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The Arpege was designed by Michael Dufour in 1966 as the first of his volume production boats. It quickly gained a reputation in Half Ton Cup racing. However, it was also a spacious boat, with a very broad beam for its time, as a review in 1966 commented " it is astonishing how much space below the increase in beam makes." With an overall length of 9.25m (30 ft 4 inch), beam of 3.02m (9 ft 11 inch), a draft of either 1.35m (4 ft 5 inch) or 1.62m (5 ft 4 inch) and a displacement of 3,632Kg (8,000lb), it is a substantial craft.
The keel is a cast iron fin, with an exaggerated bulb, that tails towards the back and has a broad, flat base. The keel is fitted into a recess moulded into the hull bottom. The narrow rudder has a deep narrow skeg, with a consequential short tiller that gives adequate control.
Early boats had a stubby counter, but this was changed quite early to a retrousse stern. The cockpit has no lockers, but there is a lazarette reached through a big hatch, providing ample storage for fenders and warps. There are cave storage areas beneath the sheet winches to provide some cockpit storage.
Three washboards and a sliding hatch with a garage give access to the accommodation. Two steps take you onto the engine cover and then the sole. At the foot of the companionway, the navigation area is to starboard and the galley to port. The chart table has a large sloping top chart table, with a large tray below. The galley and navigation area can be closed off from the rest of the cabin. The saloon has two settees with storage below and pilot berths outboard. The forepeak , which is unlined, contains the heads, storage and a sail-bin.
Arpege's have gained a reputation as a high performance and tough boat. There are many stories where they have survived in severe conditions.
With over 900 boats built, it obviously was and is still popular.
Drawings Outline Diagrammatic (both as PDF files)
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