Dufour 470 vs Hunter 450 — Comparison
Dufour 470
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | Dufour 470 | Hunter 450 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Dufour | Hunter |
| Year | 2018 | 2001–2006 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Felci Yacht Design | Glenn Henderson |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 14.23 m (46.7 ft) | 13.72 m (45.0 ft) |
| LWL | 12.80 m (42.0 ft) | 11.89 m (39.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.39 m (14.4 ft) | 4.27 m (14.0 ft) |
| Draft | 2.25 m (7.4 ft) | 2.06 m (6.8 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 11,200 kg (24,692 lbs) | 10,886 kg (23,999 lbs) |
| Ballast | 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) | 4,082 kg (8,999 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 94.0 m² (1,012 ft²) | 86.0 m² (926 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 57 HP | 75 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 220 L (58.1 gal) | 189 L (49.9 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 440 L (116.2 gal) | 341 L (90.1 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 8 |
| Cabins | 4 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The Dufour 470 and Hunter 450 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Dufour 470 is a modern design by Dufour from France, while the Hunter 450 is a 2000s offering from Hunter from USA. The Dufour 470 was penned by Felci Yacht Design. The Hunter 450 was designed by Glenn Henderson.
In terms of size, the Dufour 470 measures 14.23m (46.7ft) overall with a beam of 4.39m, compared to the Hunter 450 at 13.72m (45.0ft) with a 4.27m beam. The Dufour 470 is 0.51m longer than the Hunter 450. The Dufour 470 displaces approximately 3% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the Dufour 470 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 19.07 and 94.0 m² of sail area. The Hunter 450, with an SA/D of 17.79 and 86.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Dufour 470 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the Dufour 470 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 13.7) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.79). The Hunter 450 has a comfort ratio of 15.6 and a capsize screening value of 0.77. The ballast ratios are 31.3% for the Dufour 470 and 37.5% for the Hunter 450, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the Dufour 470 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 440L of water capacity and 220L of fuel. The Hunter 450 offers 8 berths in 3 cabins with 341L water and 189L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The Hunter 450 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 470 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 470 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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Or view individual specs: Dufour 470 · Hunter 450