Design and Construction
Dufour Yachts built the 31 as a solid fiberglass hull with a solid fiberglass deck, an iron ballast of 3,696lb giving a ballast ratio of 38.5 percent, and a skeg-hung rudder beneath a fin keel. The clipper bow was the most striking feature of the design, 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 that Yachting Monthly credited with fast cruising performance, and her sail area of 395 square feet against a 9,600lb displacement yields a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 13.99. As a cruiser-racer in her day she was built to be sailed hard yet comfortably, and the skeg-hung rudder adds directional stability. The 6.43-knot hull speed is consistent with the 352.24 displacement-to-length ratio, marking her as a moderately heavy hull that rewards steady wind.
Accommodations
Below, the Dufour 31 is a spacious, six-berth interior including a quarterberth and a dinette double, with a generous 6ft 3in headroom. The galley and chart table are both a good size, unusual in a 31-foot boat of the period. The heads is amidships, a layout choice that maximizes salon width and keeps the facility accessible when the boat is heeled or underway.
Refits and Ownership
With more than 900 units sold from 1973 onwards and a long production life, the Dufour 31 has passed through decades of owner refit cycles. The Volvo Penta MD7A/MD2B diesel of 26hp on a direct drive, 13-gallon fuel and 20-gallon water capacity, speaks to a simple owner-maintained platform rather than a complex systems boat. Her innovative-for-her-time character and cruiser-racer pedigree mean a well-kept example still answers to a modern cruising brief without exotic spares.
The Verdict
The Dufour 31 is a genuinely accomplished 1970s cruiser-racer whose clipper bow and amidships heads layout still read as thoughtful design. She is 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, a proven and numerous design
- Spacious six-berth interior with 6ft 3in headroom and good-size 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 wind rather than light-air sparkle
