The Dufour Yachts 360 Grand Large 2017 vs Dufour Yachts 45e 2008 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Dufour Yachts 45e 2008 measures 45,1 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 12,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Dufour Yachts 360 Grand Large 2017 at 33,1 feet (2017). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Dufour Yachts 45e 2008 tips the scales at 24 068 lbs — 11 559 lbs less than the Dufour Yachts 360 Grand Large 2017 at 12 509 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 55 hp, the Dufour Yachts 45e 2008 has a 36-hp advantage over the Dufour Yachts 360 Grand Large 2017's 19-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Dufour Yachts 45e 2008 carries 66 gallons versus 42 gallons in the Dufour Yachts 360 Grand Large 2017. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Dufour Yachts 45e 2008 is rated for 13 passengers, while the Dufour Yachts 360 Grand Large 2017 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 45e 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Dufour Yachts 45e 2008 displaces 24 068 lbs — a 11 559-lb difference over the Dufour Yachts 360 Grand Large 2017 at 12 509 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.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 6,2 ft and 6,5 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Dufour Yachts 360 Grand Large 2017 uses Sloop rigging. For auxiliary power the Dufour Yachts 45e 2008 carries a 55-hp engine against 19 hp on the Dufour Yachts 360 Grand Large 2017. 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 8,5 knots for the Dufour Yachts 45e 2008 and 7,3 knots for the Dufour Yachts 360 Grand Large 2017. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Dufour Yachts 45e 2008 carries 151 gallons versus 58 gallons on the Dufour Yachts 360 Grand Large 2017 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Dufour Yachts 45e 2008 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 24 068 lbs displacement and 45 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Dufour Yachts 360 Grand Large 2017 at 12 509 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.