Dufour 325 Grand Large Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The 325 Grand Large was offered in a single saloon-forward layout with two private cabins aft and a forepeak double, giving a nominal six-berth count that is realistic only with a crew that is comfortable living at close quarters. In practice, most owners use the boat as a two- or three-berth cruiser. The wide beam pays dividends below: the saloon is genuinely sociable, the galley is well-positioned just inside the companionway, and the nav station is serviceable for coastal passage planning. Hulls on the used market come in this single-layout configuration; buyers looking for an owner's aft cabin or a dedicated owner's forward cabin will need to look to a different model family.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Boats reaching the brokerage market today are typically well equipped. Chartplotters are commonly fitted, reflecting how quickly electronics became standard on this class of cruiser, and autopilots are nearly as prevalent — important on a boat often sailed short-handed across European coastal passages. Teak cockpit and deck surfaces appear frequently, consistent with Dufour's standard specification options of the period, as does a cockpit shower, which was integrated into the aft locker at the factory. Biminis are a common sight, most added by early owners to make the generously sized cockpit liveable in Mediterranean summer heat or Northern European drizzle; dodgers are also often seen. A folding bathing ladder and swim platform were standard, so buyers can expect those to be present in most hulls. Heating systems are commonly fitted, suggesting a meaningful proportion of the fleet has been used in higher latitudes.

Owner upgrades on examples that have been actively cruised tend to follow a recognizable pattern. Solar panels are a frequent addition, as are hot water systems. Radar fits appear on some boats, typically on hulls whose owners extended passages into poor visibility conditions. Code zero and downwind sail packages have been added by owners wanting to reclaim the light-air performance that the fractional rig's smaller headsail trades away against a genoa rig of comparable LP; a furling mainsail conversion appears occasionally as well, generally on boats whose owners prioritized ease of handling over sail-shape efficiency.

What to Inspect

The hull construction is hand-laminated GRP with a foam-cored deck manufactured by resin transfer moulding, and the builder applied an NPG gelcoat and resin barrier layer intended to resist osmosis. Despite this, any example of the age now coming through brokerage should receive a professional osmotic survey. Pay particular attention to the keel-hull junction and the surrounding laminate: the cast iron keel is secured with stainless steel backing plates, and iron keels can develop rust staining and micro-cracking in the surrounding laminate over time that may not be obvious until a hull is dried out on the hard. The two draft options — a deeper fin and a shoal variant — should be confirmed against the vessel documentation, as they carry different draft figures and the deeper option limits marina access.

The single-strand standing rigging and chrome-plated bronze turnbuckles specified at launch are now well into their service life on older hulls; rigging condition, terminal swages, and the double backstay attachment points warrant close scrutiny. The fractional rig's mast is deck-stepped, so inspect the mast step and compression post for any signs of movement or moisture ingress around the base. The Volvo Penta saildrive installation requires attention to the saildrive bellows, a known wear item on vessels of this era that should be inspected and replaced on any schedule. Engine access is via a lifting step arrangement, which functions adequately but is not as generous as a dedicated engine room; plan to inspect the raw-water impeller, heat exchanger, and fuel system carefully. The genoa furler and running rigging age out on actively sailed boats; replacement costs are modest but the condition of halyards, sheets, and the furling line should be factored in.

Below, the Moabi mahogany joinery is attractive but absorbs moisture if a hatch seal or portlight gasket fails; check the deck hardware bedding throughout, as leaks at the teak toerail and chainplate areas are a pattern on older French production boats of this generation.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The 325 Grand Large circulates primarily through European brokerage markets, with the United Kingdom, France, and Spain representing the most active trading grounds. Australian and Southeast Asian examples do come up, reflecting the model's appeal to couples seeking a capable bluewater passage-maker in a manageable size. The fleet is concentrated enough that patient buyers have options without being so large that genuinely tired examples are rare.

The 325 Grand Large offers an honest return on its size: more interior space than the waterline length implies, a lively rig that rewards active sailing, and a build quality consistent with Dufour's mid-decade production. The compromises — limited draft options, a rig that needs management in strong winds, a ballast ratio that is modest by bluewater standards — are well understood by owners, and the market reflects a boat that has generally been maintained by sailors who use it.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Commission a full osmotic survey and keel junction inspection on a dried-out hull
• Verify keel variant (deep vs. shoal) against vessel documentation and inspect iron keel for rust weeping
• Inspect saildrive bellows for cracking or deterioration
• Check all standing rigging terminals, backstay fittings, and mast step for wear or movement
• Survey all deck hardware bedding — toerail, chainplates, portlights — for leak tracks
• Confirm autopilot, chartplotter, and electronics are functional and current enough for passage planning
• Review sail inventory age and condition, including genoa furler operation and mainsail reef system
• Inspect heating system and any fitted solar installation for correct operation
• Test engine raw-water circuit, impeller, and fuel system with a qualified marine diesel surveyor