Dufour 2800 Buyer's Guide
The Dufour 2800 is a Michel Dufour-designed 27-foot masthead sloop built by Dufour Yachts in France from 1977 to 1984, with more than 1,300 examples launched over those seven years. On the used market she presents as a high-volume small cruiser-racer whose racing-derived layout still rewards an attentive owner, and the production numbers mean a steady supply of boats and fleet knowledge exists across Europe.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most 2800s you will meet carry the standard fin keel drawing about 4 feet, but shoal-draft hulls with keels as shallow as 3 feet 11 inches turn up, as do the rarer "Club Special" boats with a deeper fin for enhanced performance. Below, the bright saloon holds two single berths and a tight quarterberth behind the chart table, while the forecabin sleeps an adult or two children. A moulded heads and shower unit sits between the main bulkhead and saloon, and the galley was originally built around a two-burner gimbaled stove with a Camping Gaz cylinder fixed directly underneath and a moulded sink opposite. The cockpit is safe and well protected, with the tiller sweeping across the back and the mainsheet traveller originally crossing the companionway.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Autopilots and chartplotters are commonly fitted, making coastal navigation straightforward on most boats you inspect. Heating and a dodger are often seen, useful for shoulder-season sailing in northern European waters, and a spinnaker is a frequent addition for light-air performance. Less common but worth noting as owner upgrades are solar panels, an asymmetric spinnaker, and AIS. The headline systems for a buyer are the navigation and energy cluster — chartplotter plus autopilot as standard modern kit, with solar a lighter-touch upgrade — and the sail-handling cluster of dodger and spinnaker gear that extends the boat's comfortable range.
What to Inspect
The original gas installation is the clearest safety item: a Camping Gaz bottle was mounted straight below the gimbaled stove with no drained locker provided anchor, so check whether a later owner has built a proper locker. That the traveller lies across the companionway opening makes it a toe-catch and a knocking danger, and some boats have had it relocated or modified anchor. Confirm the rudder is the unbalanced spade type and that the tiller gear is sound, since the boat will turn into wind if the helm is let go. Otherwise the solid laminate hull and well-preserved gelcoat are points in the buyer's favor, and a shaft-drive Volvo Penta diesel with 11 gallons of fuel is a simple unit to assess.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United Kingdom, Spain, Netherlands, France, Germany, and Belgium. For a shopper, the practical checklist is: verify the gas locker has been brought up to standard, check the companionway traveller modification, confirm keel version against intended waters, and assess the slab-reefing and cockpit gear for wear. A sound 2800 is a forgiving, high-volume small cruiser with a real racing pedigree at a manageable size.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Dufour 2800. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 11 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 25 | 1 | $17,479 | — |
| Jul 25 | 1 | $13,983 | -20.0% |
| Sep 25 | 6 | $13,638 | -2.5% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $16,992 | +24.6% |
| Jan 26 | 4 | $14,711 | -13.4% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $8,351 | -43.2% |
| Apr 26 | 6 | $9,686 | +16.0% |
| May 26 | 1 | $13,587 | +40.3% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $17,479 | +28.6% |
| Jul 26 | 2 | $12,852 | -26.5% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $26,219 | +104.0% |
Where they're listed
Dufour 2800 listings appear across 9 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 10 (40.0%), followed by Netherlands and Spain.
Country view
25 listings · 9 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $12,197 | 10 | 0 | 40.0% |
| Netherlands | $14,449 | 5 | 2 | 20.0% |
| Spain | $14,973 | 3 | 1 | 12.0% |
| Germany | $18,062 | 2 | 1 | 8.0% |
| Belgium | $8,740 | 1 | 0 | 4.0% |
| Switzerland | $10,555 | 1 | 1 | 4.0% |
| France | $16,250 | 1 | 0 | 4.0% |
| Ireland | $13,401 | 1 | 0 | 4.0% |
| Italy | $15,149 | 1 | 0 | 4.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bavaria 300 | 31.33' | $ 35,250 | 34 | 10 |
| Dufour Classic 32 | 32.67' | $ 45,000 | 31 | 11 |
| Dufour Classic 30 | 30' | $ 35,803 | 28 | 9 |
| Dufour 2800You are here | — | $ 13,587 | 25 | 5 |
| Sabre 28-2 | 28.42' | $ 14,500 | 15 | 7 |
| Dufour 3800 | 30.67' | $ 27,850 | 15 | 11 |