Who are Odd Life Crafting? Roberta and Duca are a Brazilian couple who recently sold their beloved boat. They are currently looking for their next sailing yacht. This time, they want the durability and reliability of an aluminum hull for their long-range sailing adventures – in other words, they want an exploration aluminum sailboat.
They’ve already traveled the world to tour a number of aluminum sailboat builders in their search. So it was only natural that they stopped by our booth at the La Rochelle Boat Show to tour of the new Ovni 430 (and the Ovni 370 – but that’s another video!).
The Ovni 430 aluminum boat is an exceptional yacht built for expedition sailing. The OVNI 430 is part of the new generation of sailing yachts combining innovation, ergonomics, comfort and performance. An inverted and voluminous bow gives the boat a longer waterline. The sailboat hull is built using semi-thick aluminum resulting in a lighter overall structure (10mm for the bottom plate, 8 mm for the rest of the hull).
Like the full-range of Ovni sailboats, the 430 is built with a centerboard that allows you to navigate in areas where other sailboats can’t. The obvious benefits are the ability to beach your sailboat during low tide, navigate shallow waters and traverse canals. What may be less obvious is the added safety when downwind sailing in heavy weather. Luc, CEO at Alubat, explains this best in this short video.
RAISED DECK SALON: MODERN INTERIOR SAILBOAT LAYOUT
As far as livability, the new sailboat hull and deck design allow for a raised deck salon layout with panoramic views both while sailing and while at anchor. The navigation station is also raised for active watch keeping. The raised deck salon is a significant improvement as far as bringing in more light to the interior as well as creating a breezy and bright living environment.
Alubat builds 100% aluminum sailboats. The hull, deck and coach roof are all welded aluminum and create a much stronger structure. For comparison, other metal boat shipyards build using composite decks or roofs in their construction. While this may be easier, it also compromises the overall strength and benefits of 100% aluminum. With the exception of the engine, Alubat installs all the components only once the sailboat hull, deck and roof are completed. Custom furniture, plumbing, electrical panels, etc are then installed through the companionway.
Be sure to watch Roberta and Duca’s video on their YouTube channel Odd Life Crafting for their impressions on the newest yacht in the Alubat sailing fleet.
