As the award demonstrates, after nearly
50 years
of boatbuilding, Dufour Yachts
continues to maintain its position as one
of the leading producers of monohull
sailboats.
Diab cores (both in plain sheet
and kit form) are used for the hulls and
decks of the company’s entire ten-model
product line, which ranges from 10.08
to 15.32 meters (33-40 ft.) LOA.
Leading through technology
Based near LaRochelle in France, the
Dufour yard has invested heavily in new
technology to further improve quality, reduce structural weight and speed build times. Different construction techniques are used, depending on the type and size of component, in order to achieve an ideal balance between cost and performance.
Decks below 12 meters (40 ft) are
produced in an RTM Lite process, while
larger decks are manufactured with
infusion technology. The RTM Lite
process uses matched moulds. Pressure
is applied, and resin flows through the
reinforcements and over the core due to
a combination of low-pressure injection
and the existing
vacuum. For both RTM
Lite and infusion, the core is supplied to
Dufour in perforated form by Diab to
facilitate resin transfer.
Performance benefits
This combination of processes and the
use of sandwich composite technology
throughout allows Dufour to achieve
substantial weight reductions (up to
40%) when compared to more traditional
methods. In addition, notable performance
gains are made in terms of
strength and rigidity. These weight reductions
significantly lower a Dufour
yacht’s center of gravity, thereby improving
overall sailing performance.
At the
same time, the company is able to offer
more headroom
than many rival yachts
while still retaining the flowing lines
that are a Dufour ‘trademark’.
www.dufour-yachts.com