Review of sailing cruise yacht Dufour 520

Review of sailing cruise yacht Dufour 520

If we talk directly about the price, then the base cost of the yacht is the lowest in comparison with competitors, such as, for example Beneteau Oceanis 51.1 and Jeanneau 51which Dufour 520 bypassed in the nomination Best cruising yacht of 2018, in the class of 50-54 feet, according to the version Cruising world... And the main reason for this was the sailing performance of the boat under sail, as experts noted. You will find a detailed comparison test of all three boats here.

Review of sailing cruise yacht Dufour 520

It has been several years since the incredibly revolutionary Dufour 500 Grand Large blew up the market with its emergence with all kinds of innovative ideas. Design Umberto Felci changed the idea of boats Dufour, therefore, the shipyard ensured the active development of the model range, immediately presenting similar models Dufour 460 Grand Large and Dufour 560 Grand Large.

It's all about the cases!

Now in the second generation of the concept of successful design, Dufour continues to develop and improve the features that have been installed in proven enclosures. This is what happened in the case of the new Dufour 520 and his successor Dufour 500which has evolved with some clever solutions.

Major improvements to the 520 are centered around the aft cockpit, where Dufour groundbreakingly placed an open galley complete with grill back in the 500. The chef stood on the hinged transom whipping up gourmet meals while keeping the cockpit smell and cool in the cabin. Cooking on board has taken it to the next level and won the hearts of customers. Now the chef remained in the center of the action, and the guests could watch the process. The concept has not changed significantly since then, but the implementation of some elements has improved. You need to understand that the cockpit is the most social space on board, and with each new model the shipyard will improve and enlarge this area. The feed gets wider, a wide bathing platform, grill, etc. is added.

Review of sailing cruise yacht Dufour 520

Review of sailing cruise yacht Dufour 520

The aft transom seat on the port side lifts and locks to reveal the sink, while the grill is now installed in the center section. When the seat cover is down, it can be part of the sunbathing bed and also has an integrated backrest that doubles over. The lid also becomes a guest seat aft of the cockpit table, so a big party or al fresco dinner is no longer a problem.

The starboard seat swings up and down to provide access to the bathing platform. On Dufour 520 an optional dual level platform is available that is electronically controlled. When the platform rises, it forms a transom, but when you lower it, it forms two levels of steps, one high and one low, so access to the water is now easier and safer than ever.

Review of sailing cruise yacht Dufour 520

Review of sailing cruise yacht Dufour 520

The cockpit table is another good solution. A rather large refrigerator for drinks and snacks is integrated inside the table. In the cockpit, everything is now at hand, and you do not need to worry about anything and run downstairs. But Dufourcertainly didn’t just stop at the features to improve the yachting lifestyle.

The shipyard also focused on sailing, navigation and seaworthiness of their yachts. They redesigned the binnacles to look more like a control panel on a superyacht. The sleek steering wheels support two layers of navigation electronics, including chartplotters at the top where they are clearly visible to the helmsman, and instruments, compasses, and additional throttle and steering controls located where the hand can quickly find them. Two sets of winches are within reach of the helms, so it is quite possible to sail this large boat alone.

Review of sailing cruise yacht Dufour 520

Review of sailing cruise yacht Dufour 520

The 9/10 fractional rig supports a traditional mainsail or mainsail roll, and has a sail area of 100 m2. The optional gennaker will make this sleek hull fly in the wind, and at the same time smoothly with its 2.3 meter long L-shaped keel.

A composite bowsprit is installed on the bow, which has a solid stainless steel structure covered with glass fiber to form a traditional anchor roller, as well as an attachment point for a gennaker. This is a great improvement over the long stainless steel bow roller on Dufour 500which originally had an anchor system that had to be deployed from the anchor locker using a halyard, which made no sense. The new system is much better.

Review of sailing cruise yacht Dufour 520

Inside, loyal connoisseurs Dufour will see the familiar deployment plan that took boat shows by storm a few years ago. The galley is still transverse and forked along the sides, between the master cabin and the saloon. The appliances have switches so that the oven and sink are now on the port side, while the two-compartment refrigerator is on the starboard side. The two parts of the galley allow several chefs to work in the kitchen at the same time, without interfering with each other, and there is also a good support on either side when rocking.

The master stateroom has an open concept and a pleasant ambience that we are used to in our homes, and the unique placement of the galley adds a little more privacy to it, moving it away from the saloon, aft cabins and the ever-noisy cockpit.

Review of sailing cruise yacht Dufour 520

A folding table has been added to the salon, with the ability to be set in three positions, from a small coffee table to a huge dining table, which is controlled by electronics. The origami nautical table is located opposite the dining area, and is adjustable to stay level regardless of the angle of the boat, and can also be shifted to face the bow or stern. The two top hatches and a whole section of portholes above the galley provide natural lighting down to dark. Claustrophobia won't be a problem on this boat.

The aft cabin on the port side can be easily converted from a double to a split double cabin for the convenience of children or guests. Maximum, Dufour 520 can accommodate up to 10 people in 5 cabins, and this is a great option for a charter, where the bow is split into two double cabins, and the internal navigation post and a bathroom on the starboard side is replaced by a two-level cabin for two guests. For individual use, a layout with a large bow cabin with its own bathroom and shower is best suited, and two aft cabins each with a separate bathroom and shower. This spacious seating plan will give you a sense of free, comfortable living space and allow you to leave this excellent navigation table.

Review of sailing cruise yacht Dufour 520

Dufour 520 Is a powerful sailing yacht, but it is also a huge playground for fun and relaxation, so it comes as no surprise that there is a wine cellar under the floor in the saloon, which has become almost standard on French boats. High-quality Moabi veneers, improved fittings, and Corian acrylic stone countertops and washbasins add a sense of luxury and comfort to the interior.

• Specifications Dufour Grand Large 520

Since its foundation in 1965, Dufour yachts have already built more than 80 models, improving the lines in accordance with the demand in the yachting industry, and producing more than 300-400 hulls per year. Ongoing innovation and evolution allows them to maintain this pace with reasonable research and development costs. The new Dufour 520, which builds on the successful 500 base to improve performance and living standards on board, is just a great French version of the theory of evolution!

View all Dufour yachts

18.06.2018