Rather than chasing light-displacement racer numbers, the 455 sits firmly in the loaded-cruiser camp. Its hull measures 13.45 meters long and 4.30 meters across the beam. Light displacement is 10,426 kilograms, with 3,000 kilograms of iron ballast, giving a ballast-to-displacement ratio of .29 and a displacement-length ratio of 172.
Design and Construction
Grand Large hulls are slightly deeper and somewhat fuller forward and aft than the Performance hulls. Compared with the Performance 44, the builder also claimed incrementally greater volume in the middle and aft sections, along with a slightly wider cabin trunk.
The hand-laminated GRP hull has an NPG gelcoat backed by NPG resin in the skincoat to protect against osmosis. A structural grid laminated to the hull provides stiffness, while the internal grid supporting the keel is reinforced with Twaron, an aramid fiber similar to Kevlar. The balsa-cored decks are built by resin infusion, allowing them to be constructed lightly and reliably.
In shoal-draft form, the cast-iron keel draws 2.00 meters. A stainless steel backing plate takes the keel-bolt loads, and a massive bonding strap connects the keelbolts to the grounding system. The semi-elliptical rudder has a solid stainless steel stock and is filled with closed-cell epoxy foam.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
The 455 carries a deck-stepped Sparcraft 15/16 fractional alloy rig with twin swept-back spreaders and continuous stainless steel rigging. The cap, intermediate, and lower shrouds meet a single chainplate close to the cabin trunk, leaving the side decks clear.
Its sail plan is less lofty than those of the Performance models, though plainly adequate. The 100-percent sail area is 849 square feet, and a 140-percent overlapping genoa provides most of the driving power. All lines lead aft to the cockpit, while the mainsheet traveller is mounted on the cabin top. The mainsail controls, however, lead to the companionway and remain out of reach of a busy helmsman.
Test sailors found the boat energetic yet well balanced under a full working sail plan of main and 130-percent genoa in gusty conditions. Writing in boatsales.com.au, the reviewer recorded 7 to 7.5 knots while reaching down to Longnose Point, then later charged along at 8.2 to 8.5 knots.
Under power, the relatively low-revving Volvo and saildrive, combined with effective insulation, produced comfortably low sound levels. The 75-horsepower version drove the yacht at 8.5 knots.
Cockpit and Sail Handling
Electric Harken 53 primary winches sit beside the wheel, while 44.2 ST halyard winches are mounted on the cabin top. Along with the lines led aft, this arrangement makes short-handed sail handling practical, although the position of the mainsail controls limits what the helmsman can reach directly.
Accommodation
Dufour offered two layouts below: a three-cabin arrangement and an optional four-cabin version. Both have two heads and berths for six plus one.
The master stateroom sits farther aft than it does on the Performance 44. It includes an island king-size bed flanked by settees and is brightly lit by two escape-size hatches. Both aft cabins have hanging lockers, shelves, and cross-flow ventilation.
The saloon is exceedingly beamy and finished in Moabi mahogany. A centerline settee has a hefty grabrail incorporated into its back. To port, the longitudinal galley combines a large Corian counter, 250 liters of top-opening refrigeration, and a gimballed three-burner stove.
Ventilation is generous, with 10 deck hatches, four opening roof portlights, and two hull portlights in the saloon. All the interior wood is solid Moabi, with no painted surfaces. Foam strips on the cabin-sole lift-outs help silence rattles.
Machinery, Systems, and Access
The engine sits behind the companionway steps, which are supported by gas struts. Removable panels expose all primary servicing items on the Volvo, giving owners straightforward access for routine work.
A standard 200 amp-hour house bank occupies the technical space between the aft cabins, with room for expansion. The test boat had a 6kW Panda generator in a separate bow locker, plus a windlass supplied as part of the Cruising pack. Tankage is 250 liters for fuel and 530 liters for water, supporting modest passagemaking.
Known Issues and Upkeep
The production-efficient hull leaves only a miniature bilge sump. Cruising World’s testers described this as a quirk rather than a defect, but it complicates bilge management and is worth noting before purchase.
Elsewhere, sealed floorboard edges and bonded teak decking show attention to long-term upkeep.
Verdict
The Dufour 455 Grand Large is a thoughtfully engineered, spacious cruiser. It trades the Performance models’ loftier rig and hull shaped for racing for more livable space, quiet mechanicals, and a balanced helm. Its Moabi interior and practical deck layout suit a cruising family, while the Twaron-reinforced grid and osmosis-resistant skincoat point to durable construction. The shallow bilge sump is the one concession to production logic worth noting before purchase.
Pros
- Full-volume hull with three- or four-cabin layouts
- Roomy master stateroom positioned farther aft than on the Performance 44
- NPG gelcoat, NPG resin skincoat, and a Twaron-reinforced keel grid for longevity
- All lines led to the cockpit, with electric primary winches beside the helm
- Comfortably low sound levels from the Volvo and saildrive
- Tankage of 250 liters for fuel and 530 liters for water, suitable for modest passagemaking
Cons
- Miniature bilge sump complicates bilge management
- Less lofty rig than the Performance siblings limits light-air spark
- Mainsail controls lead to the companionway, beyond the reach of a busy helmsman
