Dufour 45E vs 1987 C&C 44 — Comparison
Dufour 45E
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 45E | 1987 C&C 44 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | C&C Yachts |
| Year | 2008–2011 | 1987–1993 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | Canada |
| Designer | Umberto Felci | Cuthbertson & Cassian |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.80 m (45.3 ft) | 13.41 m (44.0 ft) |
| LWL | 11.90 m (39.0 ft) | 10.97 m (36.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.20 m (13.8 ft) | 3.96 m (13.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) | 2.00 m (6.6 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 10,500 kg (23,149 lbs) | 10,433 kg (23,001 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,200 kg (7,055 lbs) | 4,309 kg (9,500 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 88.0 m² (947 ft²) | 80.0 m² (861 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 45 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 170 L (44.9 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 380 L (100.4 gal) | 300 L (79.3 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 8 | 7 |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 45E and 1987 C&C 44 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 45E is a 2000s design by Dufour from France, while the 1987 C&C 44 is a 1980s offering from C&C Yachts from Canada. The Dufour 45E was penned by Umberto Felci. The 1987 C&C 44 was designed by Cuthbertson & Cassian.
In terms of size, the Dufour 45E measures 13.80m (45.3ft) overall with a beam of 4.20m, compared to the 1987 C&C 44 at 13.41m (44.0ft) with a 3.96m beam. The Dufour 45E is 0.39m longer than the 1987 C&C 44. The Dufour 45E displaces approximately 1% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Dufour 45E has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.64 and 88.0 m² of sail area. The 1987 C&C 44, with an SA/D of 17.02 and 80.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Dufour 45E has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Dufour 45E offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 15.3) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.77). The 1987 C&C 44 has a comfort ratio of 18.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.73. The ballast ratios are 30.5% for the Dufour 45E and 41.3% for the 1987 C&C 44, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Dufour 45E provides 8 berths in 3 cabins with 380L of water capacity and 200L of fuel. The 1987 C&C 44 offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 300L water and 170L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 1987 C&C 44 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 Dufour 45E has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The Dufour 45E offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.
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