Design and Construction
The 2800 carries a high-volume hull with a neat, trim transom and flush, wide side decks and foredeck, plus grabrails running along the coachroof for secure movement on deck anchor. Below the waterline the construction is solid laminate with well-preserved gelcoat, and the standard fin keel is long enough to let the boat dry out against a wall with ordinary care anchor. A spade rudder hangs behind that keel; steering is direct from tiller to an unbalanced blade, so the boat will bear up into the wind if the helm is left unattended. The deep-draft fin keel measures 4 feet 10 inches, while a shoal variant drew as little as 3 feet 11 inches, and a small number of hulls were built to the deeper "Club Special" specification for enhanced performance.
Rig and Handling
The rig is a typical development of 1970s Half Ton and One Ton Cup thinking: a small, easily handled mainsail paired with a very large overlapping genoa anchor. Practical dimensions put the fore triangle at just under 33 feet hoist and 11 feet base, with a 135-square-foot main and a 190-square-foot genoa for a total of 325 square feet. Many boats were fitted with slab reefing led back to the cockpit, and the mainsheet traveller originally crosses the companionway — a detail that bears on deck safety. Pleasing hull lines and a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 32.7 percent gave the 2800 good performance under the standard fin, and Yachting Monthly judged her a potent cruiser-racer in her day. The unbalanced spade rudder means she demands an attentive hand, but the tiller sweeps cleanly across a safe, well-protected cockpit with good footholds.
Accommodations
Below, the 2800 was laid out by a racing enthusiast with cruising owners in mind. The saloon is bright and airy, with two decent single berths and a tight quarterberth tucked behind the chart table anchor. Forward, the forecabin sleeps one adult or two children quite comfortably, while a moulded heads and shower unit sits sandwiched between the main bulkhead and the saloon. The galley originally held a two-burner gimbaled stove balanced by a Camping Gaz cylinder fixed directly underneath, with a moulded plastic sink facing the heads opposite and a deep footwell for the cook. The cockpit itself is secure at sea, reflecting its competition-derived pedigree.
Known Issues
The original gas installation places a Camping Gaz cylinder fixed right under the gimbaled stove without any drained locker, a configuration that does not meet modern marine gas-safety expectations. Where the mainsheet track runs over the hatch, it becomes a snagging risk when tacking, and owners aware of it have relocated or modified the tackle. The unbalanced rudder's habit of rounding up if released is inherent to the design rather than a defect, but it shapes how the boat must be handled.
Refits and Ownership
Owners shopping a 2800 will find a straightforward shaft-drive diesel (a Volvo Penta MD5 of 8 horsepower in period specification) with 11 gallons of fuel and 36 of water, and solid laminate hulls that have generally kept their gelcoat. Slab reefing from the cockpit is common, and the Club Special deep-keel variant is worth noting for the sailor who values the sharper end of the performance envelope. Given the production volume, spares and comparative knowledge across the fleet are reasonably easy to come by.
The Verdict
The Dufour 2800 is a well-executed small cruiser-racer whose high-volume hull and bright saloon make the most of 27 feet, while its 1970s racing-derived rig rewards an engaged crew. The unbalanced spade rudder and companionway-traveller layout are dated rather than broken, and the original gas setup is the one clear item a modern buyer should plan to correct.
Pros
- High-volume hull with bright, airy saloon and practical berth plan
- Standard fin keel dries out against a wall; shoal and Club Special drafts broaden appeal
- Solid laminate construction with well-preserved gelcoat across the fleet
- Racing-derived cockpit is safe and well protected at sea
Cons
- Unbalanced spade rudder rounds up if the tiller is released
- Original gas cylinder mounted directly under the stove, not to modern safety standard
- Mainsheet traveller crosses the companionway, a hazard in use
