Dufour 42 (S&S)
Description
The Dufour 42 (S&S) is a French sailboat designed by Sparkman & Stephens as a classic performance cruiser-racer, suitable for coastal cruising, club racing, and occasional offshore passages. It features a fiberglass monohull with a fin keel and spade rudder for responsive upwind handling, a wide beam for stability, and a masthead sloop rig for straightforward sail power in moderate winds. The design emphasizes seaworthiness with a moderate displacement/length ratio for balanced motion and a high ballast ratio for stiffness in gusts, with a comfort ratio classifying it as a capable bluewater cruiser. Introduced in 1970 by Dufour Yachts in La Rochelle, France, the Dufour 42 was a collaboration with the renowned American firm Sparkman & Stephens during the early 1970s IOR era, blending racing pedigree with cruising practicality amid the fiberglass boom. Production ran until 1974, with approximately 50 units built, targeting experienced sailors seeking a fast, versatile 42-footer. Contemporary reviews praised its "stable and stiff" qualities and righting capability, noting it as a "fast cruiser" with excellent upwind performance. It's distinct from later Dufour 42 models (e.g., 1980s Berret designs) and remains a rare vintage collectible.
Construction Details
| Designer | Sparkman and Stephens |
|---|---|
| Builder | Dufour Yachts |
| Length | 42.160 ft |
| LOA | 42.160 ft |
| LWL | 35.760 ft |
| Beam | 12.670 ft |
| Displacement | 18740 lb |
| Ballast | 7716 lb |
| Max Draft | 7.500 ft |
| Year Built | 1970 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 55 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 16 ft |
| p | 47 ft |
| e | 15 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 ft | 16 ft | 47 ft | 15 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Dufour 42 (S&S) - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 45.58 ft - (13893 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 14.08 ft - (4292 mm) |
| Leech | * 46.96 ft - (14313 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 47.23 ft - (14396 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 330.59 ft² |
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Dufour 42 (S&S) - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 43.62 ft - (13295 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 21.7 ft - (6614 mm) |
| Leech | * 37.95 ft - (11567 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 114.98 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 18.88 ft - (5755 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.02 ° |
| Area | * 411.75 ft² |
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Dufour 42 (S&S) - GENOA
| Luff | * 51.8 ft - (15789 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 26.48 ft - (8071 mm) |
| Leech | * 48.75 ft - (14859 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 24.63 ft - (7507 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.03 ° |
| Area | * 637.87 ft² |
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Dufour 42 (S&S) - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | * 51.8 ft - (15789 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 27.09 ft - (8257 mm) |
| Leech | * 47.66 ft - (14527 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 1052 ft² |
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Dufour 42 (S&S) - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 51.8 ft - (15789 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 29.56 ft - (9010 mm) |
| Foot | * 29.56 ft - (9010 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 1302 ft² |
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Dufour 42 (S&S) - STORMJIB
| Luff | * 29.99 ft - (9141 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 12.26 ft - (3737 mm) |
| Leech | * 24.74 ft - (7541 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 59.99 % |
| Length Perp | * 9.85 ft - (3002 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 19 ° |
| Area | * 147.74 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.