Jeanneau Yacht 55 vs Dufour 470 — Comparison

Jeanneau Yacht 55Jeanneau Yacht 55
VS
Dufour 470Dufour 470

Specifications Side by Side

SpecificationJeanneau Yacht 55Dufour 470
General
ManufacturerJeanneauDufour
Year20182018
TypeSloopSloop
CountryFranceFrance
DesignerPhilippe BriandFelci Yacht Design
Dimensions
LOA17.14 m (56.2 ft)14.23 m (46.7 ft)
LWL15.10 m (49.5 ft)12.80 m (42.0 ft)
Beam4.86 m (15.9 ft)4.39 m (14.4 ft)
Draft2.50 m (8.2 ft)2.25 m (7.4 ft)
Weight
Displacement18,000 kg (39,683 lbs)11,200 kg (24,692 lbs)
Ballast5,800 kg (12,787 lbs)3,500 kg (7,716 lbs)
Sailing
Sail Area130.0 m² (1,399 ft²)94.0 m² (1,012 ft²)
Hull MaterialFiberglassFiberglass
Keel TypeFinFin
Engine & Tanks
Engine110 HP57 HP
Fuel Capacity400 L (105.7 gal)220 L (58.1 gal)
Water Capacity660 L (174.4 gal)440 L (116.2 gal)
Accommodation
Berths1010
Cabins44

Performance Comparison

SA/D Ratio (Higher = more sail power per displacement)
Jeanneau Yacht 55
19.22
Dufour 470
19.07
Ballast Ratio (Higher = more stability)
Jeanneau Yacht 55
32.22
Dufour 470
31.25
Capsize Ratio (Lower = safer offshore)
Jeanneau Yacht 55
0.74
Dufour 470
0.79
Comfort Ratio (Higher = gentler motion)
Jeanneau Yacht 55
13.63
Dufour 470
13.70

Detailed Comparison

The Jeanneau Yacht 55 and Dufour 470 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The Jeanneau Yacht 55 is a modern design by Jeanneau from France, while the Dufour 470 is a modern offering from Dufour from France. The Jeanneau Yacht 55 was penned by Philippe Briand. The Dufour 470 was designed by Felci Yacht Design.

In terms of size, the Jeanneau Yacht 55 measures 17.14m (56.2ft) overall with a beam of 4.86m, compared to the Dufour 470 at 14.23m (46.7ft) with a 4.39m beam. The Jeanneau Yacht 55 is 2.91m longer than the Dufour 470. The Jeanneau Yacht 55 displaces approximately 61% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.

Looking at performance, the Jeanneau Yacht 55 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 19.22 and 130.0 m² of sail area. The Dufour 470, with an SA/D of 19.07 and 94.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The Jeanneau Yacht 55 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.

For comfort and safety, the Jeanneau Yacht 55 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 13.6) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.74). The Dufour 470 has a comfort ratio of 13.7 and a capsize screening value of 0.79. The ballast ratios are 32.2% for the Jeanneau Yacht 55 and 31.3% for the Dufour 470, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.

Below deck, the Jeanneau Yacht 55 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 660L of water capacity and 400L of fuel. The Dufour 470 offers 10 berths in 4 cabins with 440L water and 220L fuel capacity.

Verdict

For cruising: The Dufour 470 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 Jeanneau Yacht 55 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: Jeanneau Yacht 55 · Dufour 470