Introduced for the 2014 model year and established as a contemporary design by 2015, the 310 packs the volume and ergonomics of a larger cruiser into a sub-32-foot hull. It is rated RCD Category B for offshore passages within 200 miles of land and capable of handling Beaufort 8 winds with four-meter seas.
Design and Construction
Felci’s hull carries its 10-foot-10-inch beam almost all the way to the stern. Period press described that width as staggering for a boat under 9.4 meters. The 310 has a 28-foot-7-inch waterline and a solid fiberglass hull and deck, in keeping with Dufour’s construction practice for boats under 50 feet.
Displacement is 10,890 pounds, including 2,866 pounds of iron ballast. Its 26.3 percent ballast ratio and 17.6 sail-area-to-displacement ratio place the boat firmly in the comfort-cruising camp rather than the racing one.
Rig and Handling
The 310 carries a fractional sloop rig with roughly 541 square feet of sail upwind. A self-tacking jib came as standard, while an optional simple mainsheet bridle made short-handed sailing close to trivial. Writing in Yachting Monthly, testers found that the twin rudders gripped well and that the self-tacking jib made the boat a doddle to sail.
All halyards, sheets, and control lines lead to winches and cleats in the cockpit, supporting single-handed operation. Twin wheels and twin rudders keep both blades immersed and provide a finger-light helm.
There is a trade-off, however: the mainsheet runs to a coachroof winch well away from the helm, putting primary trim control beyond the skipper’s immediate reach.
Cockpit and Interior
The broad stern helps create a beamy, sociable cockpit, served by a large starboard locker and a substantial cockpit table. Dufour offered the boat in Day Sail, Liberty, and Adventure versions.
Below, a shallow three-step staircase leads into the saloon. No fewer than seven separate openings in the coachroof and freeboard admit light, while standing headroom of at least 1.80 meters continues throughout the interior.
Two settees flank a large folding table and can convert into sea berths. To port, the small L-shaped galley has a two-flame stove. There is also a complete chart table with a folding top and instrument panel. The fully equipped head, also to port, includes a shower, tap, and manual toilet.
A multifunctional bulkhead at the forecabin expands threefold to open the space or closes as a standard door. The forecabin berth is two meters long and just over 1.70 meters wide at the head. With infills, it extends to 1.94 meters for occupants under about 5 feet 1 inch. The aft cabin is too tight for two adults.
Engine Access and Known Issues
Engine access is the boat’s documented weak point. Reviewers at Yachting Monthly found the service points nearly unusable: the fuel hand pump can’t be operated without first removing the engine-space ventilation ducting, the fuel and oil filters are effectively unreachable, the dipstick is awkward, and access to the oil cap is restricted.
A buyer should budget for patience or professional yard help, even for routine diesel servicing.
The Verdict
The Dufour 310 Grand Large is a spacious coastal and near-offshore cruiser that trades helm-adjacent mainsail control and sensible engine access for exceptional interior light, a broad and sociable cockpit, and genuinely easy short-handed sail handling.
For a couple or small family that values livability in a trailerable-length footprint, it delivers a big-boat feel. For the DIY mechanic, the engine bay will frustrate.
Pros
- Twin rudders and wheels provide a light, confident helm
- Self-tacking jib and cockpit-led lines enable single-handed sailing
- Seven openings and at least 1.80 meters of headroom create a bright, roomy cabin
- Category B rating and 541-square-foot sail area suit offshore-capable cruising
Cons
- Mainsheet winch is far from the helm, limiting immediate trim control
- Ventilation ducting badly obstructs engine service points
- Aft cabin is too small for two adults
