Dufour 350 Grand Large Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Dufour offered the 350 GL in two interior configurations, and the three-cabin version is the more commonly encountered on brokerage lists. That layout fills the entire aft end with two sleeping cabins and suits charter histories, which a fair portion of these boats carry. The two-cabin alternative is the more appealing option for a cruising couple: it trades the port aft cabin for a proper stall shower in the head and gains an aft-facing nav desk on the starboard side that can be lowered on tracks and covered with a cushion to extend the settee or serve as a sea berth. Both variants share the same V-berth forward master suite, the same Maobi wood finish, and the same L-shaped port galley with Corian countertops, twin sinks on centerline, and a top-loading Isotherm refrigerator. The signature Dufour wine rack beneath the companionway sole is present on every boat.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

The 350 GL was delivered with a self-tacking jib on a Facnor furler as standard, and essentially all used examples retain that setup — it is one of the model's defining characteristics for shorthanded sailing. A bimini is commonly fitted, and most boats on the market have one in place, often matched to the factory dodger that came as part of Dufour's Adventure package. That package was widely selected by original buyers and bundled in a rigid boomvang, electric windlass, and full-batten main alongside the dodger, so boats carrying all four items together typically started life with the Adventure spec.

Beyond the core rig, a chartplotter and autopilot are found on the great majority of available boats, and the cockpit shower and swim platform — standard features of the transom design — are universal. Teak cockpit accents, available as a factory option, appear on a meaningful share of listings and add warmth without dramatically increasing maintenance burden given the limited coverage.

Among owner upgrades, solar panels and an inverter are a frequent addition, particularly on boats that have spent time in Mediterranean charter or liveaboard use where shore power is intermittent. A hot water system is another common aftermarket fit, and shorthanded sailing packages — clutch upgrades, additional rope clutches, revised sheet leads — show up on boats whose owners raced or sailed extensively two-up. EPIRBs and life rafts are sometimes included but vary considerably; confirm their service dates independently of whatever is claimed in a listing.

What to Inspect

The foam-core hull construction is efficient and light, but osmotic blistering in the solid-glass sections below the waterline deserves close attention on any hull of this age. A competent marine surveyor should perform both a visual inspection and a moisture meter reading of the hull below the waterline before purchase. The acrylic ports set into the headliner overhead are a recurring point of discussion: they bring welcome light into the saloon, but these ports sit flush in the deck and can become slippery underfoot in wet conditions — check the surrounding gelcoat for crazing or stress cracking that might indicate someone has put a foot through or near one.

The keel-to-hull joint on cast iron L-keel installations deserves scrutiny. Cast iron is prone to rust weeping at the joint over time, and any brown staining or soft compound around the keel stub should prompt deeper investigation. The rudder bearing and quadrant should be inspected for play, particularly on boats with charter histories where heavy use accelerates wear on steering components. The single elliptical rudder is designed to maintain grip at steep heel angles, but that effectiveness depends on bearing condition being maintained.

The Seldén rig is generally durable, but the double sweptback spreaders and lack of a backstay mean forestay tension is managed entirely through the D1 shrouds and the mast ram or cunningham. Check the chainplates — outboard-mounted and relatively accessible — for any bedding failure or deck weeping around their attachment points. Running rigging on charter boats is frequently run hard and may be due for replacement regardless of apparent condition. The Facnor furler on the self-tacking jib track should furl smoothly without binding; if it is stiff or jerky, budget for a service or replacement of the furling drum.

Below decks, check the tabbing on all bulkheads, paying particular attention to the main compression post area beneath the mast step. Inspect the bilge carefully; the fuel and water tankage is generous for this size of boat, and any evidence of weeping from tank connections or hose clamp corrosion should be addressed before purchase. The Volvo diesel was the common engine fit; verify service history and check the raw water impeller replacement interval.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The 350 GL circulates most actively in the Mediterranean, where Croatia, Greece, and France account for a large share of available inventory. Many of those boats entered charter fleets immediately after delivery, which means well-maintained examples are out there alongside harder-used ones — history matters here more than on a privately owned boat of the same age. In North America the model appears less frequently, with the United States east coast being the most likely hunting ground; the odd example also surfaces in the British market and occasionally in the Caribbean following charter service.

The short production window — just three model years — keeps the pool tight but also means there is little vintage variation to worry about. Focus your search on documented maintenance history, original Adventure package specification, and evidence of professional rig and engine servicing. A pre-purchase survey from a surveyor familiar with French production boats of this era is strongly recommended, particularly given the charter-fleet provenance that many hulls carry.

Checklist before making an offer:

• Hull moisture meter reading and visual inspection of keel-hull joint
• Keel and rudder bearing play; any rust weeping from cast iron keel stub
• Deck ports: gelcoat condition around flush acrylic panels
• Chainplate bedding for weeping or corrosion
• Forestay tension and furler operation on self-tacking jib track
• Rig standing rigging age and condition; spreader boot integrity
• Engine service history, raw water impeller, and fuel/water tank connections
• Bilge condition and all through-hull fittings and seacocks
• Running rigging condition and replacement budget if charter history present
• Life raft and EPIRB service dates verified independently