Dufour 2800
PRICE £8,000-£13,000 YEAR 1977-1984
Dufours of this era are easily recognisable by the large black band around the coachroof which hides the window line and does a good job of hiding her tall coachroof. Over time, the band will often fade to grey – hardly surprising as the youngest 2800 will be 34 years old this year. With over 1,300 2800s made during their seven years of production, there are usually lots to choose from when buying used. Also, unlike the Sadler, the best boats will be within Sarah and Andy’s budget and, as my surveyor says, ‘The expensive boats are often the cheapest.’
The deeper fin-keeled 2800CS is the pick of the models to look for, CS standing for Club Sailor. Although the design dates back to the late ’70s a well-looked-after version still looks good, although her hull shape is a far cry from the fat-bottomed boats in marinas nowadays. Michel Dufour’s design is similar to the larger and slightly older Dufour 29, but as well as being 2ft shorter the 2800, it has a spade rudder rather than the skeg of the 29. This makes handling under power much easier as the 29’s prop was offset to allow for the removal of the prop shaft. The 2800 was also available with a lifting centreboard which retracts into a stub keel, reducing draft to just 0.9m (3ft).
On the tiller she’s light and nippy to sail once the sails are balanced – the large genoa dwarfs the mainsail by modern standards, but good use of the traveller that crosses the companionway can work wonders. The cockpit has masses of easily accessible stowage, although as most of the port seat is the locker lid, it does mean one has to uproot anyone sitting in the sheltered seating to access the hull-depth locker.
She can technically sleep five, but one crew member would have to be tucked, wedged or squeezed into the quarter berth with the slideout chart table stowed above them, and another of the crew forward on the same long berth – not the best way to introduce newcomers to sailing, so four is more realistic as there’s a fair-sized forward berth and two berths in the saloon. The saloon berths are both parallel to the centreline and the starboard berth is within sight of the helm – through the companionway – and reassuring to know a helping hand is only a call away. The port berth is a short seat, but makes up berth length with a trotter box hidden behind the sink in the heads between the forward cabin and saloon.
The saloon is lighter than many of her contemporaries thanks to large coachroof windows. The table folds up against the forward bulkhead keeping the saloon clear and open plan with the galley taking up the aft port corner, and the chart table sliding out opposite when required. The galley isn’t very big and lacks workspace, and while her exterior hasn’t dated badly, the colourful GRP around the galley and head sink remind you she’s a child of the ’70s.