Yachting Monthly counted the 425 GL among the range’s most popular boats. She is a solidly built, spacious and fast design. Although never classed as a blue water cruising yacht, she is steadfast enough to cross oceans with the right gear.
Design and Construction
The 425 GL was designed to maximise interior volume, in keeping with the wider Grand Large range. Her hand-built hull and deck were robustly constructed using waterproof resins for integrity and durability. Substantial, Twaron-reinforced longitudinal hull stringers and a hefty moulded floor framework make her stiff and strong.
The deck is a vacuum-infused polyester-resin moulding with a balsa core for insulation and additional stiffness. Surveyors have noted that the hull stiffening around the keel is better than on other reasonably priced yachts. They’ve also described Dufours as a joy to survey because everything is easily accessible.
A deep fin keel carries a cast-iron ballast bulb at its foot. Most of the boat’s 5,379 pounds of ballast sits in this large bulb on a hydrodynamically designed foil, helping to keep her stiff in a blow. An equally deep, semi-balanced spade rudder tracks well and retains its grip when the boat is heavily heeled.
Rig, Sailing Performance and Handling
The rig is 15/16ths fractional, with twin swept spreaders, a 135% furling genoa and a two-reef, semi-battened mainsail. All sheets, reefing lines and the kicker are led aft, while the genoa winches sit immediately beside the twin helms. The mainsheet terminates on the coachroof, however, and can be awkward for a singlehander in gusty conditions.
The swept spreaders limit the boom angle, making gybing downwind the safer option. Under sail, limited wetted surface and a long waterline give the 425 GL an impressive turn of speed in both light and heavy airs. Her fine bows and plumb stem slice through chop rather than slamming.
She is close-winded on a beat, maintaining momentum to just below 35 degrees off the apparent wind. In 16–20 knots, she will edge towards 8 knots on a close reach. A comfortable first reef comes at around 20 knots apparent, and she hangs on confidently to 24 knots apparent.
With the standard naturally aspirated 40 hp Volvo, the easily driven hull maintains a steady 6 knots through chop. She also bites quickly astern.
Accommodation and Stowage
Buyers could choose two or three cabins and two or three heads. The 3/3 version was aimed primarily at charter use and can feel cramped; the 2/2 and 3/2 layouts found more favour with cruisers.
The forecabin is the largest, with a comfortable island berth, ample stowage, a small seat and a compact heads compartment with a shower. The aft berths are equally generous, although head clearance is tighter.
In the saloon, a large U-shaped settee with contoured cushions faces a padded bench. The table lowers to form a double berth if the convertible option was specified. Headroom is 6 feet 6 inches, and numerous opening ports provide good ventilation. A large, forward-facing navigation station will appeal to sailors who still use paper charts.
The linear galley runs along the port side, with excellent worktop lighting and plenty of stowage, although the fridge is small. In the three-cabin model, both seat lockers are shallow. With two cabins, one locker is full-depth and positively cavernous.
Cockpit and Deck Layout
Twin wheels keep the cockpit open, while a wide, drop-down helm seat provides access through the transom. Straight cockpit seats work for both lounging and dining around a stout centreline table, which carries the compass and instruments.
Inboard genoa tracks and a narrow shroud base leave the side decks wide and uncluttered. A below-deck windlass and deep chain locker simplify anchoring, as do chunky twin bow rollers that can accommodate a second anchor.
A dedicated liferaft locker adds to the practical, short-handed layout. There are also plenty of sturdy handholds, including a full-length grab rail above the galley.
Known Issues and Inspection Points
Surveyors working on the 425 GL routinely identify several weak points:
- Toilet holding-tank hoses can degrade and perish.
- Some deck flexing may appear. Creaking decks are a Dufour trait and aren’t normally structural.
- Bonded teak slats on the deck, cockpit seats and sole should be checked for lifting.
- Dufour’s nickel-plated brass seacocks fitted to the 425 GL are cheap and nasty. They’re worth replacing with plastic, DZR or bronze fittings.
- The coolant and exhaust elbow can clog with limescale and salt.
- The saildrive is tightly installed, so its service history should be checked.
- The saloon deck vent can catch the genoa sheet if it’s left open.
- The working deck could use more clip-on points.
- Bonded teak and creaking decks demand inspection for delamination risk.
The Verdict
The Dufour 425 Grand Large is a thoughtfully laid-out, spacious cruiser with a genuine turn of speed and a stiff, well-built hull. She offers bright, roomy accommodation and a forgiving helm. On the used market, however, deferred-maintenance items such as seacocks, hoses and teak bonds are part of the price of admission.
Pros
- Stiff, strong hull with superior keel stiffening and Twaron-reinforced stringers
- Fast and balanced under sail; close-winded and steady to 24 knots apparent
- Spacious, bright interior with a convertible saloon and a cavernous locker in the two-cabin version
- Practical short-handed deck layout, with lines led aft and good access between the twin helms
Cons
- Nickel-plated brass seacocks and perishable holding-tank hoses need early attention
- Swept spreaders restrict downwind boom travel, while the coachroof mainsheet is awkward when singlehanding
- Charter-oriented 3/3 layout feels cramped
- Small fridge in an otherwise capable galley
- Bonded teak and creaking decks require inspection for delamination risk
