yachtstyle2020

The Dufour 54 is designed by Italy’s Felci Yacht Design

Dufour Yachts has a new flagship, the Dufour 54, which debuted at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2025, just months after the French builder’s 48 premiered at last year’s Palma International Boat Show. The sleek 17m-long queen of its range of sailing monohulls, the Dufour 54 replaces the 530 and although similar, it’s more evolved and luxurious.

For this latest design, the La Rochelle shipyard once again tapped Italy’s Felci Yacht Design, and the 54 adopts the series aesthetic. The bow is plumb, the coachroof is low and a hard chine runs the length of the hull, building interior volume.

The construction includes a solid, infused fibreglass hull with an integrated structural grid topped by an infused deck and liberal use of hull windows. Below the waterline, there’s a single rudder and a choice of keel, with a maximum depth of 2.4m.

ON DECK

A boat must work well under sail as well as at anchor, and Dufour has dialled in the experience from both perspectives.

There are two primary winches in front of each wheel, winches for the jib sheets on the cockpit coaming, and halyard winches by the companionway

When sailing, everything falls well to hand. The continuous German-style mainsheet leads back to two primary winches near the wheels. Two more winches for the jib sheets are on the cockpit coaming, and halyard winches are on the cabin top, near the companionway where crew can reach them easily. All winches can be made electric.

The bow is wide and feels massive, with room for five hatches and a cavernous sail locker just aft of the windlass. In the cockpit, twin helm stations are set on streamlined, angled pedestals topped with B&G multifunction displays. Engine controls are to starboard on the console so there’s no need to bend down to shift gears when docking.

The symmetrical cockpit features two long high-low-tables

The cockpit is large, A-shaped and fairly standard in its layout, although it has been reconfigured with twin high-low tables rather than the previous centreline dropleaf table. This opens the cockpit for easy movement and more versatile use because you can have one table up for dining and the other down to form a lounge.

An optional hardtop with skylights is available and it’s worth the money. Not only does it accommodate a 1.3kW solar array but it provides cover from the elements for most of the cockpit.

The optional hardtop includes aft and forward skylights, accommodates up to 1.3kW of solar panels and covers most of the cockpit

When seen from above, it’s clear that the two wheels are not under its footprint, which is odd, but it does provide better views of the sails. This top adds expense, windage and weight, but I’d still make the trade-off for the comfort, convenience and a place for those solar panels.

The trademark Dufour transom galley has grown since the previous model and has a larger plancha grill and sink.

The wet bar with barbecue is under the aft bench seat

With the electric transom lowered, the teak beach platform provides a place for the chef to stand and cook en plein air. It’s a Dufour hallmark that has often been copied by other brands.

BELOW DECK

Below, headroom is exceptional because this is a deep boat with six steps leading from the cockpit down to the interior.

Aft view of the interior, which shows the two aft cabins fitted as standard; the open office aft of the dinette is among many interior options

The fit and finish below have evolved and light pours in from both the cabinhouse and hull windows as well as the three saloon hatches.

The saloon and galley feature a flexible design. Forward, Dufour’s signature split galley includes the sink, stove, fridge, dishwasher and freezer to starboard, while to port is a new bar area with worktop space and extra storage. For long-distance cruising, optional refrigeration can be added in the galley or bar area.

Forward view of the saloon showing the two-sided galley and the many skylights and windows providing natural light and views

The dinette is to starboard with room for six to eight people, and it stays in place in all the layouts. To port is a love seat and a large head or a bunk-bed cabin aft. There’s even an option for a straight galley.

CABIN OPTIONS

The Dufour 54 is reminiscent of the many models that came before and offers a choice of three to six cabins and two to four heads. Two aft cabins are standard, and a bathroom is to starboard unless it’s replaced with a dedicated office/navigation desk with its own structure. This office can be somewhat odd, especially since the panel, VHF and stereo head are in a cabinet on the port side of the saloon and nowhere near the navigation desk.

Aft view in the ‘owner’s suite’; forward options include the ‘owner’s cabin’ or two cabins

The boat I viewed featured a three-cabin layout with the ‘owner’s suite’ in the bow. I say ‘suite’ because there’s another three-cabin version with the same space for an ‘owner’s cabin’. The two differ dramatically. The ‘owner’s suite’ has a transverse, slightly angled bed to starboard, a bathroom with a shower stall in the bow, and a port dressing area with a vanity desk in a dedicated space (much like the optional office).

The ‘owner’s cabin’ version has a longitudinal centreline bed up against the forward bulkhead, and a split bathroom, with a head and sink to port opposite a shower compartment to starboard. However, there’s no dressing area.

View from the vanity corner in the ‘owner’s suite’

In the four-cabin version suitable for charter, this forward section is wide enough to also hold two cabins with two heads, one of which is fitted into the dedicated dressing area mentioned above. Further accommodation options include a bunk-bed cabin forward of the dinette and a skipper’s cabin in the forepeak.

Dufour prides itself on its workmanship, clever storage spaces, and a wide range of options. The Dufour 54 delivers on these brand promises.

BIG BOAT PERFORMANCE

Dufour is known for building slippery hulls and the 54 is no exception. Despite a very full forward section that creates the dramatic interior volume, the Dufour yachts I’ve sailed don’t generally slam or stall when sailing upwind and into head seas.

The Dufour 54 impresses on the water

Like all Dufour models, the 54 has a self-tacking jib with a curved track ahead of the mast, but an overlapping genoa is an option. The tracks for this headsail are on the coachroof rather than on the side deck, so they don’t pose a tripping hazard, but they’re short so sail shape adjustment will be limited. The rig has a triple-spreader mast and there is no traveller. Instead, the mainsheet attaches to two points on the hardtop.

According to the Felci Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) or polar diagrams, in 20 knots of true wind, the Dufour 54 will sail around 8.5 knots at 40 degrees wind angle, adding a knot when the wind moves aft to 60 degrees, and another knot of boat speed when on a beam reach. Even at 10.5 knots, this stout lady (16.6 tonnes) will just be on the verge of needing a reef.

The Dufour 54 is available with an 80hp Yanmar diesel or an upgraded 110hp Yanmar engine. I’d opt for the latter for better progress into headwinds and seas. A seven-knot cruise at 2,400rpm will be standard with a top end of 8-8.5 knots at wide open throttle. With a bow thruster, this big boat is a cinch to fit into the tightest of spaces, so she’s not as intimidating as she looks.

The aft platform includes a swim ladder to starboard

Dufour has grown more dedicated to hybrid propulsion with each new model, so the 54 is available with the ODSea+ pack, which replaces the diesel with a 50kW electric motor paired with a generator and a 54kWh lithium battery pack. I spent a week on the Dufour 530 with this system that starts the genset automatically when the batteries reach 40 per cent of charge. It was foolproof and needed no user intervention.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS

Dufour now markets six models ranging from 37-54ft, with the 54 reigning as the current flagship. The shipyard is known for offering good value, so the starting price for the Dufour 54 is around US$700,000 but quickly moves up to over US$1 million when fully outfitted.

She’s a capable offshore cruiser that will build confidence in her crew on long bluewater passages while providing a comfortable home away from home.

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