The Dufour Yachts 36 Performance 2012 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 36 Performance 2012 at 36,1 ft versus Dufour Yachts 4800 1982 at 34,1 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Dufour Yachts 36 Performance 2012 tips the scales at 13 503 lbs — 2 921 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 — 29 hp for the Dufour Yachts 36 Performance 2012 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 36 Performance 2012 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Dufour Yachts 4800 1982 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Dufour Yachts 36 Performance 2012 could be the deciding factor.

Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Dufour Yachts 36 Performance 2012 displaces 13 503 lbs — a 2 921-lb difference over the Dufour Yachts 4800 1982 at 10 582 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.

Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Dufour Yachts 36 Performance 2012 draws 7,2 ft, compared to 6,1 ft for the Dufour Yachts 4800 1982. That 1,1-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.

The Dufour Yachts 36 Performance 2012 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Dufour Yachts 36 Performance 2012 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.

Hull speed is rated at 7,8 knots for the Dufour Yachts 36 Performance 2012 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 58 gallons on the Dufour Yachts 36 Performance 2012 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.