Dufour Classic 30 Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The Dufour Classic 30 entered production in 1998, continuing the builder's legacy of crafting high-quality, ready-to-sail production boats using advanced fiberglass techniques. As the fifth model designed by J&J Design for Dufour Yachts, the Classic 30 embodies the builder's commitment to robust construction, typically featuring solid fiberglass hulls and meticulously crafted fiberglass decks. Dufour's ethos, established by founder Michel Dufour, prioritizes efficiency in production and consistent quality, differentiating their vessels in the market.

J&J Design's philosophy for the Classic 30 aimed to create a compact sailing yacht equipped with modern features and a comfortable interior. The design emphasizes simplicity as a core essence for this entry-level cruiser, ensuring it is both accessible and rewarding for its target audience. The production run continued for several years, with some sources indicating manufacturing until around 2003.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Dufour Classic 30 is characterized by its well-balanced and responsive sailing characteristics. Her design features a wide and relatively shallow underwater body with a hard turn of the bilge, contributing significantly to her form stability. This hull shape allows the boat to stand up well to a breeze, offering a reassuring feel at the helm.

Her calculated Sail Area to Displacement (SA/Disp) ratio of approximately 18.43 indicates a generous sail plan for her displacement, suggesting good performance, particularly in lighter air. The Ballast to Displacement (Bal/Disp) ratio of about 34.3% provides moderate stiffness, ensuring a comfortable motion while sailing. Furthermore, a Displacement to Length (Disp/LWL) ratio of around 167.58 classifies her as a lighter, more performance-oriented cruising boat, rather than a heavy displacement traditional cruiser. The rig is a straightforward masthead sloop, featuring a main and a furling genoa, contributing to her ease of handling. These attributes combine to make the Dufour Classic 30 an ideal boat, especially for novice sailors or young families, due to its forgiving nature and predictable behavior in various sea states.

Accommodations and Layout

While detailed specifications on interior headroom are not always available, the Dufour Classic 30 is generally noted for its comfortable interior, especially considering its compact size. Typical layouts for the 30 Classic feature up to six berths, including an aft cabin and berths within the saloon area. The design incorporates a practical arrangement to maximize the use of space below deck. However, some Dufour designs of this era purposefully feature lower coach roofs to reduce windage, which can impact interior headroom compared to some competitors. Despite this, the focus remains on providing a functional and inviting living space for coastal cruising and weekend trips.