Design and Construction
Felci’s signature is immediately apparent in the low, nearly flat cabin top, a specialty of his designs. It keeps the center of effort down and allows the crew to move along the side decks without having to negotiate a tall trunk.
Dufour built the hull in solid fiberglass, with an inward-facing flange at the hull-to-deck joint. A one-piece structural grid is fused inside to distribute keel and rig loads, and the deck is also solid fiberglass. Testers noted that all fittings were of high quality and nearly installed. Dufour’s long construction history suggested that the boat would be quite capable offshore.
At the stern, a dropping transom door becomes a boarding platform for access from the dock, water, or dinghy. Twin wheels leave a clear passage forward through the cockpit.
Rig, Sailing, and Handling
The fractional sloop carries 572 square feet of sail and has a modest sail-area-displacement ratio. Even so, on the test sail she maintained a steady pace just over half the wind speed and tacked reliably through 85 degrees.
The two helm stations proved very handy under sail, offering good seating and outstanding visibility on either tack. The winches are positioned so the helmsperson can trim the jib sheets without leaving the wheel.
At the bow, a neatly engineered removable bowsprit locks into dedicated fittings, allowing an asymmetrical spinnaker to be set and doused without drama. The full-batten mainsail drops into a storage bag on the boom, which sits at a convenient working height.
Under power, the Yanmar diesel produced a quiet 7 knots at 3,200 rpm, with a 72 dBA hum from the two-bladed fixed prop. The boat turns in just over one boatlength, stops promptly in reverse, and backs straight without rudder kick.
Accommodations
Below, the saloon is bright and simple, with storage lockers throughout. Its sturdy table seats a crowd and provides a useful brace point under sail. Grabrails are concealed in the overhead but remain easy to reach despite the generous headroom.
The starboard-side galley runs the full length of the saloon. It impressed with vast counter space and what the reviewer called the biggest fridge seen on any boat under 50 feet. The chart table is large enough for a chart book, with stowage beneath both the table and its seat.
The forward cabin has an offset double berth that is easy to enter. Aft, the cabins use the conventional dressing-area-then-berth-shaft layout. An alternate plan replaces the port aft cabin with a large stowage bay.
The bright, functional head has a molded fiberglass liner incorporating a shower and medicine cabinet. The head pumps upward into the holding tank. Moabi joinery and subdued fabrics, set against a white injection-molded overhead, create a relaxing environment.
Machinery and Electrical System
Machinery access is reasonably well considered. In addition to the main hatch beneath the companionway steps, removable panels in the aft cabins provide access to the engine compartment.
The battery installation is less accommodating. The bank sits rather high in the engine compartment, with no dedicated space beyond the standard battery installation. That high mounting position limits straightforward expansion of house capacity for cruisers seeking greater electrical autonomy.
Refits and Ownership
Owners planning to add substantial electronics or solar will need to work around the constrained battery footprint rather than expect a factory bay to accommodate extra capacity.
The removable bowsprit and full-batten mainsail make sail-handling upgrades straightforward. The transom door and twin-wheel cockpit layout age well for short-handed docking. Inside, the injection-molded overhead and Moabi surfaces are durable, though careful cleaning will help preserve the interior’s light, calm appearance.
The Verdict
The Dufour 375 Grand Large is a thoughtfully laid-out cruiser that punches above its length in cockpit flow and galley utility. Its helm makes short-handed sailing genuinely easy.
The principal ownership caveat is electrical. The standard battery space is fixed and mounted high, so liveaboard power plans need attention early.
Pros
- Twin wheels and a low cabin top provide a safe, open cockpit and easy movement on deck
- Starboard galley offers vast counter space and an oversized fridge for serious cooking
- Quiet, efficient Yanmar propulsion, with tight turning and straight backing
- Removable bowsprit simplifies asymmetrical spinnaker handling
Cons
- No provision for expansion beyond the standard battery installation
- High-mounted batteries in the engine bay complicate upgrades
