Design and Construction
Low on the water, the Tofinou 9.7 is painted vermilion red, with an anthracite grey or silver cockpit, a teak covered deck and the merest blister of a varnished mahogany coachroof. Compared to earlier models of the brand, coamings and coachroof have changed from solid mahogany to veneer-covered composite, though the topdecks are still transformed into a work of art featuring highly polished dark mahogany and fibreglass contrasted with lighter-coloured, 8.0mm-thick teak. The hulls and decks are made of hand-laid, resin-infused fibreglass and foam sandwich finished in vinyl ester, and the slender proportions carry maximum beam well aft into a sugar-scoop stern with a stylish bevel edge and a lazarette. A silver band on the coachroof may give the illusion of "headlights up front," says Molino, and the removable mahogany coamings mean they need not be touched up on the boat.
Rig and Handling
The Tofinou 9.7 features a fractional rig consisting of a tall tapered mast with backstay and 2 spreaders, and the test boat flew race-crafted North Sails 3Di composite sails from an Axxon carbon mast. A self-tacking Solent jib with a track integrated at the foot of that mast unfurls easily, while separate winches forward handle asymmetrical spinnaker work using the carbonfibre bowsprit. All sail handling lines return to the cockpit and remain hidden in channels beneath the deck, feeding into dedicated lockers so the space stays uncluttered; Karver KJ jammers disappear under a false coachroof and can be controlled remotely. The mainsheet is attached to the centre of the cockpit sole with a fine-tuning sheet on a traveller at the stern, and test sailors found her extremely responsive tiller needing only small adjustments in light winds. Test sailors found her hitting around 7.0 knots upwind in light breeze, and as soon as sheets were eased she accelerated to more than 9 knots with a pleasant feeling of gliding, her wide beam used to minimise the wetted surface of the flatter planing hull aft.
Accommodations
Below decks is accessed via removable washboards and a sliding canopy, or a companionway hatch cleverly designed in 2 sections that lift on gas struts. The minimalist cabin features a pair of bunks or sail lockers extending under the cockpit floor, a pair of lounges, a split galley with stove to port and sink to starboard, a forward vee berth, and only 1.34m headroom with no hull windows — natural light comes from a hatch forward of the mast step and the large companionway. The standard layout has four berths including the saloon seats, a chemical toilet as standard, and a comfort pack option that adds a sink and hob. The cockpit itself is divided into a comfort area forward with technical sailing elements aft, wide benches with rope lockers below, and a reversible central footrest so the teak sole can be made flush.
Known Issues
The lack of adequate below-decks headroom and limited onboard resources means the boat will be comfortable for a night or two but little more, and the vertically lifting keel version's well has a significant impact on accommodation. With noticeably low freeboard and no guardwires or stanchions protruding, stepping aboard the swing-keel test boat showed a slight heel that gave reassurance of a keelboat, yet taking the ground at raised 1.22m draught will require legs, a delicate exercise. Aesthetics have prevailed over function at the bow: there is no bow roller, so the boat is more suited to a light anchor with rope rode than heavier tackle.
Refits and Ownership
The base boat comes with quality stainless steel drop-down cleats that slide down to deck level when not in use, and an add-on worth noting is quick-release mounts for the fenders that let you set and forget. Engine options run from a standard 15hp diesel saildrive to an optional electric saildrive — the Torqeedo electric motor is a costly option over the original diesel for those who don't need to motor far — or a shaftdrive. B&G instruments help tune the sail plan, and the 15hp saildrive proved more than enough to push the lightweight hull at a decent clip, with enough bite from the furling prop to stop the boat in half a boatlength when put astern.
The Verdict
The Tofinou 9.7 distils the brand's water-level elegance into a modern, lightweight dayboat that is genuinely fast short-handed or with a full crew, yet its minimalist below-decks space and headroom cap it as a coastal cruiser rather than a liveaboard.
Pros
- Slender modern hull with teak and mahogany detailing that preserves the Tofinou silhouette
- Streamlined deck layout with all lines hidden and self-tacking jib for reduced-crew handling
- Glides easily to 9+ knots offwind; responsive tiller and strong upwind pace in light air
- Three keel options (fixed, swing, retractable) broaden shallow-water access
Cons
- Limited 1.34m headroom and minimal galley/heads limit overnights to a night or two
- Low freeboard and no guardwires or bow roller prioritise looks over practical ground tackle
- Vertically lifting keel version compromises already tight accommodation
