Many Dufours on the used market are mid-size cruisers from large production runs, and YACHT and Yachting Monthly have tested several. The points they raise are the saildrive, the keel area and the deck.
Saildrive collar and seals
On the 365 Grand Large, YACHT says that as with all used boats the saildrive collar should be considered. The test boat's owner replaced it when he bought the boat, which YACHT calls a sensible investment after 15 years, and it also advises replacing the drive's oil seals.
Where to look. The date of the last collar or diaphragm replacement, the drive oil for water, and the seals.
Keel bolts and keel floors
The 365's keel bolts are hard to reach: the small bench in front of the galley has to come out. YACHT says to look anyway. It also found the keel floor chocks carelessly made, with corners that aren't rounded, giving a notch effect when the keel touches the ground that can show as cracks in the topcoat.
Where to look. Remove the bench and inspect each keel bolt and backing plate. Look at the corners of the floors for cracks, and ask about groundings.
Gelcoat, rubbing strake and seacocks
YACHT's closing advice for the 365: pay particular attention to the gelcoat, keel bolts, rubbing strake and seacocks.
The balsa-cored deck on the Dufour 30
On the Dufour 30 Classic, built from 1997 to 2002, YACHT and Yachting Monthly describe a solid laminate hull with a balsa-cored deck.
Where to look. The deck around every fitting for soft spots and high moisture readings. See wet deck core.
What to check on a Dufour
| Area | What to look for | Source of the concern |
|---|---|---|
| Saildrive | Collar age, oil seals, water in oil | YACHT, 365 Grand Large |
| Keel bolts | Access under the galley bench, corrosion | YACHT, 365 Grand Large |
| Keel floors | Cracks at sharp corners after groundings | YACHT, 365 Grand Large |
| Rubbing strake and seacocks | Condition | YACHT, 365 Grand Large |
| Balsa-cored deck | Soft spots, moisture at fittings | YACHT and Yachting Monthly, Dufour 30 |
Writing it up
"Keel: hairline cracks in the floor laminate at the forward corners of the keel floor, consistent with a grounding; keel bolts not inspected, access requires removing the galley bench. Recommend the bench is removed, the bolts and floors are inspected and the keel joint checked out of the water." Say what you couldn't reach.