Dufour Grand' Large 445: Cruising World Sailboat Show 2012
The French builder adds this sensible and comfortable sloop to its fleet. "Boat Review" from our January 2012 issue.
The Dufour Grand’ Large 445 is the latest Umberto Felci-designed sloop to be added to the upscale French builder’s line of cruising sailboats. It features a plumb bow and transom, twin wheels, and teak decks and cockpit seats.
Under sail, with an easterly Chesapeake Bay breeze gusting past 20 knots, we notched boat speeds in the high 7s up to the mid 8s, sailing closehauled with a single reef in the main and only about two-thirds of the genoa rolled out. With just fingertips on the wheel, the Lewmar steering was responsive as we barreled smoothly through the chop.
Down below, the 445 comes in a couple of configurations, both with aft cabins, the port having access to the aft head, located at the bottom of the companionway with a convenient hanging wet locker. In the four-cabin model, each forward cabin has a head and shower to call its own. Or an owner can have a single, large cabin forward with a head to starboard and a gigantic shower to port.
With lots of storage areas throughout the boat, the 445 is worthy of its cruising appellation. That combined with its ability to deliver a good turn of speed and a sensibly comfortable ride makes this newest Dufour a candidate for a cruise down the coast—or beyond.
LOA 44’ 3”
LWL 39’ 1”
Beam 14’ 3”
Draft 5’ 10”
Sail Area 802 sq. ft.
Displacement 22,770 lb.
Water 125 gal.
Fuel 66 gal.
Engine 55-hp. Yanmar
Designer Felci/Dufour Yachts
Price $331,524
Dufour Yachts
(352) 871-0362
www.dufour-yachts.com
