Design and Construction
Felci’s hull form gives the 36 P hard chines running aft from just shy of amidships, a shape that broadens the stern sections and supports the fold-down transom that doubles as a swim platform. Below the waterline the hull is a solid, hand-laid glass-and-polyester laminate; above it, a PVC foam-and-glass sandwich keeps weight down while PVC-cored longitudinal stringers and a glassed-in structural grid spread mast, engine, and keel loads. The deck is an infused cored laminate with finished gelcoat inside and out. Dufour builds all hulls under 50 feet in solid fiberglass, and the 36 P meets European Union Category A standards for offshore capability. Interior furniture is CNC-cut moabi-laminate plywood, with resin-sealed end grain offered as an option.
Rig and Handling
The 36 P carries a keel-stepped 7/8ths fractional rig with double sweptback spreaders, all from Sparcraft, and a two-ended mainsheet leading to Lewmar winches at each of the twin helms. A very functional traveler spans the cockpit forward of the wheels, while all other sail-control lines run under the sea hood to rope clutches and a pair of cabin-top winches. Adjustable genoa fairleads accept larger optional headsails, and a retractable sprit — available in aluminum or carbon — supports an asymmetric spinnaker. On the test boat, a North Sails inventory included a 107-percent jib and asymmetric kite, while the standard Elvström package is a main with a 114-percent jib. In 5 to 7 knots of breeze, testers saw the knotmeter match wind speed on a near reach, and the boat tacked closehauled through roughly 70 degrees. With the optional 40-horsepower Volvo diesel and saildrive turning a two-bladed folder, she pushed just over 7 knots at cruise and topped 8 knots wide open, turning in about a boat length when moving ahead at speed.
Accommodations
Below, a forward cabin with V-berth is entered through double doors and fitted with a split mattress and centerline leeboard for racing crews. The saloon has full-length 6-foot-7 settees and a drop-leaf dining table between them, with a sit-down nav desk to starboard. The galley is compact but workable: double sinks, a large refrigerator, a two-burner propane stove with oven, a tip-out silverware drawer, and a foot pump for water misers. Aft to port is a double-berth cabin; to starboard a head and shower doubles as a wet hanging locker, with a drop-down door behind to a storage space. Five opening hatches vent the cabin. Cockpit lockers double as seats and lift out to give trimmers and helmsman more room.
Refits and Ownership
The standard 30-horsepower diesel is the baseline powerplant, with the 40-horsepower Volvo as a documented option. A removable anchor roller with windlass in the anchor well and a Facnor headsail-furling system round out the hardware. The 53 gallons of water and 24 gallons of fuel reflect a coastal racer-cruiser bias rather than long-range autonomy.
The Verdict
The Dufour 36 P is a thoroughly modern performance cruiser that delivers on Felci’s brief: quick in modest breeze, tidy through tacks, and built on a stiff sandwich-and-grid structure. She asks her owner to accept modest tankage and a racing-influenced interior in exchange for genuine speed and clean cockpit ergonomics.
Pros
- Light-air performance with knotmeter matching wind speed near 7 knots
- Rigid hull grid and PVC stringers for stiffness without excess weight
- Twin-wheel cockpit with removable locker seats for trimmer space
- Category A construction for offshore use
Cons
- Only 24 gallons of fuel and 53 gallons of water
- V-berth with split mattress and leeboard limits pure-cruise comfort
