Dufour 40 E Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a Dufour 40 E means looking at a boat built by Dufour Yachts from 2006, with the 405 Grand'Large as its cruising sister sharing the same designer and general dimensions but a slimmer, lighter hull. These boats were conceived to sail well yet cruise with a family, and the used fleet reflects that: well-equipped examples with a clean deck and a flexible interior plan.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 40 E was offered in three layouts with two or three staterooms and one or two head/shower compartments, so buyers will see both two-cabin and three-cabin boats. Standing headroom in the port aft cabin measures 6 feet 5 inches and its berth runs 6 feet 8 inches; the starboard aft berth is a foot longer and a bit wider. A forward cabin with shelves on each hull wall was available with an optional forward head. Below, the L-shaped galley to port carries Corian tops, a two-burner gimballed stove, and dual iceboxes, while the saloon settees double as passage berths. Reasonable headroom and good handhold placement make the interior livable at sea despite smallish portlights, with light coming from deck hatches and letterbox-style hull ports.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used 40 E boats commonly carry a strong equipment list centered on comfort and short-handed control. Heating, solar, and an inverter are commonly fitted, supporting extended anchorages and house-power needs without running the Volvo. Navigation and safety gear commonly seen includes radar, AIS, autopilot, chartplotter, EPIRB, and life raft. Sail-handling kit commonly fitted includes both symmetric and asymmetric spinnakers plus a windlass and hot water, with a fold-down swim platform and freezer rounding out the cruising profile. All deck gear including the belowdecks furler is by Harken, and the boat carries a large fridge as part of its cruising amenities.
What to Inspect
The known documentation on the 40 E centers on configuration rather than defects. Verify the rig details that define the model: the anodized aluminum performance mast with double swept-back spreaders stepped on the keel, and the discontinuous standing rigging of stainless cable and Dyform with chrome-plated bronze turnbuckles. Confirm the recessed furler drum and the factory-standard spinnaker controls are intact, and check the 7-foot genoa track and its cars for free movement. On deck, the T-shaped cockpit with twin 36-inch wheels and the 2:1 purchase swim platform should operate smoothly, and the removable foot brace should still release the cockpit table sockets. Below, confirm the galley's sliding doors, the dinette table's removable legs, and the optional shower compartment's teak grate and moulded seat are present if specified.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical brokerage markets for the Dufour 40 E are the United States, Spain, Poland, and France. When you go to inspect, keep this short checklist in mind:
- Confirm the layout matches your needs (two vs three staterooms, head count)
- Check the keel-stepped mast and discontinuous rigging for wear at terminations
- Exercise the swim platform lift and cockpit table foot brace
- Verify Harken deck gear and belowdecks furler condition
- Confirm commonly fitted systems (heating, solar, inverter, nav and safety gear) are operational
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Dufour 40 E. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 7 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 2 | $129,000 | — |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $182,924 | +41.8% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $129,000 | -29.5% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $171,785 | +33.2% |
| May 26 | 1 | $210,921 | +22.8% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $128,095 | -39.3% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $152,916 | +19.4% |
Where they're listed
Dufour 40 E listings appear across 2 countries. Spain has the most listings with 3 (75.0%), followed by United States.
Country view
4 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | $128,095 | 3 | 2 | 75.0% |
| United States | $129,000 | 1 | 0 | 25.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau, France First 40.7 | 39.25' | $ 90,913 | 79 | 16 |
| Beneteau First 40 | 40.16' | $ 99,000 | 72 | 7 |
| Performance 40 Performance | 40.42' | $ 122,383 | 53 | 12 |
| Performance 40 | 40.42' | $ 115,390 | 36 | 8 |
| Elan 40 | 39.04' | $ 92,079 | 30 | 6 |
| Elan E4 | 34.78' | $ 199,291 | 17 | 5 |
| Beneteau 40 | 39.83' | $ 152,628 | 14 | 1 |
| Jeanneau Sun Fast 40 | 40' | $ 167,840 | 13 | 2 |
| Performance 45 E | 45.76' | $ 203,972 | 11 | 3 |
| Performance 40 EYou are here | — | $ 150,393 | 6 | 3 |
| Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 40 S (Farr) | 40.52' | $ 145,694 | 5 | 1 |