Dufour 39
Description
The Dufour 39 is a French sailboat designed by German Frers as a performance-oriented cruiser-racer, balancing speed for club racing with comfortable accommodations for coastal cruising and short offshore passages. It features a fiberglass monohull with a fin keel (bulb optional) and spade rudder for agile upwind handling, a wide beam for stability, and a masthead sloop rig for straightforward sail power in moderate winds. The design emphasizes lightweight responsiveness, a moderate displacement/length ratio for quick acceleration, and a high ballast ratio for stiffness in gusts, with a comfort ratio suitable for extended weekends. Introduced in 1982 by Dufour Yachts in La Rochelle, France, the Dufour 39 was Frers' collaboration with the builder during the early 1980s IOR-influenced era, evolving from models like the Dufour 35 to offer a versatile 39-footer for competitive sailors and families. Production ran until 1996, with approximately 160 units built, reflecting its appeal as an affordable high performer amid the fiberglass production surge. Contemporary reviews praised its "attractive hull and light interior," noting its racecourse prowess and value. It's distinct from the earlier 1970s Dufour 39 (Michel Dufour design, short run) and the modern Dufour 390 (2019+, Felci hull).
Construction Details
| Designer | German Frers |
|---|---|
| Builder | Dufour Yachts |
| Length | 38.170 ft |
| LOA | 38.170 ft |
| LWL | 32.000 ft |
| Beam | 12.500 ft |
| Displacement | 15432 lb |
| Ballast | 5952 lb |
| Max Draft | 6.500 ft |
| Year Built | 1982 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 48.25 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 15.17 ft |
| p | 41.92 ft |
| e | 14.42 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48.25 ft | 15.17 ft | 41.92 ft | 14.42 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Dufour 39 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 41.92 ft - (12777 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 14.42 ft - (4395 mm) |
| Leech | * 43.58 ft - (13283 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 43.85 ft - (13365 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 311.26 ft² |
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Dufour 39 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 40.46 ft - (12332 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 20.04 ft - (6108 mm) |
| Leech | * 35.23 ft - (10738 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.03 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 17.45 ft - (5319 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | * 353 ft² |
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Dufour 39 - GENOA
| Luff | * 48.05 ft - (14646 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 24.45 ft - (7452 mm) |
| Leech | * 45.26 ft - (13795 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150.03 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 22.76 ft - (6937 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.97 ° |
| Area | * 546.83 ft² |
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Dufour 39 - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | * 48.05 ft - (14646 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 25.03 ft - (7629 mm) |
| Leech | * 44.21 ft - (13475 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 902 ft² |
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Dufour 39 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 48.05 ft - (14646 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 27.31 ft - (8324 mm) |
| Foot | * 27.31 ft - (8324 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 1115 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.