The Dufour Yachts 39 1982 vs Dufour Yachts 390 Grand Large 2018 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 39 1982 at 39,2 ft versus Dufour Yachts 390 Grand Large 2018 at 39,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Dufour Yachts 390 Grand Large 2018 tips the scales at 16 976 lbs — 1 985 lbs less than the Dufour Yachts 39 1982 at 14 991 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 — 43 hp for the Dufour Yachts 39 1982 and 40 hp for the Dufour Yachts 390 Grand Large 2018. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Dufour Yachts 390 Grand Large 2018 carries 53 gallons versus 29 gallons in the Dufour Yachts 39 1982. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

Both boats are rated for 11 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.

Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket — 14 991 lbs for the Dufour Yachts 39 1982 and 16 976 lbs for the Dufour Yachts 390 Grand Large 2018. 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 — 6,7 ft and 6,5 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.

The Dufour Yachts 39 1982 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Dufour Yachts 39 1982 uses a 1 wheel versus a 2 wheels on the Dufour Yachts 390 Grand Large 2018. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones.

Hull speed is rated at 7,9 knots for the Dufour Yachts 390 Grand Large 2018 and 7,4 knots for the Dufour Yachts 39 1982. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Dufour Yachts 390 Grand Large 2018 carries 100 gallons versus 53 gallons on the Dufour Yachts 39 1982 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.