Design and Construction
The hull is fiberglass and, per the authority material, a sandwich construction which improves the indoor climate — a point the database states plainly rather than as a marketing claim sandwich construction which improves the indoor climate. Dufour’s own build practice for sub-50-foot hulls places this boat in solid fiberglass below, though the authority material’s sandwich note describes the as-tested structure. The deck is solid fiberglass. Ballast is 8,157 pounds of lead on a bulb keel, and the boat was offered with more than one keel alternative: one fin-with-bulb option draws about 6.2 to 6.5 feet depending on load, while a deeper fin-with-bulb version draws about 7.4 to 7.7 feet, either of which limits the yacht to major marinas draft is about 1.90 - 2.00 meter dependent on the load. The CE certification is Class A (Ocean), and the capsize screening value is 1.92, a figure the source connects to ocean-capable acceptance under that formula alone.
Rig and Handling
The 485 Grand Large is a fractional sloop carrying a SA/D of 14.4 on the ISO reference sail and 16.8 with a 135% genoa. The authority material notes she has more rig than 73% of similar sailboats, which indicates she is slightly overrigged. Her theoretical displacement-hull maximum is 8.8 knots, while the calculated max speed is about 7.3 knots. The DL-ratio of 192 places her among “moderate racers,” and the Motion Comfort Ratio is 30.3 against an immersion rate of roughly 409 kg/cm. The wetted surface is about 64 square meters. Standing and running rig dimensions are generous for the size: mainsail and genoa halyards run 40.6 meters at 14 mm, the mainsheet is 36 meters at 16 mm, and jib or genoa sheets are 14.4 meters at 16 mm.
Accommodations and Volume
The length-to-beam ratio is 3.06 and the ballast ratio is 25%, figures that describe a beamy, lightly ballasted hull where interior volume is a primary design currency. With a 156-gallon water capacity and 66-gallon diesel tank, the boat is equipped for extended cruising rather than weekend hops. The Grand Large naming and the Felci-Roséo partnership from the mid-2000s place her among the modern Dufour cruising generation rather than the earlier Classic boats.
Known Issues
The construction carries one notable material fact: the hull is a sandwich build, which the source ties directly to improved interior climate rather than to any defect, but the iron keel on at least one bulb option is a material fact a surveyor should weigh against galvanic corrosion risk in tropical or brackish berths. The CE Class A rating supports her ocean brief without qualification.
Refits and Ownership
Owners shopping a 2006-onward hull should expect varied keel configurations and verify draft against the loaded condition, since the two bulb options differ by more than a foot. The overrigged sail plan means early reefing keeps motion comfortable, and the generous halyard and sheet sizes imply a rig built for frequent sail changes rather than minimalist cruising.
The Verdict
The Dufour 485 Grand Large is a Felci-designed Grand Large cruiser that trades heavy ballast for beam and volume, certifies for ocean use, and carries a slightly overrigged fractional rig suited to long passages. The sandwich hull and iron-keel option are the only points a careful buyer must weigh.
Pros
- CE Class A (Ocean) certification
- Beamy 15.4-foot hull with strong interior volume
- Slightly overrigged fractional rig with large sail-handling margins
- Two bulb-keel drafts to suit different cruising grounds
Cons
- Iron keel option invites galvanic scrutiny
- Deep-draft bulb versions limit marina access
- Sandwich hull demands careful survey of core integrity
