yelken
New Member
Any views about the relative merits of Beneteau Oceanis 40, Sun Odyssey 39i and Dufour 385?
Oceanis 40 vs Odyssey 39i vs Dufour 385
- Thread starter yelken
- Start date
jonic
Well-Known Member
101 views and no replys /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Well we all know what I might say, but then I'm biased, so take with a pinch of salt. (For Yelken's benefit I have a soft spot for Dufour /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)
After this years London Boatshow we were interested to hear stand visitor comments on how the quality gap was getting wider, especially in terms of finish and choice of materials down below. You can have a look in 3D here
The Dufours are all designed by this guy who has a performance pedigree, but the range has a different hull, not just cabin top, for the performance or cruising models.
Thay are all good boats. If you want some (off Forum) information on the Dufour my contact details can be found by clicking the link below.
Well we all know what I might say, but then I'm biased, so take with a pinch of salt. (For Yelken's benefit I have a soft spot for Dufour /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif)
After this years London Boatshow we were interested to hear stand visitor comments on how the quality gap was getting wider, especially in terms of finish and choice of materials down below. You can have a look in 3D here
The Dufours are all designed by this guy who has a performance pedigree, but the range has a different hull, not just cabin top, for the performance or cruising models.
Thay are all good boats. If you want some (off Forum) information on the Dufour my contact details can be found by clicking the link below.
tcm
...
well...jeanneaus are a bt prettier inside than benny's i think... the wood not so dark, imho...
Jonny_H
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Any views about the relative merits of Beneteau Oceanis 40, Sun Odyssey 39i and Dufour 385?
[/ QUOTE ]
For what purpose? Sailing in the UK, the Med, crossing the Atlantic, living aboard, weekend sailing, chartering, buying, singlehanded, couple, family ... some more info on what you plan to use it for and where would probabaly help ...
Incidentally, I have to amdit I shortlisted a Dufour when buying my boat and didn't shortlist the Jen or Ben - draw your own conclusions on this.
Also, what type of sailing do you want to do - are you a bit of racer looking for some performance cruising, or are you more focused on the interior design and layout - deciding factors like this will help you find an answer
Jonny
Any views about the relative merits of Beneteau Oceanis 40, Sun Odyssey 39i and Dufour 385?
[/ QUOTE ]
For what purpose? Sailing in the UK, the Med, crossing the Atlantic, living aboard, weekend sailing, chartering, buying, singlehanded, couple, family ... some more info on what you plan to use it for and where would probabaly help ...
Incidentally, I have to amdit I shortlisted a Dufour when buying my boat and didn't shortlist the Jen or Ben - draw your own conclusions on this.
Also, what type of sailing do you want to do - are you a bit of racer looking for some performance cruising, or are you more focused on the interior design and layout - deciding factors like this will help you find an answer
Jonny
Sailfree
Well-Known Member
I hope you get some informative replies especially from people that have owned these boats.
If you don't get actual experience comments on here I suggest you try to identify some charter companies that have these actual boats and get their views, see the boats after they have had some use. A charter boat should be a well maintained but also be a well used boat and chartering will certainly quickly identify any weaknesses in any particular type of boat.
You could ask the distributor to put you in touch with some owners that they have sold the boats to but unfortunately they would not give you the name of an owner that may be having serios problems with the boat!
If you don't get actual experience comments on here I suggest you try to identify some charter companies that have these actual boats and get their views, see the boats after they have had some use. A charter boat should be a well maintained but also be a well used boat and chartering will certainly quickly identify any weaknesses in any particular type of boat.
You could ask the distributor to put you in touch with some owners that they have sold the boats to but unfortunately they would not give you the name of an owner that may be having serios problems with the boat!
achwilan
Well-Known Member
When I changed my Beneteau 311, I considered the Beneteau 343 and the Sun Odyssey 35. The SO35 is faster, with better design and building. The 343 is a cavernous hull designed to host a whole children's holiday camp, with dangerous vertical stairs (just try it on a choopy sea) and scarce stowing places. The SO35 was obviously designed to sail and live aboard confortably. Furthermore, I had encountered some problems with the 311.
I did not consider Dufour because my spec included a lifting keel.
Should we extrapolate this (personal) opinion from the 35' range to the 40'?...
I did not consider Dufour because my spec included a lifting keel.
Should we extrapolate this (personal) opinion from the 35' range to the 40'?...
robavery
Well-Known Member
I have Dufour 40 which now selling to move up to a Dufour 44. They are well built and represent value for money. The build quality is very acceptable and they sail fast. I feel the underwater profile is better on the Dufour compared to both Oceanis and Odyssey which are really flat bottomed. Great if you only want to go downwind but not so comfortable upwind in a seaway.
yelken
New Member
My main purpose is sailing in the Med, living aboard and weekend sailing with friends. Hope to sail couple, but may end up being singlehanded if my wife changes her mind /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. Oceanis 40 interior is chic, but I am interested with sea going qualities as well. I will be interested with experiences on handling, hull behaviour etc. any experiences?
yelken
New Member
[ QUOTE ]
I have Dufour 40 which now selling to move up to a Dufour 44. They are well built and represent value for money. The build quality is very acceptable and they sail fast. I feel the underwater profile is better on the Dufour compared to both Oceanis and Odyssey which are really flat bottomed. Great if you only want to go downwind but not so comfortable upwind in a seaway.
[/ QUOTE ]
I do not have any experience with Dufour (apart from reading good assesments). We (myself and two friends) have taken an Oceanis 50 from France to Gocek (TR) with three stops along the way and it behaved well, considering that it is a big beast /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif We had 6/7 along the way and had some bumping but it was OK.
I have Dufour 40 which now selling to move up to a Dufour 44. They are well built and represent value for money. The build quality is very acceptable and they sail fast. I feel the underwater profile is better on the Dufour compared to both Oceanis and Odyssey which are really flat bottomed. Great if you only want to go downwind but not so comfortable upwind in a seaway.
[/ QUOTE ]
I do not have any experience with Dufour (apart from reading good assesments). We (myself and two friends) have taken an Oceanis 50 from France to Gocek (TR) with three stops along the way and it behaved well, considering that it is a big beast /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif We had 6/7 along the way and had some bumping but it was OK.
robavery
Well-Known Member
Before deciding on Dufour we tested a Sun Odyssey 40.3 and felt she was very light weight. The standing rigging is not a patch on the Dufour. We have friends who also looked at a Sun Odyssey 40 only to find on survey that the deck showed signs of delamination and the rudder had stress fractures.
This may just be unlucky......
Dufour and Grand Soleil are now virtually out of the same stable and share a number of similar features. If you have ever sailed the latter you will know they are expectionally well put together- a major factor in our decision to go with Dufour
This may just be unlucky......
Dufour and Grand Soleil are now virtually out of the same stable and share a number of similar features. If you have ever sailed the latter you will know they are expectionally well put together- a major factor in our decision to go with Dufour
jonic
Well-Known Member
Yelken
I have sent you a PM. (Click on the flashing red and white envelope icon near the top of your screen)
I have sent you a PM. (Click on the flashing red and white envelope icon near the top of your screen)
andymcp
Well-Known Member
I went to LIBS to look at Ben (43), Bav (40ish), Jen (42i), Duf (425 although the show boat was a 455) and Elan (434).
IMHO, Elan was the lowest of the pile. Awful build quality, messy deck layout, poorly thought through. Jeanneau seemed like plastic fantastic, Bav was just depressing and too many changes of level in the boat (we have Mini McPs who would be all over the place). On the plus side, Bav storage ruled supreme (again, thinking of those Mini McPs). Dufour and Ben were the only two we put on any sensible shortlist, with the Dufour being scaled back down to a 425 if at all.
SWMBO refused point blank to stay on the Elan longer than a minute. Jen equally so, although had the DS versions in our budget had enough berths they seemed more pleasing. Bav left her fuming at too-fussy detail. Dufour did OK, but not enough wow. Couldn't get her off the Ben.
We are looking at basing boat in Greece, for private use with three kids ranging from 3 to 11 years. Had considered yacht management but not very impressed with any of the options after spending months looking into it. Got 2 more to see (the Ben 40 to see what you lose along with the 3 feet in length and the Duf 425 if we can find one), then we stump up the cash at Southampton. Would be interested to hear what you go for, and what experiences/opinions others add to the thread.
Dufour seem to command a lot of respect in general bust I must admit to being unmoved by them. Perhaps I'm just not a very demanding sailor.....
IMHO, Elan was the lowest of the pile. Awful build quality, messy deck layout, poorly thought through. Jeanneau seemed like plastic fantastic, Bav was just depressing and too many changes of level in the boat (we have Mini McPs who would be all over the place). On the plus side, Bav storage ruled supreme (again, thinking of those Mini McPs). Dufour and Ben were the only two we put on any sensible shortlist, with the Dufour being scaled back down to a 425 if at all.
SWMBO refused point blank to stay on the Elan longer than a minute. Jen equally so, although had the DS versions in our budget had enough berths they seemed more pleasing. Bav left her fuming at too-fussy detail. Dufour did OK, but not enough wow. Couldn't get her off the Ben.
We are looking at basing boat in Greece, for private use with three kids ranging from 3 to 11 years. Had considered yacht management but not very impressed with any of the options after spending months looking into it. Got 2 more to see (the Ben 40 to see what you lose along with the 3 feet in length and the Duf 425 if we can find one), then we stump up the cash at Southampton. Would be interested to hear what you go for, and what experiences/opinions others add to the thread.
Dufour seem to command a lot of respect in general bust I must admit to being unmoved by them. Perhaps I'm just not a very demanding sailor.....
Seven Spades
Well-Known Member
I believe that the Dufour 40 is a bit of a flying machine, good performance and plenty of room. The only downer is that the mainsheet track goes across the cockpit and that may not suite the family, but it will put a big smile on the helmsman.
One thing I don't like about the modern Jeanneaus is that they have a glass divider on the back of the chart table. It looks fantastic, but if you fall and hit your head on it (an unexpected jibe perhaps?) it will render you unconscious instantly.
One thing I don't like about the modern Jeanneaus is that they have a glass divider on the back of the chart table. It looks fantastic, but if you fall and hit your head on it (an unexpected jibe perhaps?) it will render you unconscious instantly.
andymcp
Well-Known Member
Yep, I loved the Dufour 40 but with little kids that mainsheet track is too much of a worry. Hopefully in a few years time we will be abe to switch to more of a performance boat, but for worry-free sailing just now it's more of a floating caravan we're after, with all the disapproving looks that come with it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
