Dufour T7

Designed by Jean-Louis Noir and built by the respected French shipyard Dufour from 1980 to 1983, this compact 22-footer represents an intriguing blend of coastal cruising capability and trailer-friendly convenience. With only 250 hulls produced during its brief production run, the T7 has become a relatively uncommon sight on modern waters. The boat's most distinctive feature is its swing keel design, which allows the 4.50-foot draft to be reduced for shallow water exploration, beaching, or trailering. This flexibility makes it particularly appealing for coastal cruising and gunkholing in areas where traditional deep-draft boats cannot venture. The fractional sloop rig provides balanced sail handling, while the generous sail area of 237 square feet delivers respectable performance for a boat of this size. At 2,360 pounds with nearly half that weight in ballast, the T7 strikes a reasonable balance between stability and transportability. The comfort ratio of 10.73 suggests this is primarily a daysailer or weekend cruiser rather than an extended cruising platform, while the capsize screening formula of 2.46 indicates it's best suited for protected waters and coastal sailing rather than offshore passages. For sailors seeking an affordable entry into swing keel cruising with French styling, the T7 offers a unique combination of practicality and character.

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