The boat market is on the move - perhaps now more than ever. In an almost sporting competition, the leading shipyards are outbidding each other with their new interpretations of the modern sailing yacht. The competitive pressure is high, especially in large series production and particularly in the medium-sized cruising yacht segment.
More from the shipyard:
- Buying a used boat: The handy Dufour 30 on test
- Dufour 32: Smart hipster from France put to the test
- Dufour 365 GL: Unconventional large series boat in a used boat test
- Test Dufour 390: Space miracle with plenty of room for individuality
- Dufour 41: A little more of everything - the spaceship in the test
- Dufour Grand Large 430: A test of the volume miracle from France
- Test Dufour 44: Voluminous touring boat with a good dose of sportiness
Alongside Bavaria, Beneteau, Hanse and Jeanneau, Dufour is of course also one of the major established brands. Over the past three years, Dufour Yachts has consistently rebuilt its touring programme from the ground up. One new model per year - at least until now. This year, Dufour is deviating from this pattern. The shipyard in Périgny near La Rochelle is presenting two completely new developments in 2025: the Dufour 48 and the new flagship, the Dufour 54which will be presented for the first time at the Yachting Festival in Cannes in September. In collaboration with the long-standing in-house designer Umberto Felci from Italy, the French are thus completing a visually unusually homogeneous and conceptually well thought-out shipyard programme.
Despite a lot of volume and weight. The new Dufour surprises under sail with its dynamic sportiness.
Larger, fuller, dimensionally stable
The new 48 takes the place of the Dufour 470which is being replaced after just five years on the market. Although the new ship largely retains the ship concept of its predecessor, it also features many interesting and market-relevant innovations. For example, the cockpit has been completely redesigned and now has a new layout with two tables.
With a length of 14.32 metres, the hull of the Dufour 48 remains a good deal larger and, with a width of 4.85, also significantly more voluminous than those of its competitors. The ratio of length to width is only 2.95, which generally indicates a particularly voluminous construction. However, this is not exclusive to the Dufour - the trend towards ever more voluminous hull shapes is also unmistakable in competitor boats.
Measured values of the Dufour 48
The hull is built as a GRP sandwich construction with a foam core using the vacuum infusion process. The deck is a robust and rigid RTM construction made from a double mould, manufactured using vacuum infusion. The hull is given additional rigidity by the many kinks in the freeboard: one as an almost continuous chine above the waterline for more dimensional stability, the other as a clearly stepped recess for the large hull windows, which are recessed and thus better protected.
Plenty of thrust under sail
The conditions for the YACHT test off Palma de Mallorca are ideal: 15 knots of wind on average, gusts of up to 18 knots. The boat copes perfectly with these conditions and sails confidently through short, steep waves in the bay. Tacking angles are 85 degrees when the wind is strong, and the Dufour achieves a speed of 7.6 knots over the ground - a very good value, even taking into account the performance upgrade with better sails and an overlapping genoa. A large top gennaker provides plenty of thrust under sail. Despite her weight of 13.8 tonnes, the Frenchwoman even breaks the 10-knot mark for a short time.
The relatively large and flat single rudder ensures excellent control, even with a lot of pressure and heeling. What's more, the Felci design sits perfectly on the rudder and flatters the helmsman with pleasantly light feedback. It is easy to steer the boat optimally in the wind.
There are numerous options for layout and equipment. The buyer enjoys a great deal of freedom of choice.
As with the smaller Dufour 44 model, the shipyard has planned more space and a step between the helm stations and the seat bays to make it easier to get from the cockpit to the running deck without having to climb. The trade-off is that the helmsman has difficulty reaching the rear of the two sheet winches on the coaming from his position at the wheel. This makes the boat less suitable for single-handed sailing. In addition, the helmsman sits unusually low on the side of the wheel, which is exhausting and tiring in the long run.
Expansion variance is high
Jefa's steering system couples the two steering wheels to the rudder shaft with a continuous cable (chain and wire). The autopilot is connected directly to the large quadrant, thus ensuring redundancy in the event of a defect in the mechanical parts. What's more, the steering system is easily accessible through a large hatch in the aft deck.
Today, versions with three, four or even five cabins and a maximum of four toilet rooms are the norm in the cruising yacht class with a hull length of around 14 metres. Owners order the ship with the large cabin in the foredeck with a generously planned island bed and split bathroom (toilet and shower in two separate rooms). For use in the charter business, Dufour is also fitting out the foredeck with two cabins, each with its own toilet. Thanks to the voluminous hull forms in the foredeck, the berths here are still 1.45 metres wide, which is just about enough for two people.
There is also an exciting variety of layouts for the saloon. Layouts are possible with a large, divided galley at the front of the main bulkhead or as a long galley unit on the starboard side. Accordingly, the seating area is either split and installed on both sides or built lengthways into the saloon as a large piece of furniture. An additional space aft on the port side can serve as another double cabin with Pullman berths or as a versatile utility room. However, there are no plans for proper navigation. This emphasises the general trend towards navigation using laptops and tablets. In addition, there are no handrails, recessed grips or other handholds in the saloon.
In contrast, the interior concept of the Dufour 48 shines with an almost unmanageable range of accessible and easily usable stowage spaces. The ventilation options below deck are also exemplary. There are no fewer than ten hatches on deck that can be opened, and cross ventilation is possible in all cabins.
Pricing of the Dufour 48
According to the price list, the base price is 422,450 euros gross. However, this is still a long way from getting underway. Dufour has therefore put together an additional bundle with the most important and necessary equipment components, including a simple set of sails.
- Base price ex shipyard: 464.100 €
- Standard equipment included: Engine, sails, sheets, railing, navigation lights, battery, compass, sails, cushions, galley/cooker, bilge pump, toilet, sailcloth (lazybags), fire extinguisher, electric cooler, holding tank with suction system
- For an extra charge: Mooring kit (anchor with chain, fenders, mooring lines) €2,260, antifouling paint €4,760, clear sailing handover €3,500
- Price ready to sail: 474.620 €
- Guarantee/against osmosis: 2/5 years
- Surcharge for comfort equipment: Line adjustment Hole points package; Traveller 3.330 €; Electric windlass incl.; Tube kicker incl.; Backstay tensioner 3.510 €; Jumping cleats incl.; Sprayhood 6.425 €; Teak in cockpit 11.660 €; VHF radio electronics package; Log and echo sounder electronics package; Wind gauge electronics package; Autopilot electronics package; Electronics package 18.445 €; Charger incl.; Shore connection with RCD incl.; 230-volt socket (one) incl.; 12-volt socket in the sat nav incl.; Heating 17.850 €; Pressurised water system incl.; Hot water boiler incl.; Shower WC room incl.; Cockpit shower incl.
- Comfort price: 535.840 €
- Included in the price: Rail for self-tacking jib, fixed bowsprit, storage compartment for life raft, stern platform with swim ladder, headsail furling system.
As of 2025, as the prices shown are defined, you will find here!
This Easy package for 41,650 euros is a mandatory part of the basic equipment, but pushes the base price up to a total of 464,100 euros. Although this is high compared to the competition, it can also be explained by a fairly extensive and high-quality inventory.
YACHT review of the Dufour 48
Extremely voluminous cruising boat with a high degree of versatility for a wide range of owner and charter applications. The sailing characteristics are convincing and the cockpit is well organised for working with a crew. The price is comparatively high.
Design and concept
Highly customisable
Line-faithful optics
Robust construction
Low seating position at the wheel
Living and finishing quality
Pantry in two versions
Many usable storage spaces
Electrical panel heavily exposed
Few holding options
Sailing performance and trim
Strong performance on the wind
Sensitive control
Good handling for the crew
Not very suitable for one-handed use
Equipment and technology
Electric drive as an option
Control perfectly accessible
Clear on-board technology
Large hardtop as an option
The Dufour 48 in detail
Technical data of the Dufour 48
- Designer: Felci Yacht Design
- CE design category: A
- Torso length: 14,32 m
- Total length: 15,29 m
- Waterline length: 13,35 m
- Width: 4,85 m
- Draught/alternative: 2,35/1,75 m
- Mast height above WL: 22,00 m
- Theor. torso speed: 8.9 kn
- Weight: 13,9 t
- Ballast/proportion: 3,8 t/27 %
- Mainsail: 64,0 m²
- Self-tacking jib: 42,0 m²
- Genoa (107 %): 53,0 m²
- machine (Yanmar): 42 kW/57 hp
- Fuel tank (PVC): 250 l
- Fresh water tanks (PVC): 530 l
- Holding tank: 2 x 60 litres
Hull and deck construction
- Hull: GRP sandwich (vacuum infusion) with foam core.
- Deck: Sandwich, RTM with resin injection.
Rig and sail
The standard aluminium mast with two spreaders comes from the manufacturer Z-Spars. A single set of Dacron sails (main and self-tacking jib) is included in the basic price (incl. Easy package). A furling mast is optionally available.
Motorisation
A built-in diesel from Yanmar (4JH57) with 57 hp and Saildrive comes as standard. The 80 hp upgrade costs an additional 8,330 euros. The ODSea package with electric hybrid drive, generator, lithium battery and control system is available for a total gross price of 91,630 euros.
Shipyard
Dufour Yachts, F-17180 Périgny (France); www.dufour-yachts.com
Distribution
Dealer network
Slightly larger than the boats of potential competitors
Bavaria C46
Comfort and volume are the focus of the overall concept of the 14-metre model from Bavaria. The boat from Giebelstadt also impresses under sail in the YACHT test. Read the test here.
Beneteau Oceanis 47
The latest ship was only recently announced and is still being finalised. The Oceanis 47 comes with new hull moulds as the successor to the successful Oceanis 46.1.
Hanse 460
She was Hanse's first model in co-operation with the designers of Berret-Racoupeau. The ship is smaller than the Dufour, but still almost as wide. The volume is considerable. Read the test of the Hanse 460 here.
Sun Odyssey 490
The flagship of Jeanneau's cruising line is unusually spacious, especially in the bow area, which allows a cabin for the skipper. The layout on deck is impressive with its walkaround cockpit.
Display
Insure Dufour 48 from 2,412.45 euros per year or 201.04 euros per month* - liability and hull insurance. Many options available: Protect your crew with passenger accident insurance. Simply calculate and take out online: yachting24.de
* Yachting24 offer valid for a sum insured of 464,100 euros (with current value cover), excess: 2,600 euros, liability cover: 8 million euros.
