Design and Construction
The 44 Performance stretches 44.85 feet overall on a 38.78-foot waterline, with a beam of 13.94 feet and a displacement of 22,366 pounds backed by 7,275 pounds of ballast. The nearly plumb bow, flat sheerline, and low cabin profile give it an appealing, streamlined form, while the ends are shorter than previous Dufours and the maximum beam sits well aft—a hull that Seamagazine called efficient as well as eye-catching, and one that cuts through chop with authority. Construction is fiberglass with a PVC foam core above the waterline, and Dufour builds to Bureau Veritas Category A standards that set strict engineering, scantlings, and safety details. The deck is nicely detailed with molded risers to accommodate major fittings, which are either through-bolted or tapped into backing plates, and access to all systems was adequate, including far recesses in the bilge that are rare in boats with interior liners. High-volume builder practice leaves bilge-hatch corners unrounded and edges unsealed, which keeps veneer from delaminating or chipping.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a 130-percent genoa on a 9/10 fractional rig with swept-back spreaders, a high aspect ratio layout with a reported sail area of 924 square feet and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.70. Buyers could opt for a performance package with a tapered three-spreader mast and Dyform standing rigging. Genoa sheets lead to primaries just forward of the single wheel, the lead blocks adjust from the cockpit, and the mainsheet traveler bridges the cockpit just forward of the binnacle. Test sailors on Biscayne Bay in 9 to 11 knots were impressed by its speed, acceleration, and handling: the helm was very well balanced, the boat tracked well unattended on a reach yet stayed responsive to slight rudder changes, and it tacked quickly through 90 degrees or less while recording 6.7 to 7 knots to windward and accelerating to 7.3–7.5 off the wind. The wide beam coupled with deep ballast gave a stable, fairly stiff ride, and the owner of the test boat reported it handled a long beat into 30-plus knots off New Jersey without drama. Under power the Volvo pushed it at 7.6 knots at 2500 rpm, and it needed no bow thruster in close quarters.
Accommodations
Despite modest length the interior feels surprisingly roomy, with clever choices pushing the beam forward to create living areas that rival larger yachts. The main saloon has 6 feet 4 inches of headroom with an L-shaped dinette to port and a starboard settee, either serving as a sea berth though the starboard one is a little short. Owners could choose three or four sleeping cabins; the more common version sailed had port and starboard aft doubles and a forward V-berth with 6 feet 2 inches of headroom, hanging locker, and shelf space, while the fourth cabin adds stacked bunks forward of the saloon. The U-shaped galley has a deep double sink, three-burner stove, and ample lockers, with milk-crate-style bins in some drawers for ventilation of produce. A guest head sits starboard of the companionway and a generous nav station lies forward of it. Ventilation via four deck hatches and six opening portlights is adequate except that the aft doubles will be stuffy in the tropics. Joinery is good to excellent, with varnished veneer, blonde trim, and teak-and-holly floors.
Known Issues
Practical Sailor’s survey of the test boat found a disconcerting amount of saltwater backing up through the anchor locker drain under sail, leaving chain and rode sloshing in at least an inch of water; Dufour’s marketing head said this had not been reported on other boats. The batteries in the port aft berth lacked terminal covers, the propane locker lid aft was not gasketed, and the through-hull valves were in-line types appearing to mix alloys rather than rugged bronze flanges. Six closely aligned through-hulls served the head hoses, a grouping the tester disliked. Teak decks on the sailed boat were judged an option not worth the trouble.
Refits and Ownership
Each Dufour bound for the U.S. was designated as such at the start of its production run so fittings and appliances would suit American standards. The molded fiberglass binnacle houses steering sheaves and digital repeaters, and a removable pedestal table lets four dine in the spacious cockpit; the helm seat folds to the sugar-scoop transom but is awkward. The Volvo Penta diesel with saildrive is typical of modern high-performance cruisers, though soundproofing was thin—83 decibels in the saloon and 90 in the port quarter berth.
The Verdict
The Dufour 44 Performance is a genuinely dual-purpose yacht that minimizes the usual compromises of a high-performance cruiser, blending racer zip with a roomy, well-finished interior and Category A construction. It rewards sailors who want speed without surrendering livability, though a few system details deserve owner attention.
Pros
- Quick, well-balanced helm with stiff, stable ride and strong light-air acceleration
- Roomy three- or four-cabin interior with excellent joinery and clever storage
- Category A build with good systems access and U.S.-specified fitout
Cons
- Anchor locker drain admitted seawater under sail on the tested boat
- Mixed-alloy in-line through-hulls and ungasketed propane locker lid
- Thin engine soundproofing and awkward transom passage seat
