Beneteau First 47.7 vs Dufour 520 Grand Large — Comparison
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Beneteau First 47.7 | Dufour 520 Grand Large |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Dufour |
| Year | 2003–2008 | 2012–2017 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | France |
| Designer | Farr Yacht Design | Felci Yacht Design |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.69 m (48.2 ft) | 15.80 m (51.8 ft) |
| LWL | 12.90 m (42.3 ft) | 13.85 m (45.4 ft) |
| Beam | 4.30 m (14.1 ft) | 4.69 m (15.4 ft) |
| Draft | 2.50 m (8.2 ft) | 2.45 m (8.0 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,500 kg (25,353 lbs) | 14,500 kg (31,967 lbs) |
| Ballast | 4,200 kg (9,259 lbs) | 4,600 kg (10,141 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 105.0 m² (1,130 ft²) | 110.0 m² (1,184 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 75 HP | 75 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 250 L (66.0 gal) | 300 L (79.3 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 450 L (118.9 gal) | 550 L (145.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 10 |
| Cabins | 3 | 4 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Beneteau First 47.7 and Dufour 520 Grand Large represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Beneteau First 47.7 is a 2000s design by Beneteau from France, while the Dufour 520 Grand Large is a modern offering from Dufour from France. The Beneteau First 47.7 was penned by Farr Yacht Design. The Dufour 520 Grand Large was designed by Felci Yacht Design.
In terms of size, the Beneteau First 47.7 measures 14.69m (48.2ft) overall with a beam of 4.30m, compared to the Dufour 520 Grand Large at 15.80m (51.8ft) with a 4.69m beam. The Dufour 520 Grand Large is 1.11m longer than the Beneteau First 47.7. The Dufour 520 Grand Large displaces approximately 26% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Beneteau First 47.7 has generous sail power for spirited sailing with an SA/D ratio of 20.93 and 105.0 m² of sail area. The Dufour 520 Grand Large, with an SA/D of 18.79 and 110.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Beneteau First 47.7 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Beneteau First 47.7 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 14.0) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.76). The Dufour 520 Grand Large has a comfort ratio of 13.6 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 36.5% for the Beneteau First 47.7 and 31.7% for the Dufour 520 Grand Large, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Beneteau First 47.7 provides 10 berths in 3 cabins with 450L of water capacity and 250L of fuel. The Dufour 520 Grand Large offers 10 berths in 4 cabins with 550L water and 300L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Beneteau First 47.7 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The Beneteau First 47.7 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: Both boats provide similar accommodation, making either a viable choice for living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.
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Or view individual specs: Beneteau First 47.7 · Dufour 520 Grand Large