Design and Construction
Felci's hull carries a beam of 10 feet 10 inches almost to the stern, a width the period press described as staggering for a boat under 9.4 meters, and the 310 sits on a 28-foot-7-inch waterline with a solid fiberglass hull and deck in keeping with Dufour's sub-50-foot construction practice. Displacement is 10,890 pounds with 2,866 pounds of iron ballast, a 26.3 percent ballast ratio that pairs with a 17.6 sail-area-to-displacement ratio to place the boat firmly in the comfort-cruising camp rather than the racer's. The saloon drops down a shallow three-step staircase, and the cabin is lit by no fewer than seven separate coachroof and freeboard openings; standing headroom of at least 1.80 meters is maintained throughout the interior.
Rig and Handling
The 310 is rigged as a fractional sloop carrying roughly 541 square feet of sail upwind, with a self-tacking jib as standard equipment and an optional simple mainsheet bridle that makes short-handed sailing close to trivial. Writing in Yachting Monthly, testers found the twin rudders grip well and the self-tacking jib make her a doddle to sail anchor. All halyards, sheets, and control lines lead to winches and cleats in the cockpit, supporting single-handed operation, while twin wheels and twin rudders keep both blades immersed and give a finger-light helm. The trade-off is that the mainsheet travels to a coachroof winch well away from the helm, moving primary trim control out of the skipper's immediate reach.
Accommodations
Below, two settees flank a large folding table and can be converted to sea berths, with a small L-shaped galley to port carrying a two-flame stove and a complete chart table with folding top and instrument panel. The head is fully equipped with shower, tap, and manual toilet, also to port. A multifunctional bulkhead to the forecabin expands threefold to open the space or closes as a standard door; the forecabin berth measures two meters long and just over 1.70 meters wide at the head, and with infills extends to 1.94 meters for occupants under about 5 feet 1 inch, while the aft cabin is too tight for two adults. The cockpit is served by a large starboard locker and a substantial cockpit table, and the boat was offered in Day Sail, Liberty, and Adventure versions.
Known Issues
Practical access to the engine is the boat's documented weak point. Reviewers in Yachting Monthly found the service points nearly unusable: the fuel hand pump cannot be operated without first removing engine-space ventilation ducting, fuel and oil filters are effectively unreachable, the dipstick is awkward, and the oil cap is restricted anchor. A buyer should budget for patience or yard help on even routine diesel service.
The Verdict
The Dufour 310 Grand Large is a volume-maximized coastal and near-offshore cruiser that trades helm-adjacent mainsail control and engine-service sanity for exceptional interior light, a beamy and sociable cockpit, and genuinely easy short-handed sail handling. For a couple or small family prioritizing livability in a trailerable-length footprint, it delivers big-boat feel; for the DIY mechanic, the engine bay will frustrate.
Pros
- Twin rudders and wheels give a light, confident helm
- Self-tacking jib and all-lines-to-cockpit layout enable single-handed sailing
- Seven openings and 1.80 m+ headroom create an airy, roomy cabin
- Category B rating and 541 sq ft sail area suit offshore-capable cruising
Cons
- Mainsheet winch is far from the helm, limiting trim control
- Engine service points are badly obstructed by ventilation ducting
- Aft cabin too small for two adults
