Design and Construction
The hull architecture follows a conventional monohull logic with a bulb keel and spade rudder set well aft. The transom is a distinct plane apart from the hull sides and deck surface, and a shallow but broad swim platform spans the aft end for easy water access. On deck, the layout is disciplined: narrow side decks frame a reasonably sized center cockpit, and the focal point of the deck is a curved windshield that gives the house a distinctive visual signature. Set-up areas leading to the center cockpit are sculpted into the aft end of the house, a detail that shows thoughtful ergonomic molding rather than flat transitional surfaces.
Rig and Handling
Up top, the 39 CC carries a masthead sloop rig with double spreaders showing some sweep aft, and the mast appears to be deck-stepped. The halyards run aft beneath a cover and emerge beside the companionway, keeping the working lines close to the helm and out of the foot traffic. The far-aft rudder placement gives her a mechanical advantage in steering authority, though the narrow side decks mean crew movement forward demands care. The clean canoe body profile suggests a hull that tracks well and responds to helm input without excessive drag.
Accommodations
Below, the 39 CC is offered in two interior layouts that differ only in the owner's stateroom aft: one presents a centerline double berth flanked by two small settees, the other a double off to one side with a settee opposite. The single head sits to starboard of the center cockpit and is accessible from both the saloon and the aft cabin, a practical shared arrangement that serves both daytime and overnight use without duplicating plumbing. The center-cockpit configuration itself shortens the aft cabin but allows the broad beam to be used for a proper stateroom and keeps the helm protected.
The Verdict
The Dufour 39 CC is a considered cruiser's boat: not beamy, not over-canvased, but well-resolved in her deck sculpting and accommodation sharing. She rewards the sailor who values a clean hull form and a practical two-layout aft cabin over outright volume or speed.
Pros
- Center cockpit with protected helm and broad swim platform aft
- Head accessible from both saloon and aft cabin
- Two aft stateroom layouts without compromising the rest of the plan
- Halyards led aft under cover for short-handed cockpit work
Cons
- Narrow side decks limit safe foredeck movement
- Sail area/displacement ratio of 18.92 indicates modest light-air acceleration potential
