Dufour 31

[preston1966]

Looking at a Dunfour 31,

Please any suggestions?

I would like to solo sail the atlantic


Can i do this in a Dunfour 31?

[psk125]

Gee. Was that a Freudian slip or just a typo? Can't find any Dunfour, Dunfor, or Done for sailboats. There's a French outfit named Dufour that makes boats. Their thirty-one footer would not be my first choice for sailing transatlantic.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by preston1966

Looking at a Dunfour 31,

Please any suggestions?

I would like to solo sail the atlantic


Can i do this in a Dunfour 31?

Preston1996. Of course a Dufour 31 can cross the Atlantic. It is a good boat, not a new one or a big one but several smaller and older boats have crossed the Atlantic and I am sure Dufour 31's have as well.

Whether or not you can do it is another question.

Going to sea is a serious venture, it is playing for keeps.

It would be a good thing to have quite a bit of sailing knowlege and experience before starting out on such a venture.

The fact that you asked such a question and the way in which you asked it tells me you probably have none.

Maybe you would make it. Maybe you'd never be heard from again.

So I recommend that you start sailing with other people and become a sailor. Then you could answer your question, and a million others like it, yourself.

So you need to take some initiative and figure out how to get that experience and develop those skills (and I don't mean just take a sailing class). It will take some effort on your part, but if you can do that then I'd say you could probably solo sail the Atlantic in a Dufour 31, or anything. Otherwise, probably not.

[thomm225]

Looks like the Dufour 31 is a recommended Offshore boat.

Make sure it's the one with the three shrouds on each side.

https://www.mahina.com/cruise.html

[Cheechako]

Friends sailed around the world in a Dufour 34.

[preston1966]

Originally Posted by wingssail

Preston1996. Of course a Dufour 31 can cross the Atlantic. It is a good boat, not a new one or a big one but several smaller and older boats have crossed the Atlantic and I am sure Dufour 31's have as well.

Whether or not you can do it is another question.

Going to sea is a serious venture, it is playing for keeps.

It would be a good thing to have quite a bit of sailing knowlege and experience before starting out on such a venture.

The fact that you asked such a question and the way in which you asked it tells me you probably have none.

Maybe you would make it. Maybe you'd never be heard from again.

So I recommend that you start sailing with other people and become a sailor. Then you could answer your question, and a million others like it, yourself.

So you need to take some initiative and figure out how to get that experience and develop those skills (and I don't mean just take a sailing class). It will take some effort on your part, but if you can do that then I'd say you could probably solo sail the Atlantic in a Dufour 31, or anything. Otherwise, probably not.

Greatly appreciate your humor!! , Maybe never be heard from again lol

You are correct I have not completed my first book, yet however I feel I have been called to the sea my entire life. (Midwest Missouri ) I am looking to retire soon and want to have a journey around the oceans, i do plan to take a class from John Kretschmer, I also plan to stay well within the coast guard reach lol until ready to venture out, The Dunfour miss spell could be very telling - Preston he is Dun Four lol.

Thank you again , attached a pic of the dufour 31 i am currently looking at.

Hoping to be heard from again ..... well maybe

[preston1966]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Looks like the Dufour 31 is a recommended Offshore boat.

Make sure it's the one with the three shrouds on each side.

https://www.mahina.com/cruise.html

This is a pic of her

[boatman61]

Dufour built some great boats in the 70's and the 31 is amongst them..
Get her surveyed by a good surveyor, sort the recommendations and you should be fine, roomy with decent (6.3) headroom.

https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/unca...dufour-31-9593

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/dufour-31

[preston1966]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Dufour built some great boats in the 70's and the 31 is amongst them..
Get her surveyed by a good surveyor, sort the recommendations and you should be fine, roomy with decent (6.3) headroom.

https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/unca...dufour-31-9593

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/dufour-31

Boatman61

she has a Bulb keel seems to be unique to the Dufour 31 any thoughts?

[Adelie]

I fixed the title.

[preston1966]

Thank you

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by preston1966

Boatman61

she has a Bulb keel seems to be unique to the Dufour 31 any thoughts?

More efficient, hydrodynamic and is much more responsive.. quick through tacks.

[LittleWing77]

Hey Preston!

The picture looks choice! Hope she's in as good condition as the picture looks.

Dufours are lovely sailers, but I do echo Boatie and recommend you get a good survey.

It will do two things for you:

(i) First and foremost, let you know the current condition of the boat - and her seaworthiness.

(ii) Secondly, it will give you a list of your upcoming projects (stuff that doesn't need to be done now, but will need upcoming maintenance/replacement). The survey will also be necessary for you to get insurance for her.

Fair winds! This is really exciting! (Please do let us know how you get on)
Warmly,
LittleWing77

By the way, John Kresh's classes I hear are great. Good choice. If you want to read about him, there's a great profile in the Jan/Feb 2020 issue of Good Old Boat magazine. (If you haven't already got a subscription, get yourself one! )