dufour safari 27 review

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Dufour Safari 27 (1973)

• Thread starter dufour27
• Start date 31 Aug 2010
• 31 Aug 2010
• 15 Aug 2011

SailingNewYorkCity

Hello and welcome to the forum. Sorry for the late reply but I too am new to this forum. I have a 1973 Dufour Safari and have had it for some three years. I love it. It is a solid boat and sails well including into the wind. I am six feet tall and find it big enough. Sure, I would like a little more room but it works just fine for me. I have even lived on board for months at a time. The boat is great for single handing while still providing enough comfort to do some cruising. I can easily fit four into the cockpit and have on occasion had more. The cockpit is very comfortable and pretty dry even in a good blow. I have a soft spot on the deck but this isn't a big issue. I will either have it cored or filled with epoxy. I am researching the options now. I have a Volvo MD6A engine that is still chugging along. I am finishing up some changes to my fuel system. I have replaced much of the line with new Racor hose and fittings. I added a Racor fuel filter and a three way valve. I can now turn off the fuel to the filter or drain the tank without disconnecting anything. The sail locker is big and I am making some improvements in it. I am adding a step inside the locker to make it easier to get into and out of it. I am also adding a row or wooden hooks to hang things on. Additionally, I have many mounts for items including hand pumps, tools, etc. Finally, I have added dry deck to let moisture drip away from anything in the locker. My Safari seems to be one of the few with a wheel and based upon my research it must have been an aftermarket addition. I am not happy with the state of my wiring and wish to tidy it up and fix a few poorly done old repairs. If you wish to see the boat you can go to www.SailingNetworks.com and look for the Honey Bee. Eventually I want to repaint it. I am also researching CopperCoat, HullSpeed, and other bottom paints. I wish you the best of luck with your boat. I am sure you will enjoy it.  

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DUFOUR 27 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of DUFOUR 27. Built by Dufour Yachts (FRA) and designed by Michel Dufour, the boat was first built in 1972. It has a hull type of Fin with rudder on skeg and LOA is 8.28. Its sail area/displacement ratio 15.24. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by Volvo Penta, runs on Diesel.

DUFOUR 27 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about DUFOUR 27 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, auxillary power tank, contributions, who designed the dufour 27.

DUFOUR 27 was designed by Michel Dufour.

Who builds DUFOUR 27?

DUFOUR 27 is built by Dufour Yachts (FRA).

When was DUFOUR 27 first built?

DUFOUR 27 was first built in 1972.

How long is DUFOUR 27?

DUFOUR 27 is 6.2 m in length.

What is mast height on DUFOUR 27?

DUFOUR 27 has a mast height of 8.8 m.

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• Sailboat Guide

Dufour 27 is a 27 ′ 1 ″ / 8.3 m monohull sailboat designed by Michel Dufour and built by Dufour Yachts between 1972 and 1979.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Dimensions from builders brochure and original sail plan. Aux. power: Renault Couach or Volvo MD-6A Opt. deep keel: 5.83’/1.78m

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Dufour vs Hunter

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In the past I''ve never seemed to get much advice...hope this is different: I''m currently considering a 1973 Dufour Safari (27'') vs. a 1981 Hunter 27''. The Hunter line seems to have a 50-50 split of lovers & haters, but I can''t find any real info on the Dufour. Does anyone have any advice or information that can help?  

If you don''t get any info here (and it''s looking doubtful, huh?) post your question on the Sailnet Dufour email list. I monitor that list and someone else just bought a Dufour 27 and posted a question about it. So maybe you could catch up with that fellow. Also, check out www.classicdufour.com. Good luck. Lots of older Dufours out there still sailing after all these years.  

A 50-50 split sounds about right, lots of Hunter bashers out there. You can learn a lot about the H27 over at www.hunterowners.com. Check out the Cherubini Forum and search the Forum Archives. The Cherubinis are a solid, seaworthy boat. The only consistent negative I read about the H27 is the one lung Yanmar. In areas of heavy currents or tides they may be underpowered.  

Prrthead, Hope I''m not too late. I owned a ''72 Dufour Safari from ''74 to ''97. It is currently docked two slips away. Buy it over a Hunter. Great design--look how deep and dry the cockpit is. The thumper engine takes some getting used to but it is reliable, cheap to run (use automotive oil filters that fit instead of the Volvo), heavy duty and quality. My view of Hunter''s is, I wouldn''t own one; some cute design elements but cheap contruction and fittings. The Safari is a great sailing boat and goes upwind very well. I have a Morgan 32 now and sometimes regret the switch. No regrets about owning the Safari for most of my sailing life. Geoff Gillis  

Naught''s reply above is typical of those from the Hunter bashers. He has no idea what a Cherubini Hunter is. And would not want to know.  

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Dufour safari 27

The dufour safari 27 is a 27.0ft masthead sloop designed by michel dufour and built in fiberglass by dufour yachts (fra) since 1969..

The Dufour safari 27 is a moderate weight sailboat which is slightly under powered. It is stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser.

Dufour safari 27 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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Safari 27 - Dufour Yachts / STW001416

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2011 (#79) Jul/Aug

Issue #79, July/August 2011.

Description

July 2011 issue highlights: Feature story about the Fuji 32; review of the Dufour Safari 27 and San Juan 24; Cooking without pressure and Creative storage solutions.

Speaking seriously : Mechanical Advantage 101, Managing seasickness, Boat noodling, The single-spreader rig, No rigger Part 2, Housing the chart plotter, A boat project for the bold, and Ted Brewer laments.

Lighter fare: Free anchors, Pop Pop’s cruise, From trash to treasure, Simple Solution: poor man’s anchor hoist, Quick and Easy: dorade draft excluder, sandpaper bookends, and dockline holders, and The goodness of sailors

Download PDF file (GOB79Jul11.pdf): about 34 megabytes.

Additional Info

Additional information, related products.

2023 (#148) January-February

2016 (#110) sep/oct, 2017 (#113) march/april, product categories, current edition.

Dufour Arpege 30

First impressions The Arpege 30 looks more like an American boat from the IOR era than the Euro-style boats that began flooding the market in the 1980s. Although the bow entry is quite sharp, there is also a sizable overhang. The sheerline is subtle and the counter stern is raised and pinched. The hull has a bit of tumblehome and looks well proportioned in the water. The coachroof has a step with a single dark Plexiglas portlight on each side. The single spreader sloop rig has a working sail area of 516 square feet, comparable to the C&C 30, a boat designed around the same time. Below the water, the Arpege has a fairly shallow forefoot and fin keel with an exaggerated bulb that trails aft, almost as though the designer was adding a signature to the keel. Two keels were offered: a 4-foot, 5-inch standard version and a 5-foot, 4-inch deep version. Most boats in the United States seem to have the standard keel. The rudder is hung on an incredibly narrow but full-length skeg. It seems Dufour was not quite ready to commit to even a partial skeg in the mid-1960s when the boat was designed. The ballast-to-displacement ratio of just under 40 percent helps account for the Arpege's stiffness and seakindliness. Although the boat was moderately successful as a half-tonner, it came to be known as a small but capable bluewater cruiser. Several Arpeges have crossed the Atlantic, and at least one has circumnavigated.

Construction The Arpege has held up very well through the years. In fact, Dufour recently purchased hull No. 1 and is in the process of restoring it for a company display. The Arpege hull is solid fiberglass and the deck may or may not have been cored. Michel Dufour was a pioneer in using molded liners to greatly streamline production. Liners are a mixed blessing, but in small boats, at least those less than 35 feet and under 10,000 pounds, they make a lot of sense, even if they do limit hull access. If the liner is well bonded to the hull, the pan, as it is sometimes called, can be a very sound way of supporting the hull and prefabricating furniture. African mahogany was used for bulkheads that were well tabbed to the hull. The mast was stepped on the keel. The externally fastened keel is cast iron and fitted into a small recessed mold on a stub. The Arpege was really one of the first production boats to be sold in large numbers worldwide, and the overall construction was stout and efficient. What to look for While an owner in Maine reports that his boat has never had osmotic blisters in its 30-plus year life span, another in Florida warns to expect to do an epoxy blister repair job if it hasn't been done already. Older Dufours have had their share of blisters. One thing is certain, grinding or sandblasting the iron keel and treating it with epoxy is a good idea. Naturally any boat of this vintage (the youngest Arpege is at least 27 years old) will need to have all age-related items carefully checked. From standing and running rigging, to deck leaks and electrical wiring, updates may well be in order. Even if a boat was rerigged once, it may be ready again. Interestingly, my brother recently purchased a 1973 Wauquiez Centurion for a very good price and has spent the past year refitting her for ocean sailing. Like the Arpege, the Centurion was built in France and the original construction is impressive. I understand this may be an apples-to-oranges comparison, but an older, good-quality French-built boat may be well worth the cost of a retrofit, especially if the initial purchase price is low. Be aware that the deck nonskid will likely be well worn, and the quality of painted nonskid repairs will vary. Some owners have applied synthetic nonskid like Treadmaster. The boat originally came with gate valves on through-hull fittings, although it is unlikely any of those original valves are still operational.

On deck A rather short but stout tiller was standard, and I have not heard of any boat that has been converted to wheel steering, although surely some must have been. Doing so really doesn't make any sense, because the small cockpit is ideal for a tiller. Quarter berths to port and starboard below mean there are no cockpit lockers, but there is a good-size lazarette astern. The boat I was aboard in France had converted this to a propane locker, with the bottles squeezed in amidst dock lines and fenders. The mainsheet traveler runs across the bridgedeck, restricting access to the companionway when under way but making the main convenient for efficient trimming. The Arpege was considered beamy for its day, and the result is that the side decks are fairly wide, considering this is just a 30-foot boat. Originally the single lifelines tapered to the deck forward instead of connecting to the pulpit. Chances are good that double lifelines running to the pulpit have been retrofitted along the way. Most deck hardware was originally by Goiot and it has likely held up very well. There are opening hatches above the saloon and the head. Chances are the original mast and boom are still standing; it really is impressive how well anodized-aluminum sections have stood up in the harsh marine environment.

Down below Michel Dufour was quite innovative when it came to interior layouts, and the Arpege was no exception. Instead of squeezing in a double berth forward, the small forepeak was dedicated to sail and other storage. A private athwartships head is aft of the forepeak. The saloon features opposite facing settees with pilot berths above. I like this arrangement. When coupled with a lee cloth, pilot berths are excellent sea berths located out of the traffic flow. I always commandeer a pilot berth if it's available. The Arpege has an impressive galley for a 1960s-era 30-footer. Opposite the galley is the nav station, again an unusual feature in an older small boat, and the nav desk is large enough to work comfortably. The galley and the nav station can be closed off from the saloon for added privacy. There are quarter berths port and starboard, and if you can resist filling them up with gear, they make great sea berths. There is adequate storage below the settees and, of course, excellent storage in the forepeak. The table is designed to be stowed away and can also be used as a cockpit table. The finish work is really quite nice, trimmed in mahogany. There's even a built-in wine rack.

Engine Most original Arpeges came with a Volvo diesel, which was very common for many smaller European boats, since Volvo owned the auxiliary market for years. The most common power plant was a two-cylinder 25-horsepower model that if well maintained should still run fine. It may be loud and a bit smoky, but if it's running, I wouldn't hasten to replace it. Repowering, however, seems to have been rather common and of the five boats I located on the secondhand market on the East Coast all had 2GM 20-horsepower Yanmars. Be sure to check this installation carefully. Either engine gives the Arpege adequate performance. The hull is easily driven and you should be able to motor along at more than 5 knots. Access to the engine is decent from behind the companionway steps and through the quarter berths. Reaching the stuffing box is more challenging. The original plastic fuel tank held 11 gallons, although this has likely been replaced.

Under way Two of the owners that I managed to communicate with in France explained that they sailed all over the Bay of Biscay every year and that the Arpege is really at its best in heavy weather. The chap I spoke with in Oakland, who has sailed his Arpege extensively offshore, confirmed this notion. Mike Addelman owns a 1973 model that he sails on Biscayne Bay in Miami. When asked about the boat's performance parameters, Addelman told me via e-mail that he is surprised how well the Arpege points and not surprised that it tracks well too. While it doesn't accelerate like a modern boat, it doesn't slow down easily either. He noted that several years ago, he finished third in class in the Columbus Day Regatta despite a weekend of very light wind. Although he has not sailed his boat beyond the Bahamas, he has experienced some stiff breezes in the Gulf Stream. His only complaint is that the boat tends to develop weather helm. He flies an asymmetrical chute and claims that boat steers very well off the wind, with 7 knots being his top speed on a reach.

Conclusion The Dufour Arpege 30 is one of those old fiberglass boats that seems to have fallen through the cracks on the used boat market. It is a good quality, offshore capable boat that can usually be purchased for less than $15,000. It is an interesting alternative to more familiar American-built boats.

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Dufour Safari 27 - Cruising Mainsails

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