Designed by Felci Yacht Design with interiors by Luca Ardizio, the Dufour 44 isn’t relying on any gimmicks or big risks to sell this boat. Instead, it’s the refinement of ideas and solid execution that’s appealing.
Twin helms and a low cabintop make for excellent sightlines, regardless of the driver’s height. Solid handholds on that streamlined cabintop will get you forward far enough to check jib cars, but beyond that the deck is quite flat, which combined with the significant space up there, would make for a good place to store the tender underway. At the bow, a massive locker makes the anchor chain, windlass remote, and fender storage convenient and easily accessible. The boat is available in three versions: Easy, Ocean, and Performance.
Our test boat was the lateral galley layout, which has an inline galley to starboard with a small peninsula that functions to provide some additional counter space and a brace points while cooking, as well as sectioning off an aft counter nook that can be used as a control center in lieu of a more traditional nav desk. The instrument panels are located there, but there’s no seating or space for it to truly be a chart table. The other option is to put the galley forward, spanning the beam of the boat.
Either way, the interior design’s eye catcher is the signature Dufour hexagonal table that can seat 10. Particularly when combined with the lateral galley, they give the impression of beamy spaciousness, and the hexagon’s cut corners do offer some extra space to both the cooking area and the pathway forward.
As is the trend with many new boats, there is something to be desired when it comes to grab points. The fact of the matter is that an enclosed space feels secure, but today’s buyers want to have that sense of light and roominess below decks. Ask 10 sailors and you’ll get 10 answers on what the right balance is, but as a fairly small sailor who often finds herself in a bit of weather, my preferences skew towards a little more in the way of brace points and handholds. Some rails along the ceiling wouldn’t be amiss.
Forward, the owner’s cabin is exactly what you’d expect on a boat like this, and I was impressed by the amount of light coming in from four hatches above. There is also an option to swap the owner’s cabin for two smaller ones—each with a corresponding head compartment—if you really want to bring the whole family along.
With all the amenities packed into 43 feet, it’s not a super light boat, but a well-balanced sail plan and a hull structured with chines carried far forward go a long way to keeping the driving agile. The boat was appropriately responsive and had a reasonable amount of helm feedback, neither too much nor too little.
They always say that the hallmark of a well executed sail is not having any adventurous mishaps to share at the bar afterward, and that’s about how I would describe the 44. It’s all around solid and well executed.
For those of you who like a little math in your reviews, it has a D/L ratio of roughly 218 when loaded, which puts it in the moderate category. Stable and comfortable, but still moves along just fine even without a big breeze, which I’d say is pretty accurate to how it felt to sail. And with a SA/D ratio of 18, it scores in the comfortable end of the high performance window.
Specs
LWL 40’1”
LOA 45’8”
Beam 14’7”
Draft 7’3” ft (std) 5’11” (deep keel)
Displacement 24,290 lbs (light)
Sail Area 1076 sq ft (main and genoa)
Water 114 gal
Fuel 66 gal
Engine 50hp (std)
October 2025
