Design and Construction
The 1800 is a recreational keelboat built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, showing a raked stem and a reverse transom. Her internally mounted spade rudder is controlled by a tiller with an extension, and the keel was offered in unusual variety: a fixed fin supplied in shallow, standard, or deep draft, plus an optional lifting keel, with a centerline outboard well in the cockpit just forward of the rudder that provides good steering control under power. An inboard engine was also available from the factory. The hull's volume and modest 4-foot-3-inch draft on the standard fin make her a practical trailerable proposition without sacrificing interior room.
Rig and Handling
A well-proportioned fractional sloop rig on aluminum spars gives the 1800 sporty performance, and with a crisp, well-cut suit of sails she makes a good entry-level club racer. The rig carries a Bermuda profile with a boom vang and adjustable backstay as standard, a mainsheet traveller, and tracks for the jib blocks. A single halyard winch sits on the cabin roof with two more jib winches on the cockpit coaming. Her PHRF racing average handicap of 219 places her fairly among small club racers, and the tiller extension lets a single sailor work the cockpit without leaving the helm.
Accommodations
Below, the 1800 sleeps four. A forward V-berth with an opening hatch for ventilation anchors the bow, with the head located on both sides just aft of that berth — a chemical toilet and sink as standard, a marine toilet as a factory option. A separate forecabin lies ahead of a midships heads compartment, and two cabin berths fill out the layout, the starboard berth foot tucking under the navigation table. The saloon feels a bit cramped, yet the galley is adequate for extended cruising, built around a two-burner stove. The dinette table is unusually clever: stowed under the starboard berth when not in use, it can be moved to the cockpit, and to port a compact chart table braced by the aft bulkhead rounds out the layout.
Refits and Ownership
Owners shopping a used 1800 will find most boats with the original fractional rig intact and the keel variant they prefer already chosen. The outboard well suits trailer sailors who want minimal inboard upkeep, though the inboard option exists for those who prefer it. The table's three mounting positions — fore and aft on the main bulkhead, athwartships on the seat backs, or in the cockpit on the washboard — speak to a layout designed for versatile daysailing and short cruises rather than long liveaboards.
The Verdict
The Dufour 1800 is a thoughtfully packaged small cruiser-racer whose high-volume hull and four-berth layout punch above her 25 feet. She is quick enough to club-race yet roomy enough to cruise, with a keel choice for almost any home waters. The saloon is tight, but the galley and adaptable table compensate for a boat aimed at entry-level sailors and trailerable use.
Pros
- Four berths with separate forecabin and midships heads in a 25-foot hull
- Sporty fractional rig with standard vang and backstay; good entry-level racer
- Keel choice (lifting, shallow, standard, deep) suits trailer or fixed mooring
- Clever three-position dinette table and half-size chart table
Cons
- Saloon feels a bit cramped
- Standard head is chemical toilet; marine toilet was only a factory option
