Has anyone got opinions on a Dufour 36 classic?

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cliffdale

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They come with either owners version or the twin back cabin.

The owners version has a bigger back cabin and a huge cockpit locker.

The twin back cabin has smaller cabins and the loss of a large wardrobe/ hanging locker in the saloon. Also much smaller cockpit lockers, although still adequate in size.

I'm thinking of the twin so I have a dry dumping ground for folding bikes, luggage bags and the like.

Anyone has any thoughts on loss of deep locker space and gaining twin back cabins?

Cliff
 
Dufour 36 Classic

cliffdale said:
They come with either owners version or the twin back cabin.

The owners version has a bigger back cabin and a huge cockpit locker.

The twin back cabin has smaller cabins and the loss of a large wardrobe/ hanging locker in the saloon. Also much smaller cockpit lockers, although still adequate in size.

I'm thinking of the twin so I have a dry dumping ground for folding bikes, luggage bags and the like.

Anyone has any thoughts on loss of deep locker space and gaining twin back cabins?

Cliff
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Take the 3-cabin version, the 3rd cabin is the "dressing".

The Dufour 38 sails better, and doesn't have the pullman style bed (which is a drag for the inner person, if a 4 am trip to the heads is needed)

Huge cockpit lockers tend to become black holes of oblivion for various bits and pieces.
 
2 or 3 cabin ... can often be a tricky question ...

We have a 2 cabin 36' hull (Bavaria) - sleeps 4 adults absolutely fine - and for 90% of the time this suits our requirements ... just occaisionally I'd like to be able to invite additional guests aboard - and being able to sleep a couple more would be beneficial (especially as it's a C saloon that can only sleep 1 adult).

On the flip side - we get a significantly larger heads compartment - with associated storage and as you say - HUGE aft locker ... it's big enough to store 9 large fenders, an inflatable, outboard, boarding steps & spares box & all the lines - without being full !! And we still have a locker on the otherside that can take liferaft, elec cables & other bitsnbobs.

As we're on a swinging mooring it's nice to be able to store everything we don't need in the aft locker and as said - 90% of the time it suits our requirements - had we had a 3 cabin version then the 3rd cabin would probably just fill with the usual cr4p and would be in the way if we invited guests aboard anyway - plus the other aft cabin would be smaller and as the heads move forwards we'd loose galley/saloon area.
 
Dufour 36

We have twin aft cabins.
When you consider that the cockpit lockers, even with twin aft cabins, are the size of the double beds beneath, the message comes home!Our Zodiac 2.4m goes in easily and does not "sink into oblivion" as Kingfisher suggests might be the case with deeper lockers.The floors of the lockers are very rigid and bear weight well.We find bikes can be stored in the "spare" cabin, although now we have mini bikes which fit in sort of Cello cases (soft) and these slide under the main cabin table if we have guests.At rest the bikes can go on deck in their bags.The vessel has been trouble free, just the hassle of doing the donut on the saildrive, after 7 years from new.Sailing is a joy as she is light on the helm and even if a broach occurs, it's a gentle affair. I have had one knockdown (Celtic Sea F7 S/W)to about 90 degrees and the boat more or less snapped upright afterwards, a comforting result. As we had 2 reefs in the main and several rolls in the jib at the time, it was just that that set of waves had our name on it! Structurally, the babystay on the model with the grand forecabin is poorly supported, and tends to work the hatch a little in headseas. Leaving it slackish seems to work, although I have thought of bifurcating it to stronger 'thwarthships poisitions.'Nother winter job!
Good sailing and boating to all!
 
cliffdale said:
They come with either owners version or the twin back cabin.

The owners version has a bigger back cabin and a huge cockpit locker.

The twin back cabin has smaller cabins and the loss of a large wardrobe/ hanging locker in the saloon. Also much smaller cockpit lockers, although still adequate in size.

I'm thinking of the twin so I have a dry dumping ground for folding bikes, luggage bags and the like.

Anyone has any thoughts on loss of deep locker space and gaining twin back cabins?

Cliff
Click to expand...

It all depends on your requirements. The only thing that I would say is that a bigger cabin to sleep in is desirable. The smaller cabins can be a bit cosy.
 
paulclan said:
Our Zodiac 2.4m goes in easily and does not "sink into oblivion" as Kingfisher suggests might be the case with deeper lockers.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a different shallow locker layout than we have - the shallow one on our starboard side is just big enough for a life raft (valise), 2 gas bottles and 2 reasonable sized storage boxes. I could get our XM inflatable in with the LR - but not much else - certainly not a load of fenders as well!

Sinking into oblivion isn't as bad as it sounds - it's quite handy for storing the items seldom used and doesn't require shifting them around the boat.
We've got 2 fold up bikes in the space beneath the forepeak berth - along with a cruising chute and inflatable canoe - with plenty of room left - but I wouldn't want items in there that get daily use as it involves stripping the berth off and remaking it - there is the option for a 150L water tank up there so others may not have the storage facility anyway!
 
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