Design and Construction
Dufour Yachts built the sub-50-foot F39 with a solid fiberglass hull, a solid deck, and a one-piece structural grid fused to the hull. The boat has a 12ft 5in beam, a 14,960-pound displacement, and 6,990 pounds of lead ballast. Its fin keel draws 6.5 feet, and the rudder is a spade design.
The 46.72 percent ballast ratio and 2.02 capsize screening figure place the F39 in the performance-cruiser camp rather than among heavy bluewater types. The lead ballast provides stability for a roomy interior.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The F39 carries a masthead sloop rig with 669 square feet of sail. Its sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 17.63, and its hull speed is 7.4 knots.
Yachting Monthly found that the boat performed very well on all points of sail and handled well. The fin keel and spade rudder make it responsive in close quarters, while the sail plan helps it accelerate in breezes that leave heavier cruisers rolling.
Accommodations and Stowage
The interior layout could provide no fewer than 11 berths, including two spacious double aftercabins, and there is a forward heads. However, the downmarket interior was the boat’s Achilles’ heel, a caveat that tempers the headline berth count for private owners.
Stowage was scarcely adequate for a yacht of this size. As on other Dufours from the period, the pilotberths often get converted into shelves or lockers rather than retained as sea berths.
Known Issues
The principal criticisms concern the downmarket interior finish and limited stowage. The review raised no criticism of the hull, deck, or rig.
The Verdict
The F39 is a Frers performance cruiser whose sailing ability and elegant lines outclass its compromised interior. It’s best suited to owners who value performance at the helm more than fine joinery.
Pros
- Striking, atypical exterior by German Frers
- Very good performance on all points of sail
- Good handling
- 11-berth layout with two spacious double aftercabins
Cons
- Downmarket interior finish
- Scarcely adequate stowage
- Pilotberths often converted into shelves or lockers
