Dufour 48 Catamaran Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Charter four-cabin layouts are the more common configuration encountered on the brokerage market, reflecting the boat's original commercial purpose. In that arrangement the starboard hull accommodates two guest cabins, each with its own access stairway for privacy, while the port hull is divided between a guest cabin forward and a day head or service room aft. The owner's version, less frequently seen but available, concentrates the entire port hull into a master suite with substantial built-in stowage and an outboard-facing desk amidships — a genuinely livable arrangement rather than a nominal upgrade. Cabin counts across available hulls range from three to five, and a small number of boats carry an additional single-bunk cabin carved from the starboard service room. Buyers intending to use the boat for private cruising rather than charter often find the four-cabin layout perfectly functional with some reconfiguration of the bow storage, though the full master-suite version commands more interest from owner-operators.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Nearly all examples come with autopilot, a chartplotter suite, and an inverter as baseline fitted equipment — the charter origin drives a consistent minimum standard. The self-tacking jib, which pairs with the fathead mainsail across the full sail area, is commonly seen, as is a cockpit shower, bimini, and air conditioning given the warm-water Mediterranean and Caribbean markets these boats were built for. Electric winches are frequently fitted, easing single- or short-handed sail handling on a boat of this beam. Swim platform or hydraulic beach platform is a near-universal feature, since the 26-foot-wide transom makes a generous boarding area.

Among owner upgrades and post-charter refits, a watermaker is a frequent addition — often one of the first things a private buyer fits if the charter company had not already done so. Solar panels have become a common owner upgrade, particularly on boats transitioning from charter to bluewater cruising. Teak cockpit and deck surfaces, a furling mainsail conversion, and a larger asymmetric spinnaker or code zero are seen on boats prepared for offshore passage-making. A hardtop in place of or supplementing the factory bimini, additional freezer capacity, a life raft cradle and raft, and heating systems appear on boats heading to higher latitudes or being set up for extended liveaboard use. Bow thrusters and AIS transponders are also found, particularly on boats that passed through well-equipped charter fleets.

What to Inspect

The Dufour 48's Felci-designed hull carries relatively modest bridgedeck clearance — a deliberate trade-off that delivers excellent cabin volume below but introduces the potential for bridgedeck slamming in short, steep chop. A full sea trial in lively conditions is the only way to assess how a particular hull has been set up and whether the owner has made any modifications to address slamming behavior; it should be conducted in conditions that genuinely test the boat rather than on a flat-water day.

The reversed bows, which give the 48 its contemporary profile and efficient entry, are a high-load area on any catamaran. Inspect the bow structure, anchor roller, and windlass mounting carefully for stress cracking or delamination, particularly on boats that saw active charter service. The mast position is pulled aft compared to conventional rigs to allow for larger headsails; verify that the rigging, chainplates, and mast partners show no signs of fatigue or water ingress around deck penetrations.

The twin Volvo saildrive installations are a routine inspection point on any modern production catamaran. Saildrive bellows should be examined for cracking and deterioration, and service records for both engines should be requested and verified. Pay particular attention to the interval between bellows replacements on boats with substantial hours. The integrated flybridge and hardtop structure, if fitted, should be inspected for stress cracks at the mounting points given the considerable windage aloft. Hydraulic platform systems, where fitted, require a check of the hydraulic lines and actuators for leaks and correct operation.

Charter boats in particular may have accumulated wear on interior upholstery, galley fittings, heads, and cabinetry beyond what the hull age suggests. Assess the interior condition independently of the boat's year, and budget accordingly for soft goods and head system renewal if the boat's history includes extended rental use.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Dufour 48 Catamaran circulates primarily in the Mediterranean — Greece and Croatia represent the densest concentrations, consistent with the boat's charter origins in those markets — as well as in France, Italy, and the Caribbean's Virgin Islands waters. A growing number of examples have moved into the North American brokerage market as private buyers acquire them from European charter fleets. Availability outside those regions is thin but not impossible, and buyers willing to purchase abroad and reposition the boat will find a broader field.

Before making an offer, work through this checklist:

• Confirm charter versus private-use history and obtain full maintenance and hour logs for both engines
• Inspect bridgedeck structure, bow sections, and all deck penetrations for delamination or stress cracking
• Verify saildrive bellows condition and replacement history on both engines
• Assess flybridge, bimini, and hardtop attachment points for fatigue
• Sea trial in meaningful chop to evaluate bridgedeck slamming behavior
• Inspect heads, galley, and interior joinery independently of hull age on former charter boats
• Confirm watermaker, solar, and AIS status and budget upgrades if absent
• Review hydraulic platform or davit system function if fitted
• Engage a surveyor with multihull experience familiar with Italian production methods