Dufour 460 – Pure elegance - Canadian Boating

By Katherine Stone

When one does an October yacht review on the Great Lakes you can never be sure of what kind of weather you will get…. and did we ever luck out! A beautiful sunny day with a high of 31 degrees and a perfect 8-10 knot breeze with light chop made for a champagne sailing day. Lucky for me we were at Swans Yacht Sales located in the Whitby Marina on Lake Ontario, trying out the Dufour 460 Grand Large, a flag ship for the midrange Dufour boats. With an overall length of 46’5” and a hull length of 44 ‘, this boat is majestic, not only in size, but also in elegance with timeless and contemporary style. Focusing on enjoyment and comfort on board, it has become the gold standard for cruising yachts. Like all Dufour models, the deck core is closed cell foam, rather than balsa, for ultimate structural integrity. The Grand Large series boats are by the Italian Felci Yacht design team of Umberto Felci and Lorenzo Gliovannozzi. Now part of the Fountaine-Pajot Group, their 18,000 square meter facility in LaRochelle, France, has complete control of the production from carpentry to project development to finishing touches, the shipyard oversees every step.

The forward galley is open and ready for several chefs.

Starting with the cockpit, safety is a maximum priority with an enclosed, rear-locking cockpit and wide side decks for easy movement. There are long, roomy benches that comfortably seat six adults on thick cushions with the aft bench used for a seventh person when dining. The cockpit table has storage, a built-in fridge and cup holders, and a lamp that can be removed while sailing. Even with the sunbed pulled out, there is plenty of room to move through the cockpit and out onto the swim platform, which is almost as wide as the 14.76’ beam at the back and close to the water, with easy access to the swim ladder locker. The model we tested had the electronic opening system to lower the swim platform- perfect for light-weights to do! The revolutionary exterior built-in, fully equipped galley, invented by the Dufour R&D Department, is concealed under the rear cockpit seats with a gas griddle and sink. A real bonus that guarantees freedom for the chef to enjoy time with family and friends and is out of sight when not in use.

All instruments can be easily seen and accessed from the helm station. The German double main-sheet system runs back to size 55 helm winches. The jib can have two configurations with a self-tacker or 108% with two genoa tracks. The self-tacker certainly makes for easy short-handed sailing with absolutely nothing to do when you tack. The main was easily raised with the electric winch, so no muscle power required. Although she is billed as a cruising yacht, she has a racy look and is very stable. She sails exceptionally well and even with a light chop, we hardly knew that we were moving as we skidded along with the over-sized main and self-tacking jib, sitting on her chine and hit 7 knots in a 10-knot breeze. Although both bow and stern jet thrusters are available, this model did not have them. I found that bringing her into the dock, even with her high freeboard and a cross breeze, she was easy to maneuver and the 75 HP Volvo Penta saildrive was very responsive. Without using the throttle, the boat immediately stopped moving when put into reverse. The throttle is installed at waist-height and easy to use while standing.

The foredeck is clean and free from tripping hazards.

The walk to the foredeck is free of hazards and trip-free with flush hatches and lines concealed. The gooseneck has been lowered and it’s simple to furl the main into the lazy bag, even at my 5’4” height. The inclined boom still allows for plenty of headroom at the back of the cockpit for much taller sailors. There is a large sail locker in the forepeak with plenty of room for all the sails. The integrated bow pulpit is standard with a fixed tack-ring at the end to simplify attaching the code zero.

Taking a trip below, the first thing you notice is the unique L-shaped split galley in the middle of the boat up against the bulkhead. This configuration allows for more space in the salon and more chefs in the galley. On the port side is a 3-burner stove and oven with a space designed for a freezer. When the cover comes off the stove it is neatly stored vertically on the left. Flip it over and you have a serving tray with indentations for cup holders. The sink has two high-arched faucets at different levels for both fresh and sea water with deep cupboards covering up the front façade. The trash receptacle pulls out to reveal garbage and recycling bins. On the starboard side are two stainless steel pull-out fridge drawers. Also found on the L section of the starboard galley is a 32” TV on a lifting system.

Outdoor grill and sink make it easy to enjoy guests while cooking.

The resting bench on the port side has 2 adjustable positions, with arm compartments that hold bottles of wine or glasses. Underneath are 2 large storage drawers. Eight guests can comfortably be seated around the salon table. There is a unique cut-out feature in the corner of the table where you can easily sweep crumbs off the table and into your hand. As with any good French boat, there is an additional wine cellar in the yacht’s hold! The modular chart table on the starboard side slides back to provide additional seating and also tilts up or down for a starboard or port heel. Found throughout the boat are their signature solid wood finishes in the bulkheads and the choice of three cabin floor coverings. Indirect LED lighting is provided throughout the interior and exterior, with tapes placed under the benches, closets and roof to create ambient lighting and a warm environment while at anchor. Newly designed side and upper portholes provide beautiful natural light coming into the interior.

Upwind – port tack – from behind.

With three and four-cabin versions, there are also options for 2, 3 or even 4 heads. The model we tested was the three-cabin version with a spacious forward owner’s cabin. Two large drawers are found under the bed. Both screens and blinds on the portholes and hatches of all cabins provide air circulation without bugs and privacy. The owner’s head is split into two with a sink and toilet to starboard. The sink and shower to port reveal a folding plexiglass door so the shower spray is contained and the sink area stays dry. With a capacity for 530 litres of water, a shower is possible every day.

Truly a cruising yacht of excellence with a high level of performance and comfort that all combine to seduce anyone who comes aboard. The sail-away price of $496,000 CAN from Swans Yacht Sales in Whitby, Ontario is based on the exchange rate Euro – Can $ at the beginning of October, and reflects the recent strength in the Can $ vs Euro. The owner can also choose between a contract in Euro or lock in a Can $ price contract.