Dufour 40p

This is a Dufour 40P, built in 2003 and delivered as a 2004 ‘model’ on Lake Michigan. This boat has never been out in the salt, spending its last twenty years on the Great Lakes. I am the owner and headed to the ‘dark side’ with a trawler. We raced and cruised this boat for the last eight years. We enjoyed a very successful racing due to a great crew and a solid boat. She’s easy to sail. All lines are lead aft and the helm position can trim both main and genoa within an arm’s reach so whoever is reading forward at the bulkhead is undisturbed!

This is the 2-cabin version with V and quarter, single head. It is the stock version of this boat with 6’11” lead keel and standard rig. (The tall rig version was available in the 2005 models.)  We have done a few changes, most noticeably the addition of a sprit (J +13%) and taking the A-sail to masthead. This greatly enhanced downwind performance. Upwind, we carry a 143% genoa. It tracks like a train with helm movements of less than an inch. She’s got a big, deep, elliptical rudder and digs in when it’s blowing. Main and genoa are Kevlar and five years old. They are in excellent condition with a couple small Dacron wear patches at spreaders and pulpit.

The previous owner used this boat as his on the water condo, so most all the usage is mine. Not a scratch on the hull or the bottom. Her hull and deck is in superb condition. There are no stupid additional holes drilled in the deck for water intrusion. Rudder is dry as a bone. This is NOT a teak decked boat so that is not an issue to rear its ugly head in the decades to come. Teak on the cockpit settees and sole is freshly oiled. I have kept the original Dufour dishes (unused) and cockpit table (unused). This boat is 9.5/10 in its original delivered conditioned.

Power is a Volvo Penta D2-55 and delivers thrust through a Penta 110 saildrive and a 3-blade feathering Max-Prop. Saildrive was lightly sanded and received 4 coats of epoxy this year just to make sure it was as pretty as the rest of the boat. These have always been protected with magnesium anodes. A new rubber fairing was installed. Under power, the diesel is VERY quiet, above and below decks. The diesel has 750 hours (I bought it with 70 hours!). Oil changes are performed religiously every fall and more frequently on a big usage year. In cold weather, she starts in less than one second.

Below decks speak for themselves. When I purchased the boat I refinished the cabin sole and companionway ladder. It is in beautiful condition. Refrigeration is the standard Frigoboat (Danfoss compressor) running on common 134a Freon. (I took to doing my own service as it is difficult to get a reefer guy and a vacuum and gage set is a simple proposition.) Propane stove has nice fiddles and also an oven. There is lots of storage on this boat, two hanging lockers fore and aft with a dozen cabinets and another ten drawers. All the cushions are in excellent condition. Dufour’s woodworking is superb. Both the 12V and 120VAC panels are as delivered. Two new LiFePo4 batteries were installed last year on the house side.

Instruments are all Raymarine ST60 series and fully functional. Dual side wind and speed/depth are on both port and starboard binnacle faces. Chart plotter and radar are by Lowrance (Simrad B&G) in a 9” HDS display. I have the recent chart chip for North America. Autopilot is a Raymarine ST5000 and works perfectly. Pilot drive is from motor to wheel by chain drive.   

I would invite any questions you may have that aren’t answered in the description and specifications.

Here’s are some sample questions:

Why is this boat 139k when the average price is 123k? Because it has not been exposed to Chlorine ions for a couple decades. If price is a key element in your purchase, go buy a salty in the Gulf or East Coast. They are a lot cheaper.

Does the boat have any leaks? I have been out in 10-12’s, in rail, hail and snow. There is NO evidence of leaks, rot, or damage inside this boat.

How much is a new one? They don’t make the 40P anymore. It was later changed to the 40E (same boat, twin helms). A few years ago, they came out with the 41… very pretty with mild chines. A mere half million bucks. This boat is every bit as pretty!

Price includes launch, rigging and a couple lessons.