With a plumb bow, a hard chine carried aft, and a low profile, the 500 GL is a thoroughly modern cruiser rather than a traditionalist’s yacht.
Design and Construction
The hull is hand-laminated, with a vacuum-bonded foam core set in polyester resin. On models over 50 feet such as this one, Dufour uses solid fiberglass below the waterline and a PVC foam core above it.
A one-piece structural grid is chemically fused to the hull and tabbed in high-load areas. This method allowed the floor to be thoroughly laminated into the structure, helping the boat come in roughly 2,000 pounds lighter than the previous generation.
The deck is nearly flush, with numerous hatches and a large, single-piece window aft of the mast. Flush hatches and the low cabin profile keep the topsides clean, while wide side decks make it easier to move forward.
Below the waterline, the 500 GL carries one of two L-shaped keels: a 6 feet 4 inches shoal-draft version or a 7 feet 6 inches deep-draft version. Both are fairly deep for the boat’s beam, and the standard-draft model carries 8,911 pounds of ballast. The semi-elliptical rudder is built from closed-cell foam around a stainless stock.
Twin wheels leave the transom clear and give the helm good sightlines. The expansive, slightly reversed drop transom is electrically operated and can be opened from the dock or the water. It also reveals a very large lazarette aft of the cabins.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The 500 GL has a 9/10ths fractional sloop rig, with a deck-stepped Z-Spars mast and double sweptback spreaders. The mast is set well forward to make room for a large mainsail, which drops into an integrated sail bag.
A mid-boom traveller sits on the coachroof. All running rigging is led below deck to stoppers and winches near the aft end of the coachroof, keeping the deck uncluttered. The headsail uses a Facnor belowdeck furler, while a retractable carbon sprit can carry an optional asymmetrical spinnaker.
Test sailors at Canadian Boating found the boat easy to sail shorthanded thanks to a double-ended mainsheet and electric primaries at the helmsman’s hip. In light air during reviews, she made 4.2 knots tightwind at 30 degrees apparent and 5.2 knots on a reach. In slightly stronger gusts, speed rose to 5.8 to 6.1 knots. Those are credible figures for a 33,609 lb cruiser with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio near 17.
The standard 75 hp Volvo Penta saildrive, turning a three-blade fixed propeller, pushed her at 8.7 knots in flat water. An optional 110 hp engine with a four-blade folding propeller was also available.
Accommodations
Dufour describes the interior as both a main residence and a living space. The layout supports that claim with abundant windows, opening hatches, and LED lighting, providing plenty of air and light.
The forward owner’s cabin has a queen berth, drawers, and locker storage. At the foot of the companionway, a manual head and sink sit to starboard, with a shower and electric head to port. The aft cabins tuck beneath the cockpit and have 200×165 cm berths, slightly wider than the master berth.
In the saloon, the height-adjustable table seats up to 12 with its leaves extended. The boat sleeps eight, excluding the starboard settee. Multi-zone air-conditioning, extensive locker space, and substantial in-floor storage add to its liveaboard practicality.
The standout feature is the split, athwartships galley just aft of the master cabin. An Eno stove and Isotherm reefer are to port, while twin sinks and broad counter space are to starboard. Corian surfaces and a swing-out coffee maker complete the arrangement.
The dedicated navigation station slides on rails and can face forward or aft. Its desk and seat are hinged to make them easier to use when the boat is heeled.
Cockpit and Equipment
Dufour divides the cockpit into separate maneuvering and comfort zones. Forward, two settees flank a drop-leaf table fitted with a sink, tap, and optional reefer. One settee converts into either a sun pad or a sea berth.
Aft, the twin helm stations each have a multifunction display within reach of the Lewmar primary winches. Halyard bins are recessed into the cockpit sole.
Near the transom, a central tower serves as an aft seat and contains speakers and a freshwater shower. It lifts to provide access to a machinery space containing the generator and HVAC equipment. It also opens to reveal an optional grill, with the lid doubling as a serving table.
At the bow, a fold-away anchor roller works with a Quick windlass and Delta anchor.
The Verdict
The Dufour 500 Grand Large pairs a light, foam-core hull with a spacious, flexible interior. Its split galley, sliding navigation station, and divided cockpit reflect a design brief focused on comfortable liveaboard cruising without giving up shorthanded sailability.
The lighter structure compared with its predecessor, together with the modern Felci hull lines, also makes the 500 GL a credible light-air performer.
Pros
- Roughly 2,000 lb lighter than its predecessor, thanks to the laminated floor grid
- Split athwartships galley and sliding, heel-adjustable navigation station
- Zoned cockpit with a machinery-access tower and convertible sun berth
- Easy to sail shorthanded, with belowdeck furling and electric primary winches
Cons
- Drafts of 6'4" or 7'6" restrict access to shallow anchorages
- Standard 75 hp saildrive is modest for a displacement of 33,609 lb
- Belowdeck furler and retractable sprit add servicing complexity
