Dufour 41-2 Buyer's Guide
The Dufour 41 is the modern revival of a name that previously appeared on Dufour's 1972 Sortilège 41 and 1999 to 2002 41 Classic, launched as a new model from Dufour Yachts with hull No. 1 built under Felci Yachts Design and first-time Dufour stylist Luca Ardizio. For a shopper scanning the brokerage market, the 41 presents as a 40-foot production monohull of 41 feet 8 inches overall, 14-foot 1-inch beam, and 6-foot 8-inch draft, offered in three factory versions — Easy, Ocean, and Performance — with accommodation layouts that range from three cabins to a class-unique four.
Layouts on the Used Market
The standard three-cabin boat carries up to three heads, with identical aft double cabins and a forward owner's cabin boasting a proper en-suite with separate shower stall; at least 6ft 3in headroom runs right up to the forward berth. The forward bulkhead sits so far forward on this layout there is no room for a sail locker and the chain locker is reached through a hatch in that bulkhead. Choosing the four-cabin format moves the bulkhead aft, creating room for a chain and sail locker while still offering two 145cm berths forward with proper double beds — the only boat in its class to offer four cabins — and sleeping 10 when saloon berths are counted. The salon uses a linear galley to starboard with twin sinks and a two-burner stove flanking a large front-and-top-access fridge, opposite a C-shaped dinette that seats six and can take a hi-lo table for extra bunkage. Note there is no nav station or chart table; the control panel and VHF sit in a shelf behind the dinette. Tanks below the aft berths limit stowage a little, but good mechanical space sits between the cabins.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Factory equipment centers on the version chosen. The Easy carries a self-tacking jib and two companionway winches; the Ocean adds a Code 0 and asymmetrical spinnaker on the 2-foot 3-inch integral bowsprit; the Performance extends the boom about 2 feet for 10% more mainsail area with sheeting to a cockpit padeye and four winches. All use German-sheeted mains without a traveler and a deck-stepped 56-foot Z Spars mast. The outdoor galley with sink and plancha grill is a Dufour trademark option accessed from the swim platform, and a 3,000-watt Victron inverter, 300 aH AGM batteries, and 115-amp Volvo alternator are standard fitments behind panels in port aft cabin. An extra small freezer can be added forward of the stove. Test boats carried Elvstrøm EKKO recycled laminate sails as upgraded running gear.
What to Inspect
Documented known issues are mostly ergonomic and acoustic rather than structural. Testers found no obvious place to easily store a dinghy, and no allowance for tail stowage at the winches on the aft cockpit or coachroof. The engine was relatively loud under power at cruising revs and really needs insulation on the main access panel; inspect that panel and any owner-added damping. Behind finished surfaces, the boat shows bare plywood with unsealed end grain; check exposed structural wood in lockers and behind panels for moisture staining. The lazarette contains plumbing, seacocks and pipes and is split by the liferaft locker, limiting stowage and complicating access. The low cockpit benches rely on backrest cushions for seated comfort with no real support, and the space is tight in the quarters especially with optional guardrail cushions — verify cushion condition and helm reach. Forward coachroof windows sit too high for most to see out of despite the light they bring.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
With market brief data unavailable, regional availability cannot be stated; shoppers should treat layouts and equipment generally and lean on documented inspection points. The Dufour 41 is a high-volume, configurable cruiser with strong systems access and class-leading glazing, but budget for dinghy storage, winch tail management, and engine-bay insulation.
- Confirm three- vs four-cabin layout and forward bulkhead chain/sail locker access
- Inspect bare plywood end grain for unsealed moisture damage
- Check engine access panel for added insulation and noise levels at cruising rpm
- Verify outdoor galley, bowsprit, and version-specific rig are intact
- Assess cockpit cushion support and quarter clearance with guardrail cushions fitted
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
10 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bavaria Yachts C42 | 40.62' | $ 341,224 | 147 | 43 |
| Dufour 412 Grand Large | 40.52' | $ 166,939 | 80 | 9 |
| Bavaria Yachts Cruiser 41 | 40.52' | $ 144,587 | 67 | 22 |
| Dufour 41 | 41' | $ 404,842 | 55 | 5 |
| Performance 44 Performance | 44.85' | $ 288,877 | 54 | 4 |
| Performance 40 Performance | 40.42' | $ 121,453 | 53 | 12 |
| Custom 41 | 42.08' | $ 102,367 | 51 | 10 |
| Performance 40 | 40.42' | $ 114,513 | 35 | 7 |
| Dufour 410 Grand Large | 40.68' | $ 185,071 | 21 | 2 |
| Palmer Johnson J/42 | 42' | $ 151,950 | 18 | 2 |