you're looking at, the X34 is a very good looking boat and the race results suggest it's lost none of the 332's sparkle.
By contrast the 340 is an unproven quality on the race course, noone has really got one going yet, although when racing against one it has shown impressive speed downwind. The interior seems very workable though. Somewhere on youtube there is a test of it.
All of these boats are great sailing boats, the sort of boats that just make you want to carry on sailing and make you grin on the helm. For fast cruising you'd probably be very happy with any of them and it should come to personal choice.
For racing, if the budget allows the X34 would be my pick, the Elan333 with a smaller budget.
If used it'll probably be the X332 and Elan333, if new both of these have been replaced by the X34 and Elan340 repectively.
For use as a fast cruiser the Dufour is a very good boat, quick, comfortable and easily sailed short handed with the genoa winches within easy reach of the helm.
For use as a racer the Dufour has some limitations, namely the back of the cockpit would get very crowded. The standard spec running rigging is also of mediocre quality and would need upgrading to use racing string sails.
In comparison to the others, the build quality seems very similar to the Elans, but a small step back from the X.
The X332 and Elan333 are very fine boats, well sought after on the second hand market and very capable as fast cruisers whilst being very competitive on the race course under IRC. The X332 also has a small amount of class racing with a national championship.
If it's new you're looking at, the X34 is a very good looking boat and the race results suggest it's lost none of the 332's sparkle.
By contrast the 340 is an unproven quality on the race course, noone has really got one going yet, although when racing against one it has shown impressive speed downwind. The interior seems very workable though. Somewhere on youtube there is a test of it.
All of these boats are great sailing boats, the sort of boats that just make you want to carry on sailing and make you grin on the helm. For fast cruising you'd probably be very happy with any of them and it should come to personal choice.
For racing, if the budget allows the X34 would be my pick, the Elan333 with a smaller budget.
matelot
Well-Known Member
are there any other 35/5 footers you would add to that list Flaming. still pondering the shall I shant I
by the way, thanks to your help and all the others, we are second in the series with one race to go. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif not quite sure how, but still ........
by the way, thanks to your help and all the others, we are second in the series with one race to go. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif not quite sure how, but still ........
flaming
Well-Known Member
Comet 33 sails like a dream and is pretty comfortable, especially if you're not that tall. Especially good heads.
Dehler 34RS is pretty quick and quite comfortable, competitive on IRC too. Plus if you prefer ipods to record players you'll probably think it drop dead gorgeous, it's certainly striking.
The J105 is a bit long in the tooth now, and without anything that a cruiser would call an interior. Very quick downwind though...
I think there's a new J on the way for that size, bound to be quick but if true to form will not have the accomodation.
The Beneteau 34.7 can be competitive, normally by not using the bowsprit and sailing with a normal pole. The layout below is unusual though, with the heads in the forepeak, which makes for a good wipe clean place to drop kites, but does limit the rest of the accomodation. And given the new 50, 45 and 40 it can only be a mater of time before it is replaced.
A bit smaller, and a bit out of left field, is the Jeaneau 3200, which is designed for short handed offshore racing. And is clearly extremely well suited to the task. Around the cans it would be difficult though.
On the (recentish) second hand market, the previous Dehler 34 is worth a look.
The previous Beneteaus (33s7 and 35s7 I think...) are nice boats but you'll struggle to get them to sail to their rating.
I think Jeaneau briefly did a sun fast 35 based on the sun oddesy 35, but there can't be many about, and the other models (37 for example...) that used the same hull as the cruising yacht are not rewarding to sail in the way that something designed to be quick from scratch is.
I think Grand Sollei did (do?) a 34, which is bound to be a quick boat and comfortable too.
Oh, and yes, you clearly should!
Dehler 34RS is pretty quick and quite comfortable, competitive on IRC too. Plus if you prefer ipods to record players you'll probably think it drop dead gorgeous, it's certainly striking.
The J105 is a bit long in the tooth now, and without anything that a cruiser would call an interior. Very quick downwind though...
I think there's a new J on the way for that size, bound to be quick but if true to form will not have the accomodation.
The Beneteau 34.7 can be competitive, normally by not using the bowsprit and sailing with a normal pole. The layout below is unusual though, with the heads in the forepeak, which makes for a good wipe clean place to drop kites, but does limit the rest of the accomodation. And given the new 50, 45 and 40 it can only be a mater of time before it is replaced.
A bit smaller, and a bit out of left field, is the Jeaneau 3200, which is designed for short handed offshore racing. And is clearly extremely well suited to the task. Around the cans it would be difficult though.
On the (recentish) second hand market, the previous Dehler 34 is worth a look.
The previous Beneteaus (33s7 and 35s7 I think...) are nice boats but you'll struggle to get them to sail to their rating.
I think Jeaneau briefly did a sun fast 35 based on the sun oddesy 35, but there can't be many about, and the other models (37 for example...) that used the same hull as the cruising yacht are not rewarding to sail in the way that something designed to be quick from scratch is.
I think Grand Sollei did (do?) a 34, which is bound to be a quick boat and comfortable too.
Oh, and yes, you clearly should!