Design and Construction
Dufour Yachts built the 31 with a solid fiberglass hull and solid fiberglass deck. An iron ballast of 3,696lb gives a ballast ratio of 38.5 percent, while the underwater profile combines a fin keel with a skeg-hung rudder.
The boat measures 30ft 10in overall, 23ft on the waterline, and 10ft 6in in beam, with a draft of 5ft 8in. A documented alternative displacement is 8,512lb. The clipper bow remains the design’s most striking feature, and the model was regarded as innovative for its era among the builder’s output.
Her 38.5 percent ballast ratio and 1.98 capsize screening value place her firmly in the stiff, seaworthy end of the 30-foot cruiser-racer spectrum.
Rig and Handling
The Dufour 31 carries a powerful masthead sloop rig, which Yachting Monthly credited with fast cruising performance. A sail area of 395 square feet against a 9,600lb displacement produces a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 13.99.
As a cruiser-racer of her day, she was built to be sailed hard yet comfortably. The skeg-hung rudder adds directional stability. Her 6.43-knot hull speed and 352.24 displacement-to-length ratio mark her as a moderately heavy boat that rewards steady wind.
Accommodations
Below, the Dufour 31 has a spacious six-berth interior, including a quarterberth and a dinette double. Headroom is a generous 6ft 3in.
Both the galley and chart table are a good size, which was unusual in a 31-foot boat of the period. The heads is amidships, a layout that maximizes saloon width and keeps the facility accessible when the boat is heeled or underway.
Machinery, Tankage, and Ownership
The Dufour 31 has a 26hp Volvo Penta MD7A/MD2B diesel with direct drive, along with a 13-gallon fuel capacity and 20-gallon water capacity. This is a simple, owner-maintained platform rather than a complex systems boat.
With more than 900 boats sold from 1973 onward and a long production life, the Dufour 31 has passed through decades of owner refit cycles. Her innovative-for-the-time character and cruiser-racer pedigree mean that a well-kept example can still answer a modern cruising brief without exotic spares.
The Verdict
The Dufour 31 is a genuinely accomplished 1970s cruiser-racer. Her clipper bow and amidships heads layout still stand out as thoughtful design choices. She’s stiff, roomy for her length, and simple to own, with a production run exceeding 900 that argues for a mature, well-understood hull.
Pros
- More than 900 built from 1973 onward; a proven and numerous design
- Spacious six-berth interior with 6ft 3in headroom
- Good-sized galley and chart table
- Powerful masthead rig delivering fast cruising performance
- 38.5 percent ballast ratio and skeg-hung rudder for stiffness and directional security
Cons
- Now rarely seen on the club circuit, limiting class-racing camaraderie
- Moderately heavy displacement rewards steady wind rather than delivering light-air sparkle
