Dufour Yachts, the shipyard based in La Rochelle, France, has announced the Dufour 32, the youngest of its family sailboat range, which succeeds the 310 while retaining its hull, albeit in a mono safran configuration. A renewal of the entry-level offer, at a time when some competitors are disinvesting in this segment, considered too unprofitable...

For Dufour Yachts, the momentum of new products continues unabated, after the Dufour 470 and the Dufour 61.

While the latter is not a major innovation in itself, consisting of a redesign of the 63, whose hull the shipyard has taken over and reimagined a deck plan and interior, and which will have to distinguish itself in terms of finish to hope to erase the failure of the 63 - especially after the problems of the Dufour 530 and its rudder tubes, and mast support reinforcements - the Dufour 32 is a completely new model.

The 2021 Dufour 32 is a new sailboat that is all the more strategic for the brand because it allows it to target neo-practitioners, by giving them access to the Dufour Yachts universe.

Resolutely young in concept, the Dufour 32 is a buddy yacht, with a hull length of 9.36 meters. It is modern, easy to use - with its tiller - and user-friendly, as is the case with its inflatable rear platform that can be transformed into a paddle, its shade cloth in the cockpit, and the seats in the cockpit that can be transformed into a vast sun deck, all of which are welcome aspects that renew the genre.

The design of the Dufour 32 fits perfectly into that of the Dufour range, i.e. clean and tidy, with one regret, however, being the absence of a bulwark around the deck, much appreciated by neo-practitioners.

The interior layout offers two cabins and a bathroom, i.e. 6 berths by transforming the saloon.

The style is modern, pleasant, and the absence of a deck moulding allows for a comfortable headroom, while lowering the weight in the topsides and costs. The size of the hull windows is questionable, however, as the view of the sea from the saloon is always appreciated, especially in a sailboat, the deck windows undoubtedly compensating for this in terms of interior luminosity.

Rigged with 56m2 of canvas as standard, the Dufour 32 has a 34m2 mainsail and a 22m2 genoa, which is enough to enjoy with friends or family, without breaking any records, due to a light weight of 4900kgs, for a hull length of 9.36m, i.e. a ratio of 523.5 kgs per meter 

Decoding - Young, modern, attractive, the Dufour 32 aims to attract new clients to the Dufour Yachts brand and to increase volume. A question arises, however, in terms of profitability for the shipyard, as competitors are generally built in Poland, and yet generate very low margins. Unless it is offered at a price level comparable to that of a 360 from two years ago...

Technical specifications of the Dufour 32

• Architect: Felci Yacht Design
• Year: 2022
• Hull construction: Fiberglass / Laminate
• Deck construction : Injection moulding (due to the absence of a counter mould)
• Total length 10.31m
• Length of waterline 8.70 m    
• Hull length 9.36 m
• Hull width 3.31 m    
• Light displacement 4900 kg    
• Draft 1.90 m (1.60 m opt.)
• Keel weight 1330 kg    
• Fuel capacity 90 L    
• Water capacity 160 L
• Engine power 19 hp     
• Sail area 56 m² (56 sqm)    
• GV 34 m² (34 sqm)
• Genoa 22 sqm