Design and Construction
Both hull and deck are molded in fiberglass, and the boat was offered with two iron keel alternatives — a fin keel drawing roughly 3.94 to 4.24 feet depending on load, and a shallow keel drawing only 2.62 to 2.92 feet, the latter letting the boat enter even shallow marinas. At a length-to-beam ratio of 2.95 and a ballast ratio of 39 percent (higher than half of comparable designs), the 24 reads as a beamy, reasonably stiff little cruiser rather than a stripped racer. Dufour's construction of sub-50-foot hulls in solid fiberglass matches the build of this model.
Rig and Handling
The Dufour 24 carries a fractional sloop rig, with sheet specifications that reflect its modest scale: jib and genoa sheets around 24 feet long in 3/8-inch diameter, a 60-foot mainsheet, and spinnaker sheets near 53 feet. The displacement-length ratio of 195 places it among "moderate racers," and its Relative Speed Performance of 34 means it is quicker than about a third of similar designs. The theoretical hull speed is 5.9 knots, while the calculated maximum with the inboard Volvo Penta MD6A diesel is about 5.4 knots. An outboard of 3 to 4 horsepower — or 74 to 89 pounds of thrust if electric — is often fitted for docking and maneuvering.
Performance Profile
The capsize screening value is 2.11, a figure that indicates the boat would not be accepted to participate in ocean races. More tellingly for coastal cruising, the Motion Comfort Ratio of 13.3 to 16.5 makes it more comfortable than half of similar sailboats, and the immersion rate of about 560 pounds per inch speaks to a lightly loaded hull that responds readily to crew and payload changes. The wetted surface of roughly 182 square feet keeps drag modest for a 24-footer.
Accommodations
Below, the Dufour 24 is equipped with four berths and a galley, a layout that — combined with the above-average L/B roominess relative to peer designs — gives it livable volume for weekend use without pretending to be a larger yacht.
The Verdict
The Dufour 24 is a pragmatic mid-seventies cruiser: beamy for its length, available with a shoal keel for gunkholing, and comfortable enough for sheltered-water family sailing. It is not an offshore racer by any measure, but as a trailer-scale or marina-based small sailboat it delivers sensible accommodation and flexible propulsion.
Pros
- Shallow keel option opens shallow marinas and anchorages
- More comfortable motion than half of similar designs
- Four berths and galley in a 24-foot hull
Cons
- Capsize screening rules it out for ocean racing
- Moderate speed ranking versus peers
- Limited to inshore and coastal use by design metrics
