The Dufour 520 Grand Large Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Dufour 520 Grand Large has a relatively high sail area to displacement ratio which indicates that it is a fast sailboat with good light wind performance. It also has a moderate displacement to length ratio which means that it is neither too heavy nor too light for its size. The DLR affects the boat's stability, seakindliness and resistance to waves. A lower DLR indicates a lighter boat that can accelerate faster but may be more affected by wind and waves. A higher DLR indicates a heavier boat that can carry more load but may be slower and harder to manoeuvre.

The Dufour 520 Grand Large is still in production as of 2023. The exact number of boats built is not publicly available, but according to Boat-Specs.com, the first hull was built in 2017 and the last hull was still in production in 2020.

The Dufour 520 Grand Large has three different versions: Standard, Liberty and Adventure:

• The Standard version is the base model that offers a choice of three or four cabins, two or three heads, and a longitudinal or L-shaped galley.

• The Liberty version is a charter-friendly model that offers five cabins, three heads, and a longitudinal galley.

• The Adventure version is a performance-oriented model that offers three cabins, two heads, an L-shaped galley, and a carbon fibre mast as an option.

The Dufour 520 Grand Large can accommodate up to 12 people on board, depending on the version and the layout chosen:

• The Standard version can sleep six to eight people in three or four cabins, plus two more people in the convertible saloon.

• The Liberty version can sleep 10 people in five cabins, plus two more people in the convertible saloon.

• The Adventure version can sleep six people in three cabins, plus two more people in the convertible saloon.

The Dufour 520 Grand Large received mostly positive reviews from the sailing press. For example, Cruising World Magazine awarded it as the Boat of the Year in the Full-Size Cruiser 50 to 54 Feet category in 2018. The judges praised its innovative design features, such as the outdoor galley with a barbecue and a fridge, the retractable bow thruster, and the self-tacking jib. They also noted its good sailing performance, especially in light winds. Sail Magazine also reviewed the Dufour 520 Grand Large in 2018 and highlighted its spacious and comfortable interior, its easy handling under sail and power, and its attractive styling.

Owners of the Dufour 520 Grand Large generally express satisfaction with their boats. They appreciate its quality construction, its spacious and elegant interior, its large cockpit with ample seating and storage space, its versatile sailplan and keel options, and its good sailing performance in various conditions. Some of the common issues or complaints that owners mention are related to minor defects or glitches in some of the electrical or mechanical systems, such as the water heater, the fridge, or the autopilot. Some owners also suggest some improvements or modifications for their boats, such as adding more ventilation or insulation, installing solar panels or wind generators, or upgrading some of the equipment or accessories.

Dufour Yachts is a French company that was founded by Michel Dufour in 1964. The company started by producing a series of successful racing sailboats, such as the Arpege, the Sylphe, and the Safari. In the 1970s, the company expanded its range to include cruising sailboats, such as the Aurore, the Sortilege, and the Fandango. In the 1980s, the company introduced the Grand Large line of cruising sailboats, which is still in production today.

The company also produces the Performance line of racing-cruising sailboats and the Exclusive line of luxury sailboats.

Dufour Yachts is still in business as of 2023 and is part of the Fountaine Pajot group, which also owns Fountaine Pajot catamarans and Nautitech catamarans.

The Dufour 520 Grand Large has a sloop Marconi 9/10 rig, meaning that it has a single mast with a single mainsail and a single headsail. The mainsail can be either a classic slab-reefed mainsail or an in-mast furling mainsail. The headsail can be either a self-tacking jib or an overlapping genoa. The boat also has an optional bowsprit that can be used to fly a gennaker or a code zero sail for downwind sailing. The Adventure version of the Dufour 520 Grand Large offers a carbon fiber mast as an option, which reduces weight and increases stiffness.

The Dufour 520 Grand Large has two keel options: a standard L-shaped keel with a bulb and a shallow L-shaped keel with a bulb. The standard keel has a draft of 7’ 6” (2.3 m) and a ballast weight of 8977 lb (4072 kg). The shallow keel has a draft of 6’ 4” (1.95 m) and a ballast weight of 9921 lb (4500 kg).

The average cost of a secondhand Dufour 520 Grand Large depends on several factors, such as the year of manufacture, the condition of the boat, the equipment and accessories included, and the location of the boat. According to YachtWorld.com, a website that lists boats for sale worldwide, the average asking price for a secondhand Dufour 520 Grand Large in 2023 is about $450,000 USD. However, this price may vary significantly depending on the specific boat and the market conditions.

The designer of the Dufour 520 Grand Large is Umberto Felci, an Italian naval architect and engineer who has been working with Dufour Yachts since 2002. He has designed many other sailboats for Dufour Yachts, such as the Dufour 310, the Dufour 360, the Dufour 382, the Dufour 412, the Dufour 460, and the Dufour 530. He has also designed sailboats for other brands, such as the Grand Soleil 40, the Grand Soleil 43, the Grand Soleil 50, and the Grand Soleil 58.