Design and Construction
The hull and deck are molded in fiberglass. Dufour used solid fiberglass for its sub-50-foot hulls, including the Dufour 24.
Buyers could choose between two iron keels. The fin keel draws roughly 3.94 to 4.24 feet, depending on load. The shallow keel draws only 2.62 to 2.92 feet, allowing the boat to enter even shallow marinas.
With a length-to-beam ratio of 2.95, the Dufour 24 is beamy for its length. Its ballast ratio is 39 percent, higher than half of comparable designs. Together, those figures suggest a reasonably stiff little cruiser rather than a stripped-out racer.
Rig and Handling
The Dufour 24 carries a fractional sloop rig. Its sheet specifications reflect the boat’s modest scale: jib and genoa sheets are around 24 feet long and 3/8-inch in diameter, the mainsheet is 60 feet long, and the spinnaker sheets are near 53 feet.
A displacement-length ratio of 195 places the boat among “moderate racers.” Its Relative Speed Performance is 34, meaning it is quicker than about a third of similar designs. The theoretical hull speed is 5.9 knots.
The calculated maximum speed 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 and Comfort
The Dufour 24 has a capsize screening value of 2.11, indicating that it would not be accepted to participate in ocean races.
For coastal cruising, its Motion Comfort Ratio of 13.3 to 16.5 makes it more comfortable than half of similar sailboats. An immersion rate of about 560 pounds per inch points to a lightly loaded hull that responds readily to changes in crew and payload. The wetted surface is roughly 182 square feet, keeping drag modest for a 24-footer.
Accommodations
Below, the Dufour 24 has four berths and a galley. Combined with its above-average length-to-beam roominess relative to comparable designs, this gives the boat useful living space for weekends without pretending to be a larger yacht.
The Verdict
The Dufour 24 is a pragmatic mid-1970s cruiser: beamy for its length, available with a shoal keel for gunkholing, and comfortable enough for family sailing in sheltered waters. It isn’t an offshore racer by any measure, but as a trailer-scale or marina-based small sailboat, it offers sensible accommodations and flexible propulsion.
Pros
- Shallow-keel option provides access to shallow marinas and anchorages
- More comfortable motion than half of similar designs
- Four berths and a galley in a 24-foot hull
Cons
- Capsize screening value rules it out for ocean racing
- Moderate speed ranking compared with its peers
- Design metrics limit it to inshore and coastal use
