The Dufour Yachts 310 Grand Large 2014 vs Dufour Yachts 4800 1982 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Dufour Yachts 310 Grand Large 2014 at 31,8 ft versus Dufour Yachts 4800 1982 at 34,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Dufour Yachts 310 Grand Large 2014 tips the scales at 10 891 lbs — 309 lbs more than the Dufour Yachts 4800 1982 at 10 582 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 19 hp for the Dufour Yachts 310 Grand Large 2014 and 28 hp for the Dufour Yachts 4800 1982. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 24 gal and 24 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Dufour Yachts 4800 1982 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Dufour Yachts 310 Grand Large 2014 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Dufour Yachts 4800 1982 could be the deciding factor.

Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket — 10 891 lbs for the Dufour Yachts 310 Grand Large 2014 and 10 582 lbs for the Dufour Yachts 4800 1982. Comparable displacement means broadly similar seakeeping behaviour and load capacity, though hull form and ballast ratio will still produce noticeably different sailing characteristics.

Both boats draw a similar depth — 6,2 ft and 6,1 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.

The Dufour Yachts 310 Grand Large 2014 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Dufour Yachts 310 Grand Large 2014 uses a 2 wheels versus a 1 tiller (helm wheel in option) on the Dufour Yachts 4800 1982. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones. For auxiliary power the Dufour Yachts 4800 1982 carries a 28-hp engine against 19 hp on the Dufour Yachts 310 Grand Large 2014. Motoring range and ability to punch through a foul current or enter a tight marina under power will favour the more powerful installation.

Hull speed is rated at 7,2 knots for the Dufour Yachts 310 Grand Large 2014 and 7,0 knots for the Dufour Yachts 4800 1982. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Dufour Yachts 4800 1982 carries 69 gallons versus 42 gallons on the Dufour Yachts 310 Grand Large 2014 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.