In 2015, the French company Dufour Yachts plans to have completed its complete overhaul of the "Grand'Large" touring series. By then, the entire programme from 31 to 56 feet in length is to be presented in a uniform but equally independent concept. Just recently, the shipyard in Périgny near La Rochelle launched the new Dufour 382 Grand'Large announced a completely new development. The next expansion stage is now following with the Dufour 350.
The new boat comes as a replacement for the three-year-old Dufour 335 GL (test in YACHT 24/2011). At the time, this boat caused a sensation as the first touring boat under ten metres in length with double steering wheels and thus defined new standards for the entry-level class. The shipyard has now revisited the hull and modified the moulds. The new 350 now also features chines (chine edges) at the rear of the boat. The deck has also been completely rebuilt. More and larger window areas are now integrated into the superstructure. In addition, the front section has been stiffened so that a self-tacking rail can be fitted. The self-tacking jib is standard. The genoa with a slight overlap of around 120 per cent remains available as an option.
Compared to the previous model, the rig will be slightly higher, but thanks to the strongly swept spreaders, it will continue to do without a backstay. The advantage of this is that the helmsman can work in his area without any disruptive restrictions and with more freedom of movement. The wide stern section with the large, folding bathing platform remains unchanged. The beautifully large aft storage compartments have also been retained.
Thanks to the chines in the fuselage, the interior gains a few centimetres more volume in the rear fuselage area. This has enabled the designers to create an extension option with three cabins. Together with the additional sofas in the saloon that can be used as berths, the boat could theoretically sleep up to eight people overnight. In the version with three cabins, however, the toilet room is quite heavily compressed; the navigation corner is completely omitted.
The two-cab version with the asymmetrically and very generously designed double cab at the rear remains standard. In this version, the layout of the interior remains almost unchanged compared to the previous model. The toilet compartment was already praised as unusually spacious in the test of the 335. Thanks to the wet cell, the forecastle is also accessible through the interior. Dufour has also worked on the appearance. With light-coloured oak veneers, the interiors of the new models are now friendlier and more airy than the previous interiors with their dark mahogany look.
Dufour Yachts plans to complete the prototype of the new 350 Grand'Large by October 2014 and then test it extensively. The first public presentation is then planned for the Paris Boat Show in December. Information regarding the price is still unclear, as the shipyard has not yet finalised its calculations.
The video to test the bigger sister Dufour 410 GL
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