Dufour 445 Grand Large Sailboats for Sale

The 445 Grand Large was built to ISO Category A ocean standards, which tells you something about Dufour's ambitions for the hull. Vacuum-assisted resin infusion and a foam-cored, injection-molded deck produce a laminate that ages well when the boat has been kept out of prolonged tropical exposure and surveyed regularly. The cast-iron keel — not lead — is one detail buyers should engage with directly, because iron responds differently to long-term immersion and requires diligent epoxy barrier maintenance to stay ahead of corrosion.

Layouts on the Used Market

The 445 Grand Large was offered in both three-cabin and four-cabin configurations, and the three-cabin owner's-suite layout is the more common find on the brokerage market. In that arrangement, a generous centerline queen berth occupies the forward cabin, flanked by separate head and shower compartments — a feature that cruising couples find genuinely practical over long passages. The two aft cabins each carry queen berths, giving the boat a symmetrical sleeping plan that suits charter use as well as private ownership.

The four-cabin version, with twin forward cabins rather than a single owner's suite, appears less frequently. It trades some of the forward spaciousness for additional berth capacity, which made it attractive to flotilla operators and families with children. When evaluating either layout, the saloon configuration is essentially the same: a U-shaped dinette to port, the inline galley running to starboard, and a forward-facing nav station with a sizable work surface. The second refrigerator tucked beneath the aft section of the U-shaped settee is a subtle but appreciated detail that distinguishes this interior from many contemporaries.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used examples typically arrive fitted with the dual-wheel cockpit arrangement, which was standard equipment and defines the boat's sailing character — each wheel positioned to give the helmsman clear sightlines and easy reach to the primary winches. The folding four-bladed propeller paired with the saildrive unit is a common feature across the fleet and contributes to the boat's notably clean performance under sail. Many boats carry the optional bow thruster, which was a popular factory option and remains a practical asset for shorthanded docking.

Roller-furling headsail gear from Facnor and Z-Spar spar systems are standard fittings buyers should expect to find serviceable but not new. The lazyjack sail-cover arrangement on the main is a common feature that simplifies singlehanded sailing. The built-in sprit pole for asymmetric spinnaker flying was often specified new and persists on many used boats, giving owners a genuine light-air option without the weight or expense of a bowsprit retrofit.

Teak decking is a sometime owner upgrade that appears on a portion of examples, particularly those that spent time in European charter fleets or Mediterranean waters where the aesthetic is prized. Buyers should assess teak decks carefully: well-maintained teak adds comfort and character, but aging or poorly bedded teak can conceal moisture intrusion into the foam-cored deck below.

Solar panels and upgraded battery banks are among the more common owner additions encountered on cruising-fit examples, reflecting the boat's natural home as a passage-maker or extended liveaboard platform. Watermakers appear with some regularity on boats prepared for offshore work, as do upgraded autopilots and chart plotter installations at the nav station.

What to Inspect

The cast-iron keel deserves close attention from any surveyor. While Dufour's use of modern epoxy coatings mitigates rust, iron keels in long-term service can develop corrosion beneath the barrier coat if that coating has been chipped, abraded, or improperly maintained. The keel-to-hull interface — specifically the garboard area and the keel bolt arrangement — warrants careful inspection for any signs of weeping rust stains, which can indicate moisture working its way past the epoxy and into the iron casting itself.

The foam-cored deck is a broadly positive structural feature, but injection-molded cored decks bonded to the hull flange with 3M 5200 and mechanical fasteners every eight inches require the surveyor to check that the deck-to-hull joint remains fully intact, particularly in the bow and around any through-deck fittings that may have been added after delivery. Delamination or soft spots in the cored deck around chainplates, stanchion bases, and anchor roller hardware are areas to probe methodically.

The saildrive unit, noted for smooth and quiet operation, has a finite service life on its rubber bellows — the seal that separates the ocean from the bilge. Any used 445 should have documentation of bellows inspection and replacement history; this is a non-negotiable item on a pre-purchase survey. The saildrive leg itself should be inspected for impact damage, as the configuration can be vulnerable in shallow grounding situations.

The bow thruster trunk and retractable mechanism, described as a trap-door closure system, is a detail worth operating through its full cycle during sea trial. Thruster mechanisms that have sat idle or been poorly maintained can develop corrosion in the deployment hardware.

Chainplates on the 445 Grand Large are located just outboard of the cabintrunk — the review notes meticulously welded chainplates as a construction positive, but any chainplate should be inspected for signs of bedding failure and water tracking below into the hull laminate, a common route for hidden moisture damage on any cored boat.

Finally, inspect the galley sink drainage arrangement. The outboard sink suffers drainage issues when sailing hard on a port tack, which is an inherent design tradeoff rather than a defect, but the drain hose routing and seacocks serving the galley should be examined for condition.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Dufour 445 Grand Large circulates most commonly in European waters, with the strongest concentrations in France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Scandinavia, reflecting both the boat's French origins and its natural affinity with the Mediterranean and North Sea sailing cultures. Martinique and the broader Caribbean basin also yield examples, as do a smaller number of boats that crossed the Atlantic during extended cruising programs and remained in North American waters thereafter.

For the buyer, the relatively concentrated production window is both a challenge and an advantage: the boats are consistent in their build quality, and owners tend to know them well. A thorough survey, a sea trial that includes a meaningful upwind leg, and documentation review of the saildrive bellows service history will resolve most of the material questions quickly.

Before making an offer, confirm the following:

• Keel and keel-bolt condition, with particular attention to rust at the garboard and beneath the epoxy barrier coat
• Saildrive bellows inspection and replacement records
• Cored deck integrity at chainplates, stanchion bases, and through-deck fittings
• Bow thruster operation through full deployment cycle
• Teak deck condition if fitted, including bedding and underlying deck soundness
• Battery bank and charging system capacity relative to onboard electronics and refrigeration loads
• Documentation of sprit pole and asymmetric running gear if offshore sailing is planned
• Standing rigging age and condition, with attention to the Z-Spar mast and swept-back spreader arrangement