Design and Construction
The hull is solid fiberglass laid up by hand, a straightforward and time-tested method that Dufour pairs with NPG gelcoat and resin for osmosis protection anchor. Inside, a separate internal grid is laminated to the hull for structural integrity, while stout Twaron-reinforced stringers run the length of the hull and crisscross with strong frames that transfer rig loads down to the keel anchor. The deck is a different animal: a balsa core encased in injection-molded polyester makes it light yet very rigid, and the same infused polyester sandwich with balsa core is noted in the construction record anchor. The cast-iron keel carries the bulk of its ballast in a large bulb and bolts to a stainless-steel backing plate, while the semi-elliptical rudder is built from closed-cell foam and epoxy hung off a solid stainless-steel post anchor. Above the waterline, iroko hardwood is used generously across the deck, cockpit, toerails, handrails, and the swim platform, lending a warm visual finish without relying on teak anchor.
Rig and Handling
The 405 wears a tall, double-spreader fractional rig of 9/10ths proportions with spreaders raked aft at 15 degrees, and continuous cap, intermediate, and lower shrouds terminate at deck-mounted chainplates anchor. An optional inner forestay can be specified, and the standard mainsail carries conventional battens with two single-line reefing points; in-mast furling or a full-battened main with lazyjacks are popular alternatives. All lines, including the single-line reefing, are led aft to a series of nine rope clutches and self-tailing winches on the coachroof, with the traveler placed well forward in front of the companionway hatch and a split backstay aft anchor. Twin wheels connect via cables directly to the quadrant above the deep spade rudder, and the boom sits unusually high, a visual quirk noted by reviewers.
On the water, test sailors found her lively: a comfortable groove at an apparent wind angle of 38 to 40 degrees and a knotmeter settling around 8.6 to windward, while bearing away on a beam reach wound the log to just over 9 knots anchor. She tacked through less than 80 degrees with little momentum loss and pointed to within 33 degrees of apparent wind before the main stalled, still making a steady 7 knots. A prolonged 30-knot gust under full sail eventually rounded her up, and under power she spun in her own length and backed down easily anchor. The standard 40-horsepower Volvo with saildrive and fixed two-bladed prop is easily serviced; the test boat's optional 55-horsepower engine with folding prop delivered a quiet 7.5-knot cruise at 2,400 rpm and 8.5 flat out anchor.
Accommodations
Below, the 405 offers three accommodation plans built around a traditional woody interior finished mostly in maobi with complementary hardwoods anchor. All share a large forward owner's cabin with an attached head, a U-shaped saloon settee with washable leatherette cushions and a two-man bench, a second head aft of the saloon, and generous 6-foot-5 headroom that drops to 6-foot-2 forward. The one-aft-cabin version places an L-shaped galley aft with a chart table between saloon seats; the two-aft-cabin layout uses a straight-line galley and a dedicated forward-facing chart table with seat anchor. A third inspected layout set the galley aft to starboard behind a navigation station flanked by twin chairs, with a second double cabin aft to port and a large storage cabin reachable through the cockpit locker anchor. The aft cabins themselves are roomy with 6-foot-7 by 4-foot-6 berths and three opening hatches each. Cooks get Corian counters, a large fridge accessible from top or front, and a dedicated wine cellar, though saloon ventilation is limited to one small port and two hatches despite seven deck hatches and four opening portlights elsewhere anchor.
Cockpit and Deck Equipment
The cockpit is practical rather than vast: a securely fixed drop-leaf table with a sturdy grab handle eases movement, though the central table can obstruct sail handling when hopping side to side anchor. Three lockers (two shallow, one deep) plus a liferaft locker under the cockpit sole handle stowage, and the one-aft-cabin choice yields a vast locker that could serve as a small workshop. Forward, the foredeck is clear with a recessed electric windlass, cavernous chain locker, and a solid twin bow roller; a short alloy bowsprit can be added for an asymmetric sail. A Raymarine chart plotter is built into the aft end of the cockpit table, with ST-70 repeaters, engine readouts, and autopilot controls within reach of the helm anchor.
Refits and Ownership
Owners shopping a 405 will find water and fuel tanks mounted under the berths, and a panel above one berth granting access to batteries, charger, and an optional 2.5kW generator anchor. The standard 40hp Volvo is the baseline, but the optional 55hp with folding prop seen on the test boat is a meaningful upgrade for those who prioritize quiet, economical motoring. Harken winches and Lewmar adjustable sheet leads are first-class touches carried from the factory, and the hand-laminated hull with osmosis-resistant resin suggests straightforward long-term care if surveyed clean.
The Verdict
The Dufour 405 Grand Large is a well-resolved Felci-Roséo cruiser that balances stiff, quick performance with a genuinely livable interior and a thoughtfully engineered deck structure. Its hand-laid solid hull, Twaron-reinforced grid, and rigid balsa-cored deck give it a robustness that matches its behavior under sail, while the multiple accommodation plans let a buyer choose between workshop volume and guest berths without sacrificing the forward suite.
Pros
- Lively performance: 8-plus knots downwind, tacking through under 80 degrees, and a steady 7 knots even when stalled anchor
- Strong, lightweight structure with hand-laid hull and Twaron stringers transferring rig loads to the keel anchor
- Flexible three-plan interior with roomy aft cabins and a large forward owner's suite
- All control lines led aft to clutches and twin wheels for short-handed handling
Cons
- Saloon ventilation limited to one port and two hatches despite ample light elsewhere anchor
- Extremely high boom placement is visually disproportionate and may complicate mainsail access
- Central cockpit table obstructs movement during active sail handling anchor
