Design and Construction
Felci's signature shows immediately in the low, nearly flat cabin top, which keeps the center of effort down and lets a crew move along the side decks without fighting a tall trunk low, nearly flat cabin top is a Felci specialty. Dufour built the hull in solid fiberglass with an inward-facing flange at the hull-to-deck joint, and a one-piece structural grid fused inside to spread keel and rig loads. The deck is solid fiberglass as well. Testers noted that all fittings were of high quality and nearly installed, and that Dufour's long construction history suggested the boat would be quite capable offshore. A dropping transom door turns the stern into a boarding platform from dock, water, or dinghy, while twin wheels open a clear lane forward through the cockpit.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop carries 572 square feet of sail and a modest sail-area-displacement ratio, yet on the test sail she held a steady pace just over half the wind speed and tacked reliably through 85 degrees. The dual helm stations proved very handy under sail, giving good seating and outstanding visibility on either tack, and winch placement let the driver trim jib sheets without leaving the wheel. At the bow, a nicely engineered removable bowsprit locks into fittings so an asymmetrical spinnaker can be set and doused without drama. The full-batten mainsail drops into a storage bag on the boom at a convenient height. Under power, the Yanmar diesel at 3,200 rpm returned a quiet 7 knots with a 72 dBA hum from the two-bladed fixed prop; she 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, and the sturdy table seats a crowd while giving a brace point under sail. Grabrails are concealed in the overhead and easy to reach despite generous headroom. The starboard-side galley runs the full length of the saloon and impressed with vast counter space and what the reviewer called the biggest fridge seen on any boat under 50 feet. A chart table sized for a chart book has stowage beneath both it and the seat. The forward cabin has an offset double berth that is easy to enter, and the aft cabins follow the conventional dressing-area-then-berth-shaft layout; the alternate plan swaps the port aft cabin for a large stowage bay. The head is bright and functional, its molded fiberglass liner incorporating a shower and medicine cabinet, and the head pumps upward into the holding tank. Moabi joinery and subdued fabrics against a white injection-molded overhead make for a relaxing environment.
Known Issues
The battery bank sits rather high in the engine compartment, and there is no dedicated space for more than the standard battery installation. Access to the machinery is aided by removable panels in the aft cabins supplementing the main hatch under the companionway steps, but the high mounting limits straightforward expansion of house capacity for cruisers who want more electrical autonomy.
Refits and Ownership
Owners adding significant electronics or solar will need to plan around the constrained battery footprint rather than expecting a factory bay to swallow extras. The removable bowsprit and full-batten main make sail handling upgrades straightforward, and the transom door plus twin-wheel cockpit layout age well for short-handed docking. The injection-molded overhead and Moabi surfaces are durable but benefit from careful cleaning to keep the light, calm interior looking its best.
The Verdict
The 375 Grand Large is a thoughtfully laid-out cruiser that punches above its length in cockpit flow and galley utility, with a helm that makes short-handed sailing genuinely easy. The main ownership caveat is electrical: the standard battery space is fixed and high-mounted, so liveaboard power plans need early attention.
Pros
- Twin wheels and low cabin top create a safe, open cockpit and easy deck movement
- Starboard galley with vast counter and oversized fridge suits serious cooking
- Quiet, efficient Yanmar propulsion with tight turning and straight backing
- Removable bowsprit simplifies asymmetrical spinnaker work
Cons
- No provision for expanding beyond the standard battery installation
- Batteries mounted high in the engine bay complicate upgrades
