Dufour 470 Review: The Passage-Maker Steps Up (2026)
The Dufour 470 is where the brand moves from charter cruiser to genuine passage-maker. 47 feet with a deep hull, proper engine room access, and interior volume that supports extended cruising. Four cabins standard, three heads. Designed for owners who plan to live aboard, not just holiday. Charter: €3,500-5,000/week where available. New from €335,000–385,000; used 2021–2026 examples run €295k–€370k depending on year and survey.
Quick Verdict
The Dufour 470 is for sailors who actually plan to go somewhere. At 14.85m with a 2.20m draft, 530 litres of water, and a walk-in engine room that lets you service the Volvo Penta without performing yoga, the 470 is the most serious cruising yacht Dufour has produced in this size bracket. She is not fast. She is not cheap. But she is deeply competent, and that matters more when you are 400 NM from the nearest chandlery.
If you know Dufour's design language from the 37, 41, or 44, the 470 will feel familiar in finish but different in ambition. This is a yacht built for owners who measure trips in weeks, not days. Charter crews after a week's float around the Ionian should look at the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 or Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 instead. Both are easier to find and cheaper to book.
14.85m
LOA
Length
4.74m
beam
Width
3-4
cabins
Sleeps 6-8
€3,500-5,000
/week
Charter price
Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| LOA | 14.85m (49 ft) |
| Beam | 4.74m |
| Draft | 2.20m |
| Displacement | 11,200 kg |
| Engine | 57 hp Volvo Penta D2-57 |
| Sail area (main + genoa) | 98 m² |
| Water tank | 530 L |
| Fuel tank | 240 L |
| Cabins | 3 or 4 |
| Berths | 6–8 |
| Heads | 2 or 3 |
| New price (ex-works) | €370,000–480,000 |
| Charter price/week | €3,500–5,000 |
Under Sail
Put simply: 98 m² of canvas pushing 11.2 tonnes does not produce a yacht that leaps off the startline. At that displacement-to-sail-area ratio, progress in light to moderate wind will be steady rather than brisk. The composure that comes with a heavy, long-waterline hull is the point.
The helm is hydraulic and feels it. There is weight without much nuance. You steer by numbers and telltales rather than fingertip feedback, and if you have sailed the Dufour 44 you will recognise the trait, amplified slightly by the extra waterline length. Upwind, she pointed respectably at 38–40 degrees apparent with the 2.20m keel. She will not embarrass you at a club race, but that is not why you buy her. You buy her because at Force 6, when things get real, the long waterline and deep forefoot keep the motion predictable. Passage sailors will appreciate this at 0300 far more than any regatta sailor appreciates nimble tacking at 1400.
The standard 57 hp Volvo Penta is adequate, but only just. The 240-litre fuel tank gives a useful range under power in calm conditions. Sailors planning Atlantic crossings should spec additional tankage.
Living Aboard
This is where the 470 earns its passage-maker credentials. The owner's version positions a full forward suite with an island double berth, separate shower stall, and a genuine walk-in wardrobe to port. The layout includes a genuine walk-in wardrobe to port. The Dufour 41 impressed us with its interior at a smaller scale, but the 470 takes that same Felici-designed thinking and adds functional volume.
The charter four-cabin layout gives you four proper doubles, each with reading lights, USB charging, and ventilation hatches. None of them feel like coffins. The aft cabins benefit from the 4.74m beam, with berths measuring a genuine 1.95m × 1.50m. The port aft head doubles as a wet locker in the charter version. It is a clever use of space that pays off during a Scottish summer.
The galley runs along the port side with a proper three-burner hob, oven, and 200-litre fridge-freezer. Counter space is generous for a production yacht. Stowage below handles serious provisioning. The saloon table seats six comfortably, eight at a push, and the settee fabric has the dense, wipeable feel that says "I expect red wine to be spilled on me."
The walk-in engine room deserves its own paragraph. Lift the companionway steps and you can step down beside the Volvo. Oil filter, impeller, belt tensioner , all accessible without removing panels or contorting yourself. On most production yachts of this size, routine service tasks require removing panels or working in awkward positions. At 47 feet, if you cannot service your engine standing upright, the designer has failed. Dufour has not failed.
Looking for a Dufour 470?
We know this market and where the good ones are — new or used, wherever she happens to be. Tell us what you're after and we'll find you the best option.
On Deck
The 470's deck layout follows a twin-wheel configuration with a rigid bimini option that integrates neatly with the mainsheet traveller. The wheels are spaced wide enough to give the helmsperson good sightlines forward while leaving a clear passage to the transom. That transom folds down to a full-width swim platform sitting roughly 30 cm above the waterline: stable for boarding a dinghy, ideal for a post-sail swim.
Primary winches are Harken 50.2 self-tailing units, mounted within reach of the helmsperson. A single-line reefing system and a Facnor furler keep the standard rig manageable for a couple sailing shorthanded. The genoa tracks are recessed into the deck, which keeps things clean but makes adjustments under load slightly fiddly. Side decks measure 42 cm at their narrowest point. Adequate, not generous, though the stainless steel grab rails are solid and well-placed.
Forward, the anchor locker takes a 20 kg Delta and 60 metres of chain without complaint. A powered windlass comes as standard, controlled from a helm station switch. A bowsprit option opens up asymmetric spinnaker or code zero sailing for light-air passages. The foredeck is uncluttered, with two flush hatches providing ventilation to the owner's suite below. For anchoring in tight coves, the bow thruster option becomes almost essential given the 4.74m beam.
The Engine Room
The standard powerplant is a Volvo Penta D2-57 producing 57 hp. As noted above, it handles harbour work and moderate motoring but feels slightly undersized for an 11.2-tonne yacht in challenging conditions. Some owners spec the 75 hp upgrade, and for anyone planning Med harbour approaches in summer meltemi conditions, that extra 18 hp is money well spent.
The electrical system runs on twin 115 Ah AGM batteries with a 60 A alternator. For coastal cruising it suffices. Run the autopilot, radar, AIS, and a watermaker simultaneously on a long passage and the standard setup falls short. The engine room has physical space for a lithium bank upgrade and an additional alternator. Dufour offers a factory-fit watermaker option producing 30 litres per hour, tucked beneath the port aft berth. A sensible addition for anyone venturing beyond the marina-hopping circuit in Croatia or Greece.
The bow thruster is a 4 kW electric unit, optional but strongly recommended. With 4.74m of beam, stern-to mooring without one requires confidence, crew coordination, and a forgiving harbour master. The fuel filter is a Racor with a clear bowl, visible from the engine room walkway. Small detail. Important detail.
✓ Strengths
- •Genuine blue-water capability with deep hull and long waterline
- •Walk-in engine room with standing service access
- •Felici interior quality , tactile and well-resolved at 47 ft
- •Owner suite spacious enough for extended live-aboard cruising
- •530 L water tank supports serious passage-making
✕ Trade-offs
- •Rare in charter fleets , difficult to book for a holiday week
- •Premium pricing: €370,000+ new puts it above most 47 ft competitors
- •Volvo Penta service network thinner outside core Med markets
- •4.74m beam restricts some marinas and med berths
- •Standard 57 hp engine feels undersized for displacement
Charter Market
Here is the honest truth: the Dufour 470 is difficult to charter. Unlike the Oceanis 46.1, which populates half the charter bases from Athens to Split, the 470 appears sporadically in upmarket Croatian fleets and with occasional French Mediterranean operators. Expect to pay €3,500–5,000 per week in high season, rising above €5,000 for late-model boats in prime Dalmatian locations. For realistic charter cost planning, factor in that finding a 470 at all may require flexibility on dates and bases.
This is fundamentally an owner's yacht that sometimes enters charter management to offset costs, not a purpose-built charter platform. If chartering is your primary goal, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 offers similar size with far greater fleet availability. The Beneteau fleet offers the most choice in this size range. If you do find a 470 to charter, book it quickly. There are not many.
Used Market
The Dufour 470 launched in 2021, so the used market is still young. Expect to pay €310,000–430,000 for a 2021–2024 model depending on spec and engine hours. Owner's versions with electronics packages, watermakers, and lithium upgrades sit at the top of that range. Charter-used boats with 1,000-plus engine hours and cosmetic wear sit at the bottom.
The predecessor Dufour 460 (2016–2021) offers a more accessible entry point at €175,000–260,000, though the 470 represents a significant step forward in hull form, interior quality, and engine access. Inspecting a used 470, focus on the rudder bearings (early production boats had some play reported), the Volvo seawater pump impeller housing for corrosion, and the gel coat around the transom platform hinge points where stress cracking can appear. Run through the standard inspection points as well, but those three areas are 470-specific.
Insurance valuations have held well. The 470 depreciates roughly 6–8% per year in private use, which is better than the category average. A smaller production run and consistent demand from the blue-water community explain that.
The Verdict
Choose the Dufour 470 if you have serious cruising plans beyond coastal day-sailing, you want Dufour build quality at blue-water size, or you are buying for ownership rather than chartering
Best for: Experienced couples and small crews planning extended passages or live-aboard life
Choose another yacht if you charter only , the 470 is rare in fleets. Choose the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 for availability or the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 for comparable size with more fleet presence
Best for: Charter-first sailors, large groups needing guaranteed booking, or anyone wanting a lighter helm feel
Dufour 470 price: new, used by year, and what moves it
New from €335,000–385,000 (2026, base price ex-VAT). Used prices below run by year and build era — the spread inside each band comes down to spec, charter history and how the boat surveys.
Dufour 470 Used Market Snapshot (2026)
| Years | Typical price (used) | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 2025–2026 | €370,000–450,000 | Current production; offered new ex-VAT from approx €335,000–385,000 (3C/2H Easy base, per Yachtall/Boat24 dealer listings); used/nearly-new examples listed €370,000–450,000 depending on fit-out. Engine options: 60 hp or 75 hp Volvo Penta saildrive; short keel (1.80 m) or deep cast-iron keel (2.25 m) available. Three deck versions: Easy (self-tacking jib, in-mast furling), Ocean (coaming-led sheets, boom vang), Performance (taller rig, cockpit traveller, 6 winches). Check bow-thruster wiring quality and confirm keel option before purchase. |
| 2023–2024 | €295,000–445,000 | Wide spread driven by fit-out and charter vs. owner history: owner-fit 2024 boats list €395,000–445,000 (Band of Boats, YachtWorld); ex-charter 2023 boats (Croatia, Sardinia) appear €295,000–349,000 (Boat24, Yachtall). Engine standard: Volvo Penta D2-75F 75 hp saildrive; Yanmar 75 hp saildrive also observed. Inspect rudder bearings (early-build play reported), Volvo seawater pump impeller housing for corrosion, and gel coat around transom platform hinge points for stress cracking. |
| 2022 | €358,000–445,000 | Owner-kept 2022 boats command a premium: €398,000–445,000 (De Valk/Yachtall listings, Greece). Charter-returned 2022 units closer to €358,000 (Saint Tropez Yachts, Port Grimaud). Hull uses infused fiberglass; ballast ratio modest at 26.9% — stability relies on wide beam, not heavy keel. Confirm keel bolt condition and deck soft spots (potential early delamination reported generically on Dufour hulls). |
| 2021 | €295,000–368,000 | First full production year; ex-charter 2021 boats (Olbia, Sardinia; Denia, Spain) list €295,000–315,000 (Boat24, iNautia). Private-use 2021 boats in better condition approach €340,000–368,000. Single rudder on stainless shaft; deep keel draft 2.25–2.35 m limits access to shallow anchorages. Volvo Penta D2-75 (75 hp) standard. Verify engine hours carefully on earliest-build hulls as many entered charter immediately after delivery. |
| New | from €335,000–385,000 | Base price ex-VAT — ask us for current delivery slots |
The Dufour 470 holds value comparatively well for a modern European cruiser, with private-use boats depreciating roughly 6–8% per year according to surveyed insurance valuations, which is better than the segment average. Owner-fitted boats with electronics, watermakers, and lithium upgrades consistently sit at the top of each year-band's range, while heavily chartered boats with high engine hours can fall 20–30% below equivalent private-use examples.
The Dufour 470 is widely used in Mediterranean and Caribbean charter fleets, and ex-charter boats typically sell at a 15–25% discount to comparable private-use examples of the same model year, reflecting cosmetic wear, higher engine hours, and deferred maintenance on soft furnishings and sail inventory. Buyers should budget for sail replacement, upholstery refresh, and a full Volvo saildrive service on any boat returning from commercial charter.
How these prices compare across sizes and types → · Could this boat pay for itself in charter? → · What to check on a used Dufour 470 →
Looking for a Dufour 470?
We know this market and where the good ones are — new or used, wherever she happens to be. Tell us what you're after and we'll find you the best option.
FAQ
Is the Dufour 470 good for charter?
The Dufour 470 is primarily an owner's yacht. It appears in a handful of upmarket Croatian and French charter fleets at €3,500–5,000 per week, but availability is limited compared to the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 or Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490. If chartering is your main goal, those alternatives are far easier to book.
How much does a Dufour 470 cost new?
New prices range from approximately €370,000 for a base three-cabin version to €480,000 for a fully specified owner's layout with electronics, watermaker, lithium batteries, and upgraded engine. Most buyers spec somewhere around €420,000–450,000.
Can the Dufour 470 cross an ocean?
Yes, with preparation. The deep 2.20m draft, 530-litre water tank, long waterline, and walk-in engine room make it a credible Atlantic crosser. Most owners add a watermaker, upgraded battery bank, and additional fuel capacity. The standard 240-litre fuel tank gives roughly 350 NM motoring range.
What is the difference between the Dufour 470 and the Dufour 460?
The 470 replaced the 460 in 2021 with a redesigned hull form, improved engine room access (walk-in rather than crawl-in), upgraded Felici interior design, and slightly more beam at 4.74m. Used 460s sell for €175,000–260,000 versus €310,000–430,000 for the 470.
How many cabins does the Dufour 470 have?
The Dufour 470 is available in three or four cabin layouts. The three-cabin owner's version features a large forward suite with walk-in wardrobe and en-suite head. The four-cabin charter version provides four double berths with two or three heads.
