The Dufour Yachts 39 1982 vs Dufour Yachts Lacoste 42 1985 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 Lacoste 42 1985 at 42,2 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Dufour Yachts Lacoste 42 1985 tips the scales at 16 535 lbs - 1 544 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 43 hp for the Dufour Yachts Lacoste 42 1985. 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 Lacoste 42 1985 carries 42 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.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Dufour Yachts Lacoste 42 1985 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Dufour Yachts 39 1982 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Dufour Yachts Lacoste 42 1985 could be the deciding factor.

Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket - 14 991 lbs for the Dufour Yachts 39 1982 and 16 535 lbs for the Dufour Yachts Lacoste 42 1985. 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 7,6 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.

The Dufour Yachts 39 1982 uses Sloop rigging.

Hull speed is rated at 8,0 knots for the Dufour Yachts Lacoste 42 1985 and 7,4 knots for the Dufour Yachts 39 1982. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Dufour Yachts Lacoste 42 1985 carries 106 gallons versus 53 gallons on the Dufour Yachts 39 1982 - a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.