Built from 1973 onwards by French manufacturer Dufour, this compact 31-footer represents classic European coastal cruising design with nearly 900 hulls launched over its production run. Designer Michel Dufour created a well-balanced yacht that prioritizes comfort and seaworthiness over pure performance, evident in its moderate sail area to displacement ratio of 14.04 and reassuring comfort ratio of 25.54. The fiberglass hull features a fin keel with rudder mounted on a skeg, providing predictable handling characteristics that many sailors appreciate for coastal and short offshore passages. With a waterline length of 23 feet generating a hull speed of 6.43 knots, this masthead sloop offers respectable sailing performance while maintaining the stability that comes with 9,600 pounds of displacement and 3,696 pounds of ballast. The Dufour 31's design philosophy emphasizes practical cruising over racing, making it well-suited for weekend coastal adventures and extended coastal cruising. Its capsize screening value of 1.98 suggests reasonable stability for offshore work, though most owners find it excels in protected waters and moderate coastal conditions. The combination of French styling, solid construction, and forgiving sailing characteristics has made this model a popular choice among sailors seeking an affordable entry into serious cruising.
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What is the Dufour 31's sail area to displacement ratio?
The Dufour 31 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 14.04. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the Dufour 31's comfort ratio?
The Dufour 31 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 25.54. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Dufour 31 safe for offshore sailing?
The Dufour 31 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.98. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Dufour 31?
The theoretical hull speed of the Dufour 31 is 6.43 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Dufour 31 weigh?
The Dufour 31 has a displacement of 9,600.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 30.83 ft.
How much does a used Dufour 31 cost?
Based on 4 recent market listings, used Dufour 31 sailboats typically sell for between $14,250 and $28,000, with a median asking price of $21,125. Price varies significantly based on year, condition, location, and included equipment.
Who designed the Dufour 31?
The Dufour 31 was designed by Michel Dufour, first built in 1973.