The result is a moderate-draft, moderate-displacement cruiser with ISO Category A Ocean approval, meaning its stability and structure meet strict standards for offshore use.
Design and Construction
The 445’s hull measures 44 feet 3 inches overall, with a 39-foot-1-inch waterline and a 14-foot-3-inch beam. Displacement is 22,770 pounds. Felci’s hull form combines a fine entry with volume aft.
The foam-cored deck is injection molded as a one-piece monocoque, with finished surfaces on both sides. It’s bonded to the hull’s inward flange with 3M’s 5200 and mechanically fastened every 8 inches. Below, a structural grid bonded to the hand-laid glass hull distributes keel and rig loads.
Vacuum-assisted resin infusion fills the kerfs in the PVC foam core and bonds each skin uniformly to the core. A look in the forepeak or aft reveals a hull laminate with a high fiber-to-resin ratio and no voids.
The efficient anvil-shaped cast-iron keel is attached with stainless steel keel bolts. Its broad contact area at the garboard spreads sailing loads and helps steady the hull. Two versions were offered: a deep keel drawing 7 feet 3 inches, with 6,283 pounds of ballast, and a shoal keel drawing 5 feet 10 inches, with 6,724 pounds of ballast.
Rig and Handling
The deck layout favors the short-handed watchkeeper. Long cockpit benches and twin wheels with Lewmar steering provide ample feedback and fingertip control, while the semi-elliptical rudder gives firm tracking. Primary winches are positioned near each wheel, and the double-ended German mainsheet can be handled from the helm.
The Z-Spar rig has double swept-back spreaders and a Facnor furler. Genoa-car leads can be adjusted on the fly, allowing the crew to refine sheeting as the 140 percent genoa is eased or rolled.
In testing, the conventional slab-reefed mainsail, lazyjacks, and boom-mounted cover proved easy to manage. Single-line reefing allows the first reef to be tucked in without leaving the cockpit. A built-in sprit pole is concealed in the bow for offwind sails, and a retracting sprit was optional.
Accommodations
Below, the 445’s volume translates into substantial living space. In the three-cabin version, the forward owner’s cabin is almost overly spacious, with a centerline queen berth, a head to starboard, and a voluminous shower to port. The four-cabin layout replaces this suite with two bow cabins.
Both aft cabins have queen berths and hanging lockers. The port cabin provides direct access to the head and shower at the foot of the companionway. A self-draining locker there holds wet foul-weather gear.
In the saloon, a U-shaped settee wraps around a large dining table. A centerline bench provides additional seating and storage. Eight deck hatches, eight ports, and fixed hull portlights keep the moabi mahogany interior bright. Headroom is 6 feet 4 inches.
The inline galley extends to the main bulkhead. It includes a stove, oven, double sink, and a well-gimbaled three-burner unit. A second refrigerator fits beneath the settee, while a top-loading Isotherm refrigerator forward of the navigation station doubles as counter space.
Other practical touches include a built-in wine rack, shoe lockers, and space for a generator between the aft cabins.
Equipment and Power
The standard engine is a 55-horsepower Volvo diesel, though on many boats it gives way to a 75-horsepower Volvo with saildrive. Test sailors found the larger installation quiet and smooth. A low-drag, four-bladed folding propeller is standard, as are meticulously welded chainplates. An electric cabintop winch helps with hoisting sails.
A trap-door bow thruster eases docking. Across the transom, a wide fold-down swim platform opens the stern to the water. Teak accents on deck and on the cockpit seats, along with handrails built into both sides of the cabin top, complete the package.
The Verdict
The Dufour 445 Grand Large is a thoughtfully engineered cruiser that balances interior volume with manageable handling. Its infusion-built deck and grid-stiffened hull appear durable and neatly constructed, while its accommodations are among the most usable in the mid-40-foot range.
The shoal keel trades some leeway for greater access to shallow water; the deep keel is better suited to bluewater plans.
Pros
- ISO Category A Ocean approval, with an infusion-built, void-free hull laminate
- Twin-wheel cockpit and German mainsheet well suited to short-handed sailing
- Three- and four-cabin layouts with genuine queen berths and thoughtful storage
- Quiet saildrive power, a folding propeller, and an optional bow thruster
Cons
- The cast-iron keel demands more vigilance against corrosion than a lead keel
- The shoal-draft version gives up leeway compared with the deep keel
