DUFOUR 382 VERSUS OCEANIS 38

12:28 AM in Boat Plans

The boat hit the water recently and is going to be one of the attractions of the Fall and Winter boat shows. The 382 substitutes the 380 and has a slightly more modern hull, with chines and the beam more pulled aft but in any other way it is very close on the overall dimensions to the previous boat. The type of hull is close to the  410 one, but the 382 does not look as elegant as the big brother...neither as elegant as the smaller brother, the 310.
The 382 has some interesting features, like the boom inclined to the bow, that allows an easier work on the mast and on the main sail, a very big main traveler over the cockpit and one of the new furlers derived from the ones that are used on solo racing.

It has also some odd features like having only two winches!!!, being the two on the back of the boat, near the wheel, optional, no grab rail at the wheels or at the cockpit table and having on this type of hull only one rudder. That one I don't get it: Felci designed the 310 and the 410 with twin rudders and this one, with the same type of hull, with a single one? When I saw that and the very similar identical dimensions I thought that this one was a 380 MKII, but the transom is different and this one has chines.

I don't like the interior. Sure it has six possible versions, but a lot of flexibility is not the only thing that matters: it has to be cozy and nice and  by the images they show and for what I have seen on the movie the interior is just...cold and uninspired, as much as the one of the 38 is bright and cozy. The only advantage I saw: A big freezer/refrigerator of a size I had never seen on a 38ft boat. The Beneteau 380 clearly wins in what regards boat interior, except if for you that huge refrigerator is more important than all the rest. 

Regarding hulls, the Beneteau one is more inspired by a solo Open racer type of hull, with more beam and a transom allowing less heel: 3.99m to 3.85m; the Beneteau LWL is considerably bigger: 10,72m to 9.90m , the weight is smaller 6850kg to 7060kg, the Beneteau keel design, B/D ratio and draft indicates a bigger  RM coming from a lower CG: Draft - 2.08m versus 1.90m; B/D ratio - 26% to 22% .

To the bigger RM that comes from the lower CG the Beneteau adds a considerably superior RM coming from the hull form stability (more beam) and that means  a boat with a considerably bigger overall stability, a more powerful boat that will be able to carry more sail when the wind goes up, to reef later and to sail faster. It is possible that the Dufour will have a slightly better performance with light winds, or close upwind (it remains to be seen) but not much since the Oceanis  not only has a bigger LWL as it is lighter and carries substantially more sail: Upwind 65.7m2 versus 60m2 and downwind 146.7m2 to 117m2.

Contrary to its little brother, the Dufour 310, that I find a great little and boat, I don't think the 385 has the arguments to oppose the market leader on this size and category.
 Sure, I really hate the Oceanis no traveler system, up there on the air and I like a lot more the  big traveler of the Dufour, but that is too little for opposing to the Oceanis 380 advantages in what regards the sailing performance, not to mention the superior control and easier sailing offered by the Beneteau twin ruder that is also a more reliable solution. Between the two I would chose the Dehler 38....well that would be between the three LOL. Between the two I don't think the new Dufour 382 will be a match to the Oceanis 38...but who knows, I might be wrong ;-)