Dufour 45 E Sailboats for Sale

What draws buyers to this boat is the combination of a triple-spreader fractional rig, a long waterline relative to its overall length, and a displacement kept light enough to produce genuinely spirited sailing. The hull uses vacuum-bagged fiberglass with a PVC core above the waterline and solid laminate below, with an NPG blister-resistant gelcoat — construction quality that holds up well over time when the boat has been maintained properly. The injection-molded, foam-cored deck is both light and structurally stiff, and the interior fit and finish — Moabi joinery, gas-lift locker doors, integrated overhead grabrails — reflects the care Dufour took with this generation of boats. A used 45e in good condition is a rewarding find; one that has been neglected or fleet-cycled too hard demands careful scrutiny.

Layouts on the Used Market

Both principal layouts appear regularly among available examples. The three-cabin version — owner's stateroom forward with en-suite head, twin aft doubles — is the more common private-ownership configuration and typically represents the cleaner brokerage listings. The four-cabin charter version adds a small forward passageway cabin with upper and lower bunks, borrowing slightly from the forward starboard space, and is well suited to buyers planning liveaboard or family use with more berths. Ex-charter examples carrying the four-cabin layout are common on the market, particularly from Mediterranean fleets. Either version allows one aft cabin to be converted to dedicated stowage, which many owners choose over time as priorities shift from berth count toward gear storage.

The saloon layout is consistent across versions: a wraparound U-shaped dinette and dining table to port, a long opposing settee to starboard that doubles as a sea berth, and the galley positioned conveniently at the base of the companionway. The navigation station sits across from the galley, keeping chart work and cooking close to the cockpit — a practical arrangement at sea.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used examples arrive well equipped as a rule. Solar panels, autopilot, chartplotter, bimini, and heating are commonly fitted across the fleet, whether from new or added early in ownership. Electric winches appear frequently, a reflection of how well this boat suits shorthanded sailing — the cockpit layout concentrates nearly all sail-handling controls within reach of either helm station, and electric primaries make a meaningful difference for a couple managing the boat alone. An asymmetric spinnaker or gennaker is a frequent addition, consistent with how the 45e was designed to perform off the wind, and AIS is a common addition on examples you will encounter.

Bow thrusters are commonly installed, particularly on ex-charter boats where ease of handling in tight marina situations was a priority. Teak cockpit and side-deck cladding appears on a notable share of listings and adds to the boat's appeal aesthetically, though it warrants inspection for its own maintenance demands. Freezers, inverters, and cockpit showers are common, again reflecting the charter and extended-cruising pedigree of much of the fleet. A code zero, radar, hot water system, EPIRB, and life raft appear as owner upgrades on a portion of listings, particularly those prepared for offshore or bluewater use. Buyers shopping with coastal cruising in mind will find many examples already outfitted beyond what they need; buyers planning extended passages should confirm safety and offshore equipment carefully.

What to Inspect

The 45e's construction is sound, but any boat in this generation and price range deserves systematic inspection. The PVC-cored hull above the waterline requires checking for core delamination or moisture ingress at fittings and penetrations; even quality vacuum-bagged construction is vulnerable at hardware through-fittings over time. The keel-to-hull joint deserves close attention, as do the keel bolts — the deep-draft version with its ballast bulb puts meaningful lever forces on the attachment. Have a surveyor probe for movement or weeping at the joint.

The twin-wheel steering system is elegantly engineered but involves more linkage than a single-wheel arrangement; inspect the steering cables, quadrant, and connections for wear or slop that can develop with age and heavy use. Ex-charter boats in particular will have accumulated cycles on these components. The Volvo Penta sail drive is generally easy to access through the companionway steps and side panels, but sail drive bellows inspection is essential — a failed bellows is a serious event, and replacement intervals should be verified.

The injection-molded deck is durable, but check the deck-to-hull joint thoroughly and inspect around any hardware that has been added post-build, as aftermarket installations are often the source of moisture paths that the original construction resisted. The fully battened main and standing rigging should be assessed for age and condition; boats that have lived in charter service may have more sail hours than their age suggests.

Below decks, check the holding tanks — both heads have gravity-drained systems — and confirm the plumbing and seacocks are in serviceable condition. The forward anchor roller and windlass arrangement received some criticism as undersized for a boat this size; confirm the ground tackle setup meets your anchoring needs before purchase.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Dufour 45e circulates most actively through the Mediterranean — Turkey, Greece, and Italy account for a significant share of available examples, many of them ex-charter boats returning to brokerage after fleet service. United States listings appear regularly as well, and Ireland rounds out the primary markets. European buyers have the broadest selection; North American buyers may find fewer examples at any given time but the boat was sold in the US market from new, so domestic history can be found.

This is fundamentally a strong choice for a buyer who wants real sailing performance without sacrificing comfort — it earned Cruising World's Best Cruiser award for good reason. The charter-fleet prevalence cuts both ways: those boats are often well-equipped and mechanically serviced on schedule, but they carry higher hours and more wear on soft goods, upholstery, and cosmetics.

Before making an offer, confirm:

• Full survey with moisture readings in the cored hull and deck
• Keel-bolt condition and keel-to-hull joint inspection
• Sail drive bellows age and replacement history
• Steering system inspection for cable and linkage wear
• Rig inspection including spreader fittings and forestay attachment
• Age and condition of the fully battened main and headsails
• Charter vs. private ownership history and engine hours
• Seacock and through-hull condition below the waterline
• Offshore safety equipment (life raft, EPIRB, flares) if bluewater use is planned