By Zuzana Prochazka

A compact cruiser that’s all about space and power

Every few years, boat builders update their lines with refreshed designs and new features that eventually proliferate throughout their entire offering. Dufour Yachts is in mid-process of such an evolution as the builder changes up their line of sleek sailing cruisers. One sign of this transformation is the naming convention that is morphing from triple-digit numbers ending with a zero, to simple double-digits that one would guess designates the LOA – more on this later. The latest model in the refresh is the Dufour 37 which replaces the previous Dufour 360. The design is brand new from the keel up and its focus is on more evolved social spaces and much-improved performance.

Design and Rigging

You can see the differences between the old 360 and the new 37 right at the dock. The Felci-designed 37 is beamier and carries that width nearly all the way aft with just a couple of inches of taper. She’s also fuller forward with a deeper forefoot so she looks muscular and promises to pound less when going to weather. A vacuum infusion construction helps keep her weight down to under 15,000 pounds dry.

The Z-Spar rig is fractional and deck-stepped. The mast was moved aft about a foot to increase the foretriangle so you can carry a larger headsail. The mast is also taller to capture the wind up high and there are about 20 square feet of added sail area which just about guarantees better performance in light breezes. For easy handling, the standard sail plan includes a self-tacking jib, but you can opt for a 108% overlapping headsail by Elvstrom Sails. For my money, a large downwind sail like a screecher and the self-tacker are the perfect combination for just about any point of sail.

Between her low profile and the sprit extension forward, the Dufour 37 looks like a much bigger cruiser.

On Deck

Below the waterline, the 37 is like her predecessor with a single spade rudder and an L-shaped fin keel with a bulb. The feel at the wheel (there are two) is snappy and precise. Every adjustment you make, the boat immediately follows which is very satisfying although it can punish you for imprecise helming.

At the bow, you’ll find a svelte sprit that adds LOA as well as an attachment point for the screecher. Unfortunately, there is no deck access to the anchor locker which means the only way to manage the chain is via an opening in the master cabin which isn’t ideal.  Aft, there’s a transom that drops down manually to form a nice swim or boarding platform.

The focal point on deck is the cockpit which is impressive on a boat of this size. There are twin longish benches and a massive folding table with handholds that actually work and fall well to hand to keep you safe underway. Two stylish pedestals support twin wheels and the whole cockpit is open and easy to move around in. A crowd of cruisers or a number of racers will find this space to their liking.

An addition over the predecessor is the new Eno plancha grill and sink integrated into the transom. This is a Dufour trademark on their larger models but it’s unexpected on a boat in this class. It’s a big boat feature that’s bound to impress.

The double sink is an unexpected but welcome surprise in this compact galley.

The Dufour 37 is available in three versions or “packs”. The basics are in the Easy pack but when you step up to the Performance or Ocean versions, you get extra equipment like additional winches for easier line handling. The Performance version also adds an adjustable backstay but eliminates the cockpit table to accommodate a larger working crew.

Interior Spaces

Remember the full bow sections and the extra beam? Both translate to volume and comfort below. The master stateroom is forward and uses all the available space. Its split entry door allowed a larger bed to be extended farther aft without hindering access to the cabin. With the door open, the boat feels roomy and looks much longer than expected when you first come below.

To port is a small but very accommodating L-shaped galley with a double sink, a two-burner stove, a microwave and a top-loading refrigerator. This compact cruiser even made room for another Dufour signature feature – integrated bottle storage so you can carry your wine selection for the weekend. At meal times, four will fit easily around the large dining table which is oversized, much like the one in the cockpit. A couple with kids or two friends will never feel crowded.

The Dufour 37 is offered with a two or three-cabin layout and a single head. With only two cabins spec’d, the third area aft on starboard becomes a stowage space where to tuck away provisions, tools, luggage and more. Even better, it can be accessed via the cockpit bench so it’s a bit of a garage for fenders and lines too. Another benefit of the two-cabin layout is that the head becomes larger and a small nav desk is added to the aft end of the starboard salon settee. You could shoehorn in a third cabin, but why?

Open the split door to the master cabin and the boat immediately looks much bigger below than her actual length suggests.

For those times when you find yourself with extra guests, Dufour offers a solution for extra bedding in the saloon. The port settee can be made into a double bed with an inflatable insert cushion which can also be used in the cockpit to expand the bench lounge space. In fact, Dufour is all about inflatables these days and even offers an inflatable sunbed to be used on the bow for when you want to settle into a good book while at anchor.

Performance

We tested hull #2 of the new design on Chesapeake Bay. We had a perfect breeze of 10-12 knots and nearly flat water so we could hardly ask for better conditions. In 10 knots of wind, we made good 6.5 knots of speed (SOG) on a beam reach and managed to pinch up to 35 degrees apparent wind angle (AWA) where we still held on to 6.2 knots. After playing with the self-tacking jib (which is insanely easy when short-handed) we used the gennaker on a top/down furler which we could carry up to 60 degrees AWA.

The helm was very responsive and the boat felt light and agile. In fact, we had to take care not to overturn the tacks, she was so fast in switching direction. In intermittent gusts, we still stayed upright as the small boat leaned on her hull chine and heeled very little – about 18 degrees.

Although standard propulsion is provided by an 18-hp engine, we enjoyed the extra power of the upgraded 30-hp Volvo diesel that pushed us along easily at a 6.5-knot cruise at 2100 rpm. We topped out at 7.8 knots and 3100 rpm. I was surprised to see controls for a SidePower bow thruster on such a small model, but it came in handy while docking in a cross breeze and I’m not too proud to use a thruster to avoid an imprecise landing or an awkward situation.

Dufour's big boat features include a drop-down swin platform for easy boarding, hidden life raft storage, and a summer galley integrated into tramson.

A Lot of Boat

The funny thing about the Dufour 37 is that the hull is only 33 feet long. When asked about this, Dufour company representatives said that it “just feels bigger” and the name isn’t exactly representative of the LOA as one would expect. They’re not wrong – it does feel like a much more substantial platform.

The new model delivers greater comfort, more usable space and better sailing performance so the specs become just numbers on a page. Another number on a page is the sail-away price which in our case was just around $200,000 USD. You’d be hard-pressed to find this much boat for that much money.

If you’re in the market for a sub-forty-foot sailboat, maybe you should “feel” the new Dufour 37 for yourself. Chances are, once you sail one, you won’t think about numbers on a page at all.

Specs for Dufour 37

LOA / LWL                35’ 4” / 30’ 7”

Beam                           12’ 6”

Draft                           6’3”

Displacement              14,874 lbs

Ballast                         4,100 lbs

Sail Area                     646 sq ft

Power                          19-hp Volvo Penta diesel (30-hp as tested)

Designer                      Felci Yacht Design

Builder                         Dufour Yachts/ dufour-yachts.com