BoatsDufour Yachts 56

Dufour Yachts 56

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1994

A 17-metre masthead sloop with a 2.44m draught, designed for high-volume offshore cruising with a 9.92-knot hull speed

Designed by P. Harle, A. Mortain, Mortain & Mavrikios.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

See her sail

The Dufour Yachts 56, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Sailing Polaris

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a narrow beam gives 27 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 27
CoastalBluewater

1.88 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.88
LightHeavy

105 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 105

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Heavier than ~77% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~76% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~83% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1033 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Dufour Yachts 56 on video

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
Displacement / length
104.7
Comfort ratio
27.3
Capsize screening
1.88
Hull speed
9.9 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
3097
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1994
Designer
P. Harle, A. Mortain, Mortain, Mavrikios
Builder
Dufour

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Jeanneau Yachts 5516.93 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA modern Philippe Briand-designed fractional sloop featuring dual rudders and a high-volume hull for performance cruising
Amel 5417.20 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA robust staysail ketch designed for serious blue-water cruising with a high comfort ratio and stable skeg-hung rudder
Beneteau Oceanis 5416.69 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA high-performance fractional cruiser from Berret-Racoupeau featuring a powerful sail plan and a shoal keel option
Dufour Yachts 5416.84 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA high-performance fractional sloop by Felci Yacht Design featuring a smart electric propulsion option and flexible cabin layouts
Baltic Yachts 55 DP16.76 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Doug Peterson-designed masthead sloop built by Baltic, balancing high-performance sail area with a stiff, stable hull
Hanse Yachts 57517.15 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 17-metre performance cruiser with a 2.85-metre draft and a powerful 19.84 SA/D ratio for fast, modern passage making

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

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