The model belongs to Dufour’s Grand Large family-cruising line, conceived to provide comfort both at sea and at anchor. More than fifteen years after its launch, it remains highly sought after on the used market.
Design and Construction
The 385 Grand Large is a wide boat with a high displacement-to-length ratio. Even so, its beam and overall dimensions were moderate beside other newly released European production cruisers of its era.
The hull is built from solid layered polyester. Dufour claimed that vacuum-bagged fiberglass and PVC foam provided absolute rigidity and strength, while vacuum injection or resin transfer moulding was used for the decks. All Dufour yachts of this generation have a stringer system reinforced with Twaron in the keel area, laminated to the outer hull. The marque also used a one-piece solid-fiberglass grid fused to the hull.
The keel is iron with a bulb profile. With roughly 15,400 pounds of displacement and 4,300 pounds of iron ballast, the 385 has a ballast ratio near 28 percent, a figure that supports its stated stability.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
The 385 has a fractional sloop rig with two sets of spreaders and continuous diagonals, allowing rig tension to be adjusted at deck level. Sail area totals about 624 square feet. Its lowish sail-area-to-displacement ratio points to cruising rather than an outright racing pedigree, though the 385 GL performs well in cruising races thanks to its generous sail area and well-sized rigging.
In 5–8 knots, test sailors found the boat responsive both to the helm and to gusts. The firm but high-geared twin-wheel steering gave immediate response, while the large spade rudder provided good responsiveness even in rough seas. The boat tracks fairly straight, allowing the headsail to be worked from the wheel, and the hull permits tight sailing angles with good upwind performance.
With the optional 40hp Volvo engine, the 385 reaches hull speed quickly and manoeuvres well both forward and in reverse.
Cockpit and Accommodation
The most common version of the 385 Grand Large has three cabins and two heads, though a two-cabin configuration was also available. The arrangement follows a modern-classic pattern: one cabin forward and two aft, with the galley amidships to port. Opposite, a large dinette includes centreline seating that the cook can brace against on port tack.
Timber trim extends to the deckline, paired with moulded overhead lining and fabric inserts. The internal mouldings in the aft cabins are high quality and soft to the touch. Redesigned for cruising comfort, the interior is spacious and bright.
In the cockpit, a drop-side teak table with a stainless-steel grab rail stands on the centreline. Dufour’s distinctive transom seat has a central panel that folds down to form a boarding step.
Verdict
The Dufour 385 Grand Large is a habitable cruising sailboat suited to offshore and coastal passages with small crews. Its Felci-Roséo hull combines speed and comfort, while the wide, bright three-cabin interior remains practical for extended cruising. The fractional rig and twin-wheel helm make the boat manageable short-handed, and its Grand Large lineage provides the comfort at anchor that defines the range.
Pros
- Stable, manoeuvrable, and capable across a wide range of conditions
- Spacious three-cabin, two-head layout with a bright, redesigned interior
- Twin-wheel helm with immediate response and convenient access to the headsail winches
- Strong cruising-race performance from generous sail area and well-sized rigging
Cons
- Modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio limits acceleration in light air
- High freeboard and cabin profile compared with Performance Cruisers
