Dufour 310 Grand Large vs Hanse 315: Which 31-Foot Cruiser is Better?
I am looking to buy my first modern 31-foot family cruiser and I have narrowed it down to a used Dufour 310 Grand Large or a Hanse 315, both around the 2015-2017 mark. Can you do a detailed comparison of how they sail, the cockpit layouts, and what to look out for on the second-hand market?
Answer
The Hanse 315 offers superior pointing ability and below-deck volume, while the Dufour 310 Grand Large excels in cockpit ergonomics with its purpose-built twin-wheel, twin-rudder setup. Both are excellent entry-level modern cruisers from the 2014 to 2018 era, but your choice comes down to whether you prioritise helm feedback or walk-through deck access.
Hull Design and Sailing Performance
The Hanse 315, designed by Judel/Vrolijk, features a single deep spade rudder and a standard 1.85m L-shaped cast iron keel, with a 1.37m shallow option available. It measures 9.62m overall and carries a 3.35m beam. These dimensions give the Hanse a distinct edge in upwind pointing and raw speed, making the boat feel stiff and composed in a breeze.
The Dufour 310 Grand Large, penned by Umberto Felci, uses hard hull chines to carry its 3.20m beam right aft. Unusually for a 31-footer, it features twin rudders. The standard fin keel has a draught of 1.90m, but you will often find models with the optional lifting keel (0.95m raised, 2.10m lowered). This lifting keel suits tidal areas like the East Coast or Brittany perfectly. Both yachts come standard with self-tacking jibs, making short-handed tacking effortless, though the taller rig on the Hanse extracts slightly more power in light winds.
Cockpit Layout and Steering
The two boats diverge completely in their design philosophy here.
- Dufour 310 GL: Designed around a twin-wheel layout from day one. This provides a completely unobstructed walk-through from the companionway to the drop-down bathing platform. The compromise is that the helmsman sits very far outboard. The wheels themselves are relatively small, which can make the steering feel heavy or disconnected.
- Hanse 315: Originally designed for a tiller. A tiller on the Hanse gives direct feedback from that single deep rudder and folds up in port to create massive cockpit space. Many first owners ticked the options box for twin wheels instead. On a boat of this beam, retrofitted twin wheels clutter the cockpit, forcing crew to squeeze past the binnacles.
Below Decks and Build Quality
Down below, the Hanse 315 feels like a much larger yacht. It boasts 1.91m of headroom in the saloon and a massive transverse double berth in the aft cabin. The interior finish is typically light oak or mahogany veneers, delivering a modern, squared-off aesthetic.