Dufour · Sailing yacht

Dufour 40

The Dufour 40 is a 12.32 m performance cruiser drawn by Umberto Felci, with deck and interior by Patrick Roséo, and built by Dufour Yachts at Périgny near La Rochelle, France. It was the first boat of Dufour’s new range, presented in September 2002 and voted Yacht of the Year 2003 in France, and in 2005 a standard boat with an IMS keel and racing sails won the IMS 670 world title. Every boat has 2 or 3 cabins and a 40 hp Volvo diesel on a saildrive (55 hp as an upgrade), with a cast-iron keel of 1.60–1.65 m draft or a 2.10 m lead keel and an optional tall rig. Dufour’s 2008–2009 pages list it without any redesign in the Performance line as the Dufour 40 Performance, and in autumn 2009 the newly designed Dufour 40E took its place. Dufour publishes no owner’s manual online: it came in the owner’s briefcase with the boat, and documentation and spare parts are requested through Dufour’s owner-request form with the HIN and hull number.

Manuals & documents

Dufour publishes no owner’s manual for the Dufour 40: it came in the owner’s briefcase delivered with the boat, and owners ask for documentation and spare parts through the builder’s owner-request form. The other links go to Dufour’s own documents as archived copies (standard specifications of 2003 to 2005, model pages of 2003 to 2009, dealer notes) and to independent boat tests. We host nothing.

Equipment & its manuals

Standard equipment as the builder’s documents list it. Boats were ordered with options and refitted since — check what is actually aboard.

ItemModelManual / pageNote
EngineVolvo Penta 40 hp (29.1 kW)1,2,3,4All lists 2003–2005: Volvo 40 hp diesel (29.1 kW in the 2004–2005 lists) with saildrive; Dufour never names the engine type. A 55 hp Volvo saildrive was available as an upgrade (Boating New Zealand test boat)—Heat-exchanger cooling with anti-siphon valve and a large raw-water strainer, engine panel with hour meter and rev counter under a Plexiglas cover at the starboard side of the helm, engine-room blower, separate engine bilge; access from the front under the companionway steps and from both sides. Read the engine plate before ordering filters, impellers or belts.
SaildriveVolvo Penta saildrive1,3,2All boats; Dufour’s lists say only ‘sail-drive’ and give no leg type—Read the plate on the leg before ordering the rubber seal, anodes, oil or a propeller.
Propeller2-blade fixed1,2,3,4Fixed two-blade propeller in every list 2003–2005, make not named; the Boating New Zealand test boat had a folding propeller with the 55 hp engine—
WinchesHarken 40.2 ST × 2, 48 ST × 21,2,3,4,5US list of January 2003: Harken 40.2 ST halyard winches on the coachroof and Harken 48 ST genoa-sheet winches on the coamings by the helm; the European lists of 2004–2005 give the same sizes without the makeHarken Radial & Classic winches Parts & service pageClutches on the coachroof (4 Spinlock in the US list of 2003, 5 + 2 in the 2004–2005 lists) and a Spinlock on the toerail for the furling line; two winch handles. The Boating New Zealand test boat with the Performance pack had Harken two-speed 44s for the halyards; the US Performance+ of 2009 had Harken Quattro winches (Cruising World).
Windlass—1,2,3,5Europe: windlass bracket in the chain locker as standard; a 1000 W electric windlass came with the 40th-anniversary equipment (December 2004 list) and in the Cruising Pack (2005–2006 lists). US list 2003: manual vertical windlass standard, electric windlass in the Cruising Package. Make never named—Self-draining chain locker with eyebolt and lockable lid, removable bow roller. On the US Performance+ of 2009 the windlass was supplied but not fitted (Cruising World).
ToiletManual marine toilet1,2,3,6,4Every list: manual marine toilet in each head (1 or 2 depending on layout), make not named; the Boating New Zealand test boat had a manual Jabsco—Holding tank standard in the US list of 2003; in Europe one holding tank (aft head) came with the Cruising Pack from model year 2006, and the lockers above the basin leave space for tanks. Shower water is pumped straight overboard by an electric pump under the basin.
InstrumentsRaymarine ST60 (pack)1,2,3Not standard: ST60 speed, log and depth plus ST60 wind in the Cruising Pack of the 2005–2006 lists and in the US Electronics Package of 2003 (with a multifunction repeater at the chart table); log, depth and wind instruments also came with the 40th-anniversary equipment (December 2004 list, make not named)Raymarine ST60 / ST60+ Parts & service pageInstrument box at the helm opposite the engine panel and an angled console at the chart table; the transducers are reached from the forward cabin.
AutopilotRaymarine ST6001 + Whitlock drive (US option)1,3Option only: the US Electronics Package of 2003 lists an ST6001 autopilot with a Whitlock motor; the European lists name no autopilot—
ChartplotterFuruno GP32 GPS (US option)1,3Option only: GPS Furuno GP32 at the chart table in the US Electronics Package of 2003; the European lists name no GPS or plotter—
FurlerFacnor1,3,4US list 2003: Facnor genoa furler with removable drum; the European lists say only ‘genoa furler’; a Facnor furler was also on the Boating New Zealand test boat. Type not named—
Mast & rigging9/10 fractional, aluminium1,7,2,3,4,5All lists: anodised aluminium mast, deck-stepped, two sets of swept spreaders, 9/10 rig; a tall rig was an option from 2003 (sold without sails in the US). The Boating New Zealand test names Sparcraft as the spar maker; Dufour’s lists name none—Discontinuous single-strand stainless standing rigging with chromed-bronze turnbuckles, backstay tensioner (Harken in the US list), rigid boom vang led to the cockpit, provision for a removable inner forestay, grounded rig. The US Performance+ of 2009 had rod shrouds and a PBO backstay.
Sails—1,2,3,4Every list: mainsail in high-tenacity cloth with two reefs and a navy-blue cover, bi-radial furling genoa with UV strip; sailmaker not named—Reefing: two quick reefs in the December 2004 list, single-line reefing in the English list of 2005. The Boating New Zealand test boat with the Performance pack had a fully battened main, a No 2 genoa on the furler and a 147 % racing jib.
SteeringSingle wheel1,2,3,5All boats: one large leather-covered wheel on a GRP pedestal with compass and stainless arch; single rudder on a solid stainless stock in self-aligning bearings—The emergency tiller fits the rudder-stock head under the helmsman’s seat; Cruising World describes a hatch in the cockpit sole for reaching the steering quadrant.
Stove2-burner gas cooker with oven1,2,3Every list: gimballed two-burner gas cooker with oven, make not named; large gas bottle in a locker in the port aft cockpit seat—
Fridge12 V refrigerator1,2,312 V electric fridge with ice-cube compartment, 90 l icebox (2004–2005 lists); make not named—
Water heater20 l2,320 l water heater, heated by the engine through the heat exchanger and by 220 V (2004–2005 lists)—
Water pump—1,3,4Pressurised hot and cold water to the galley and heads, make not named; cockpit shower in the aft locker (hot and cold with the Cruising Pack); a seawater foot pump in the galley in the US Cruising Package and on the Boating New Zealand test boat—
Bilge pump—2,3Electric bilge pump with strainer and filter, switched at the panel, and a manual pump worked from the cockpit; sump moulded into the keel; makes not named—
Batteries100 Ah engine + 100 Ah service1,2,3,8Lists 2003–2005: one 100 Ah engine battery and one 100 Ah service battery; an extra service battery came with the 40th-anniversary equipment (December 2004) and the Cruising Pack, and was part of the US Cruising Package—One switch per battery, under the companionway in the English and US lists, in the port aft cabin in the French ones; 16-function backlit switchboard, 12 V sockets at the galley and the panel.
Charger—1,2,3Europe: battery charger with a 220 V circuit only with the 40th-anniversary equipment (December 2004) or the Cruising Pack (2005–2006); listed in the US list of 2003 (and in its Cruising Package), with 110 V outlets. Make not named—
Alternators60 A (December 2004)2,3,8December 2004 list: 60 A alternator with charge splitter; the 2005 lists no longer give the size, and a 120 A Volvo alternator was part of the Cruising Pack—
Shore power—1,2,3Shore-power socket in the cockpit in every list; 220 V outlets in the saloon and each cabin with the 40th-anniversary equipment and the Cruising Pack—
Hatches & ports5 deck hatches, 6 opening ports1,2,35 deck hatches, 6 opening port-lights, 2 fixed coachroof and 2 fixed hull ports; makes not named. Polished-aluminium hatch frames on the 40th-anniversary and Arpège Limited Edition boats—
Audio systemRadio/CD (editions and packs)1,2,3Radio CD player with 2 cabin speakers on the 40th-anniversary (December 2004) and Arpège Limited Edition boats (2005–2006 lists); 2 cockpit speakers in the Cruising Pack; FM/CD with 2 speakers in the US Cruising Package. Make not named—
Heater— (ducting prepared)1,2No heater in the lists; the hull has passages prepared for warm-air heating or air-conditioning ducts (US list 2003, December 2004 list)—
Fuel filterFilter with water separator1,2,3Every list: fuel filter with water separator and an emergency fuel shut-off handle; 160 l tank under the starboard aft berth with a gauge on the switchboard; make not named—
Swim platformOpening transom1,2,3All boats: the transom opens in the centre by tipping the helmsman’s seat; boarding platform teak-trimmed in the centre, stainless bathing ladder with teak steps, cockpit shower in the aft locker, life-raft locker under the cockpit sole—
Deck covering—1,2,3,4Teak-slatted cockpit seats, teak handrails on the coachroof and a wooden toerail as standard; a teak deck was an option (Boating New Zealand test boat)—

Specifications

Length overall12.32 m (all Dufour pages and lists; US list 2003: 40 ft 8 in)3,2,9,10,1
Hull length12.06 m (lists and pages 2004–2009); 11.99 m on the 2003 pages (US: 39 ft 4 in)3,2,10,9,1
Waterline length10.74 m3,2,11
Beam3.90 m; 3.18 m at the waterline3,2,10
Draft1.60 m (2003 lists and pages) or 1.65 m (from the December 2004 list) with the standard cast-iron keel; 2.10 m with the optional lead keel1,9,2,3,10
KeelShort keel in cast iron as standard, deep keel in lead as an option; keel bolts on stainless-steel backing plates. The 2005 world champion Quum raced with a special IMS keel3,2,1,12
Ballast2815 kg cast-iron keel (1.65 m) or 2690 kg lead keel (2.10 m) in the 2004–2005 lists; 2700 kg on the 2003 pages (US: 5967 lb)3,2,9,1
Displacement7800–7900 kg light with mooring gear (lists and pages 2004–2009); 7300 kg on the 2003 pages (US list: 16133 lb)3,2,10,9,1
Sail area82.35 m² upwind (mainsail 41.6 m² + genoa 40.75 m², lists 2004–2005); Dufour’s pages give 89 m², the US data of 2003 958 sq ft (mainsail 463 + genoa 495 sq ft)3,2,10,1,7
Mainsail41.6 m² (2004–2005 lists), 463 sq ft in the US data of 2003; high-tenacity cloth, two reefs3,2,7
Genoa40.75 m² (140%, 2004–2005 lists), 495 sq ft (140%) in the US data of 2003; bi-radial furling genoa with UV strip3,2,7
Light-air sailsAsymmetric spinnaker 89 m², symmetric spinnaker 104 m² (2004–2005 lists); tack ring for an asymmetric spinnaker ahead of the forestay3,2
Rig dimensions (I, J, P, E)I 14.66 m, J 4.19 m, P 14.25 m, E 5.25 m; tall rig I 15.25 m, P 14.75 m (December 2004 list; US 2003: I 50 ft, P 48.4 ft); 9/10 fractional rig2,3,7
Air draft17.65 m with masthead light, without antenna (standard rig, 2004–2005 lists)3,2
EngineVolvo 40 hp (29.1 kW) as standard; a 55 hp Volvo was available as an upgrade (Boating New Zealand test boat)3,2,1,4
DriveSaildrive3,1
Fuel tank160 l, under the starboard aft berth, gauge on the switchboard3,2,1
Water tank330 l in polyethylene tanks under the forward berth and the port aft berth (data tables 2004–2009); 350 l on the 2003 pages3,2,10,9
Cabins2 or 3: 3 cabins with 1 or 2 heads, or 2 cabins with 2 heads (Boating New Zealand test); the version with one aft cabin has a separate shower stall and a large wet locker; Cruising World counted four layouts in 200913,4,3,2,5
Berth sizesForward cabin approx. 220 × 196 cm, aft cabins approx. 195 × 141 cm, 10 cm foam mattresses; side berth in the one-head version 200 × 135 cm (US list)3,2,1
Headroom1.95 m in the companionway and saloon area, 1.92 m in the forward cabin, 1.98 m in the aft cabins3,2
DesignerUmberto Felci (hull); Patrick Roséo (deck and interior)3,2,1,11
BuilderDufour Yachts, Périgny near La Rochelle (France)6,3
HullHand-laid GRP, vacuum-bagged PVC-foam sandwich above the waterline, NPG gelcoat with a first layer in NPG resin against osmosis; inner moulding with floors laminated to the hull; deck in PVC-foam sandwich, injection-moulded (RTM); semi-elliptical rudder filled with closed-cell epoxy foam on a solid stainless stock in self-aligning bearings3,2,1
CE categoryA14,13,10
VersionsOne design throughout: Dufour 40 from 2002, called Dufour 40 Performance on Dufour’s 2008–2009 pages. Options and editions: tall rig (from 2003); Performance Pack (lists from December 2004; on the Boating New Zealand test boat spinnaker gear, the deep lead keel, bigger halyard winches and racing sails); 40th-anniversary equipment (December 2004 list) and Arpège Limited Edition (2005–2006 lists) with extra kit as standard; in the US the Performance+ of 2009 with rod shrouds, PBO backstay, Dyneema running rigging and Harken Quattro winches15,10,7,3,2,4,16,5
Years builtFrom 2002 to 2009: presented with Dufour’s new range in September 2002 (‘new for 2003’ in the US), still on Dufour’s site on 10 September 2009 and replaced there by the new Dufour 40E by October 200917,7,10,18,19
Hulls builtDufour gives no figure; a Boating New Zealand test reported more than 100 boats sold worldwide by the time of the first Australian boat4
SuccessorDufour 40E Performance (from autumn 2009), a new design with 12.35 m length overall, 11.99 m hull length and 3.89 m beam; YACHT called it a completely new development19,20
AwardsYacht of the Year 2003 in France (Voile Magazine jury, after the Grand Pavois 2002); IMS 670 world champion 2005 with Quum; Best Midsize Cruiser in Cruising World’s Boat of the Year 2009 (40 Performance+)21,13,12,5

Good to know

  • Dufour’s lists name only ‘Volvo 40 hp’ on a saildrive and never the engine type, and some boats got the 55 hp upgrade. Read the plates on the engine and the saildrive leg before ordering filters, impellers, belts, seals or anodes, and check the Volvo parts catalogue against that serial number; broker listings that name an engine type are not the builder’s word.1,2,3,4
  • Don’t mix up the Dufour 40 of 2002–2009 with the Dufour 40E Performance that replaced it in autumn 2009: the 40E is a new design with a different hull (11.99 m instead of 12.06 m hull length), so sails, rigging, covers and cradles do not carry over. The Dufour 405 sold alongside it from 2009 is a Grand’Large cruiser of the other line.10,19,20,22
  • Check which keel is fitted before planning a haul-out, a cradle or a survey: the standard cast-iron keel (1.60 m, later 1.65 m, 2815 kg) or the optional lead keel (2.10 m, 2690 kg). Both are bolted through stainless-steel backing plates; race boats such as the 2005 world champion Quum may carry a non-standard IMS keel.1,2,3,12
  • Two mast heights exist: the standard rig (I 14.66 m, P 14.25 m) and the tall rig offered from 2003 (I 15.25 m, P 14.75 m). Measure, or ask the sailmaker to, before ordering a mainsail, genoa, furler foil or standing rigging; the US tall rig was sold without sails.2,7
  • Know the emergency steering before you need it: the emergency tiller fits the rudder-stock head under the helmsman’s seat, and Cruising World describes a hatch in the cockpit sole for reaching the steering quadrant.3,1,5
  • There is no public owner’s manual: the lists say it came in the owner’s briefcase with the boat. If it is missing, or for spare parts, use Dufour’s owner-request form, which lists both ‘Dufour 40’ and ‘Performance 40’, and give the HIN and hull number; Dufour passes the request to an expert for your sailing area.3,2,22

Videos & how-tos

Links to YouTube, nothing embedded. The maker’s own channel comes first; the rest are channels we found clear and correct for this model.

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Sources

  1. web.archive.org/web/20030318203916/http://www.dufouryachts.com:80/classic/d40specs_us.pdf
  2. web.archive.org/web/20050514080306/http://www.dufouryachts.com:80/content/seetool_media/p…
  3. web.archive.org/web/20060311012008/http://dufouryachts.com:80/content/seetool_media/pdf/d…
  4. boatingnz.co.nz/boat-reviews/dufour-40/
  5. cruisingworld.com/sailboats/dufour-40-performance-+/
  6. web.archive.org/web/20060304005600/http://www.dufour-yachts.com:80/data/dealer/sales_mark…
  7. web.archive.org/web/20030212105002/http://www.dufouryachts.com:80/classic/dufour40.php
  8. web.archive.org/web/20060115094354/http://www.dufour-yachts.com:80/content/seetool_media/…
  9. web.archive.org/web/20030103055321/http://www.dufour-yachts.com:80/html_dufour/classic.cf…
  10. web.archive.org/web/20090910010609/http://www.dufour-yachts.com:80/index.php?id=42
  11. felciyachtdesign.com/yachts/cruiser/dufour-40-performance/
  12. web.archive.org/web/20060304005455/http://www.dufour-yachts.com:80/data/dealer/sales_mark…
  13. web.archive.org/web/20040818091911/http://dufour-yachts.com:80/index.php?col=nos_voiliers…
  14. web.archive.org/web/20030311052821/http://www.dufour-yachts.com:80/html_dufour/classic_gb…
  15. web.archive.org/web/20080627122315/http://www.dufour-yachts.com:80/index.php?id=29
  16. cruisingworld.com/sailboats/dufour-40-performance-plus-mini-review/
  17. web.archive.org/web/20040205062735/http://www.dufour-yachts.com:80/html_dufour/actu_gb.cf…
  18. web.archive.org/web/20091012044018/http://www.dufour-yachts.com:80/index.php?id=37&L=1
  19. web.archive.org/web/20091125112722/http://www.dufour-yachts.com:80/index.php?id=42
  20. yacht.de/yachten/fahrtenyachten/dufour-40e-heft-02-10-erfolg-verpflichtet/
  21. web.archive.org/web/20040820215638/http://dufour-yachts.com:80/index.php?col=nos_voiliers…
  22. dufour-yachts.com/en/owner-requests/

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