Dufour 4800 ???

[miked40]

I am going to look at a Dufour 4800 in a couple days, she is a 1982 35'. Has anyone spent time on one, sailed in it or know an owner and what their thoughts are. Current owners and your opinions on the 4800 would be appreciated. I would also be interested in what other Dufour owners of that period (late 70's-80's) thought. Not sure I expect to get much response as it seems like after a search on this forum and google it is not so common. Thanks

[miked40]

I will share a link to the Dufour to help spur some conversation. Thanks



https://charleston.craigslist.org/bo...763947712.html

[Sailmonkey]

Is that a 48’ boat that looks clean for $18K?

Wow!

[miked40]

It is 35' the numerical model number makes it a bit confusing.

[Kxt]

I don't have any direct sailing knowledge of the dufpur 4800 but I did a bunch of research before looking at one. From what I read the build quality is average with no major known issues. They sail fairly well with a few known to have made some serious offshore work. The keel could possibly be iron instead of lead so definitely something to have a surveyor look at to make sure it is sealed and not rusting.

Personally I did not like the interior layout with the walk thru head to the v berth. Just seemed weird. didn't want to have the head right by my sleeping head. No way to close it off without shutting the v berth from the rest of the cabin shutting off ventilation. Maybe not an issue for some. Price seems about right for that brand.

Hopefully someone has personal knowledge of the sailing aspects.

[miked40]

Thanks Kxt, where were your best sources of information on the 4800? I have done multiple google searches and come up with a small handful of old forum posts and such. Have not heard anything bad on them but still not a ton out there. Looks like it will work for my intended use.

[Orson]

Originally Posted by miked40

I am going to look at a Dufour 4800 in a couple days... Not sure I expect to get much response as it seems like after a search on this forum and google it is not so common. Thanks

I don't know how you do your google search on sail boats. But I googled "Dufour 4800" and "sail" "data" together.

I get three Youtube video clips and at least three data bases with basic information on this model.

250 hulls were sold. Looks solid to me. But go deeper and check out the videos....

[umi]

Also have a look at its predecessor the Dufour 35. To me a much more Timeless design and a well known cruiser in Europe.

Here also a link to Some Dufour history: http://www.universalyachting.com/his...dufour-yachts/

[miked40]

Thanks everyone!!

[bil56]

some opinions seen on a french forum :

https://www.hisse-et-oh.com/forums/f...35-dufour-4800

[borshi11]

Curious to see what you found out about the boat by looking at it? This one came up on my radar, it hits a lot of my wants too. I too have struggled to find much information on this model..

[miked40]

I never ended up going as the owner was telling me it was the shoal keel when the survey and pictures confirmed to me it was the full keel. Fine boat, minor issue for a boat her age. Yes that vintage and model is still on my radar.

[borshi11]

Well now I'm wondering why you see that as an issue? Just from a maneuverability standpoint or is there an inherent problem with the Dufour 4800 full keel specifically that you know of?

[wolfgal]

i'm not too fond of dufour...

about four years ago, a crew of six from our sailing club, left our normandy port at midnight for a channel crossing headed to brighton on a Dufour 43 (or 42, not sure now).

we got into some rough weather with some large (but not huge) waves and very uncomfortable motion. everyone got utterly sick... except the skipper/instructor, who first addressed an issue involving water flooding the cabin below and then recuperating the main after it came tumbling down on deck. (we didn't make it to brighton, but opted to go home, retrieve the main halyard and then do a day trip along the coast.)

it could be because the dufour in question was not maintained well and the morale couldn't resist imagining imminent disaster, but this, combined with the motion of the boat, did it for me.

so, if you have or hope to have a nice girl who wants to sail with you, you might want to check the motion comfort ratio of the the dufour in question




good luck