Dufour 405

[harstonwood]

Any forumites got any knowledge of the above boat? Has made it onto my shortlist

Main purpose is comfortable family cruising around cardigan bay / Ireland

Thnaks

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

Yes - I have delivered a few of them.

Portland to Plymouth:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXWyu1CsF0s&list=FL3o8asPx5SronRtGzeVVE8A&index=7&feature=plcp

South of France to Turkey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsX9iZ2kQMo&list=FL3o8asPx5SronRtGzeVVE8A&index=6&feature=plpp_video

They are nice yachts, comfortable with good performance. The layout gives spacious accommodation for the family.

Pete

 

[Talulah]

Are you buying new or second hand?
Our new Dufour 365 fell to bits within one year.
Virtually everything that could come apart came apart. Cheap materials throughout. Screws where bolts were needed. Glued joints over varnish so no adhesion.
Looked good, sailed well but quality of materials not very impressive.
Things may have changed since it was about 5 years ago. However, in this industry it's about what next to save costs, not about what's next we can do to improve quality.
There will be a lot in common parts between a 365 and a 405. I reckon the Dufour 36 Classic it replaced was a much better built boat.
I suspect the issues I mentioned above may be common to quite a few new builds.
Think buying Citroen. Car industry equivalent in my view.

 

[johnnys]

Just to balance the argument we bought a new 365 in 2008, it's been excellent no warranty issues, seems very well built and sails very well. We have had various makes of yacht and I would place the Dufour above the others.

 

[Mrnotming]

Dufour 36.5 is a smaller vessel that the Dufour 36 Classic, so not really a replacement.
The 38.5 is closer to the 36 Classic in overall terms, and somewhat heavier as well.
Many recent boats from all makers seem to have given up on joinery in favour of shiny laminates.
Our 36 Classic is now 13 years old.Lovely light helm, with the 1.8M lead keel.
good luck with purchasing and try to get a lead keel if you can find such an example.

 

[harstonwood]

Thanks for all the advice thus far. Am viewing on Thursday!

Great videos by the way!

 

[Ripster]

Any forumites got any knowledge of the above boat? Has made it onto my shortlist

Main purpose is comfortable family cruising around cardigan bay / Ireland

Thnaks

What else is on your shortlist?

 

[Mrnotming]

loved the videos too! No hardships at all?

 

[haslemere_harry]

Other than a quick nose around the interior, I've no experience of the 405 but I have sailed a 375 - and liked it so much I subsequently ordered one! Basically, the 375 is the 405 minus a loo and if the 405 sails as well as the 375 we tested I don't think you'll be disappointed. On our test sail she was well mannered in 25kts of wind (with a single reef) and at one point hit 9.4kts thru the water!

The accommodation is good and the storage is exceptional. We were looking for a comfy family cruiser to bob around the south coast/CI/France etc and although we didn't set out to buy new, found that the GL 375 was the only option that ticked all the boxes - and believe me we looked at a lot of options!

The 405 was yacht of the Year in 2010 (or was it 2011?) so you'll find lots of test reports if you punch it in to google.

Cheers

Mark

 

[Sailfree]

If you are concerned about quality and durability look at a charter boat as they get heavier use.

The dufour 36 classic is still going strong after 14yrs. The Dufour 38 classic is still going strong after 38yrs and my current Jeanneau 43DS is still good after 7yrs but I would want to check any new designs as all the manufacturers must build down to a price now.

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

Thanks for all the advice thus far. Am viewing on Thursday!

Great videos by the way!

Thank you...

If you haven't done already it might be worth talking to Richard from Marco Marine.

http://www.marcomarine.co.uk/

Good luck with the viewing.

Pete

 

[Halcyon Yachts]

loved the videos too! No hardships at all?

They are delightful boats to deliver... No problems to report at all.

Pete

 

[harstonwood]

Thanks all. We shall see. Apart from the price the major stumbling block may be the keel. We would prefer the shoal keel, but alas the one we are looking at has the standard 2.03m keel Need to get my head around tidal access at our base

 

[Ripster]

Thanks all. We shall see. Apart from the price the major stumbling block may be the keel. We would prefer the shoal keel, but alas the one we are looking at has the standard 2.03m keel Need to get my head around tidal access at our base

Is it the one in stock at Burton?

 

[mariadz]

Hi, we have a 2007 Dufour 455 and I recognise that this is significantly larger than you are looking at.

I wanted to pick up on the quality issue. We have had her two years and she has been fantastic and seems well put together.

She is very well mannered under sail although my wife and I are relative novices.

 

[harstonwood]

Hi, we have a 2007 Dufour 455 and I recognise that this is significantly larger than you are looking at.

I wanted to pick up on the quality issue. We have had her two years and she has been fantastic and seems well put together.

She is very well mannered under sail although my wife and I are relative novices.

Thanks for that. Will have. Good look
Cheers