Catalina 445 vs Dufour 44 — Comparison
Dufour 44
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Catalina 445 | Dufour 44 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Catalina | Dufour |
| Year | 2016 | 2005–2010 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | USA | France |
| Designer | Gerry Douglas | Umberto Felci |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 13.56 m (44.5 ft) | 13.20 m (43.3 ft) |
| LWL | 11.89 m (39.0 ft) | 11.55 m (37.9 ft) |
| Beam | 4.17 m (13.7 ft) | 4.10 m (13.5 ft) |
| Draft | 2.06 m (6.8 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,340 kg (25,000 lbs) | 9,500 kg (20,944 lbs) |
| Ballast | 4,309 kg (9,500 lbs) | 3,000 kg (6,614 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 84.0 m² (904 ft²) | 82.0 m² (883 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 55 HP | 55 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 189 L (49.9 gal) | 200 L (52.8 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 379 L (100.1 gal) | 350 L (92.5 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 7 | 8 |
| Cabins | 2 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Catalina 445 and Dufour 44 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Catalina 445 is a modern design by Catalina from USA, while the Dufour 44 is a 2000s offering from Dufour from France. The Catalina 445 was penned by Gerry Douglas. The Dufour 44 was designed by Umberto Felci.
In terms of size, the Catalina 445 measures 13.56m (44.5ft) overall with a beam of 4.17m, compared to the Dufour 44 at 13.20m (43.3ft) with a 4.10m beam. The Catalina 445 is 0.36m longer than the Dufour 44. The Catalina 445 displaces approximately 19% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Catalina 445 has moderate sail power suitable for relaxed cruising with an SA/D ratio of 16.91 and 84.0 m² of sail area. The Dufour 44, with an SA/D of 18.57 and 82.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Dufour 44 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Catalina 445 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 16.9) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.74). The Dufour 44 has a comfort ratio of 15.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.78. The ballast ratios are 38.0% for the Catalina 445 and 31.6% for the Dufour 44, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Catalina 445 provides 7 berths in 2 cabins with 379L of water capacity and 189L of fuel. The Dufour 44 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 350L water and 200L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Catalina 445 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 44 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 44 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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