Dufour 350 Grand Large Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The hull is a hand-laid, vacuum-infused polyester skin over a foam core with solid glass beneath the waterline, and an inward flange forms a solid bulwark where deck meets hull an inward flange provides a solid bulwark at the joint. Inside, an integral grid distributes the loads arriving from the rig, a structure that also supports the mast step and chainplate forces. The decks are fiberglass topped with non-skid, and the builder offered optional teak on the cockpit seats and sole, cabintop handholds, and toerail for owners who wanted a more traditional look. Outboard chainplates and the absence of a backstay speak to the rig's dependence on the deck-stepped mast and the grid structure rather than a running stay aft.

Rig and Handling

She carries a 9/10ths fractional rig on a deck-stepped Seldén tapered aluminum mast with double sweptback spreaders, and a single elliptical rudder that holds a good grip even at dramatic heel angles the single elliptical rudder is responsive and provides a good grip on the water, even at more dramatic heel angles. The standard sail plan is a traditional Elvström Dacron mainsail with a 95 percent self-tacking jib on a Facnor furler, sheeting to a straight track just ahead of the mast; a full-batten main is optional, and a blade jib with adjustable inboard leads is also available. On the test sail, tacks were brisk and easy as the self-tacker swung smoothly through the foretriangle, and in 15 knots of apparent breeze at a 45-degree angle the boat came up to 6.5 knots, dropping to 5.9 when cracked off to 120 degrees. The 29hp Volvo diesel pushed her to 7.2 knots at wide-open throttle (3,000 rpm), with a comfortable 6-knot cruising speed under power. The L-shaped cast-iron keel with bulb is offered in two drafts, 6ft 3in or 5ft 1in, letting owners trade ultimate windward bite for shallower water access.

Accommodations

Two layouts were offered: two or three cabins with a single head. The two-cabin version, often favored by American couples, allows a stall shower in the head and frees space for an aft-facing nav desk that shares a seat with the settee; that desk slides down on tracks and, with a cushion added, extends the starboard settee or becomes a sea berth. In the three-cabin arrangement, two cabins occupy the entire aft end instead of a single guest cabin to port. The V-berth master suite uses double doors to open the interior visually, and the standard Maobi wood finish keeps the saloon light. The L-shaped galley to port has twin centerline sinks, a top-loading Isotherm fridge, a two-burner Eno stove with a Corian cover that doubles as a serving tray, and fiddles molded into the Corian counters. A narrow locker between oven and fridge holds oil and spices, and the signature Dufour wine rack sits below the floorboards at the companionway. Light comes from an opening hatch and two fixed acrylic ports in the headliner, with optional fixed Lexan ports at the companionway bulkheads.

Cockpit and Deck Gear

The center of the cockpit is dominated by a large drop-leaf table — the same unit found on the larger GL 382 — with a padded radiused aft edge to soften hip collisions, a center lid revealing a shallow tray, and a slide-forward-or-aft feature uncovering either deep storage or a bottle holder. Twin wheels with compasses open the space, giving easy access to the primary Lewmar winches, while two more winches and sheet stoppers sit on the cabintop beside outboard hatches. Aft seats hinge up out of the way, and the reverse cantilevered transom drops down to form a swim platform. Two large lockers below the cockpit sole stow a liferaft to starboard and water toys to port. An optional integrated composite bowsprit, or "delphiniere," keeps ground tackle off the stem and serves as a gennaker attach point. The Adventure package on the test boat added a dodger, electric windlass, and rigid boomvang among other gear.

The Verdict

The Dufour 350 Grand Large is a thoughtfully laid-out small cruiser that punches above her length in livability and sails with surprising verve for a Grand Large model. Felci's hull and rig balance easy short-handed handling with real performance, and the modular interior makes clever use of a compact footprint.

Pros