The Ovni 395 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Ovni 395, an aluminium lifting-keel cruiser, was designed by Philippe Briand and built in France by Chantier Alubat.

'Zephyr',an Ovni 395 lifting-keel sailboat dried out on a Cornish beach.

The Ovni 395 waiting to re-float on the next incoming tide.

Published Specification for the Ovni 395

Underwater Profile: Lifting keel

Hull Material: Aluminium

Length Overall: 42'1" (12.8m)

Waterline Length: 36'9" (11.2m)

Beam: 13'6" (4.1m)

Draft: Keel down 6'11" (2.1m), Keel up 1'11" (0.6m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 22,046lb (10,000kg

Designer: Philippe Briand

Builder: Chantier Alubat (France)

Year First Built: 2004

Year Last Built: 2018

Number Built: 70

Owners Association: Ovni Owners Association

Published Design Ratios for the Ovni 395

Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 18.3

Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 33.0

Displacement/Length Ratio: 199

Comfort Ratio: 27.8

Capsize Screening Formula: 1.9

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Ovni 395

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 18.3 suggests that the Ovni 395 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 33.0 means that unless the bulk of the ballast is concentrated in a bulb at the foot of her keel, the Ovni 395 will have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and she'll need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 199, tells us the Ovni 395 is a light-to-moderate displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 27.8 suggests that crew comfort of an Ovni 395 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.9 tells us that an Ovni 395 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.

Ovni 395 Sailboat Review

The Ovni 395 is a popular aluminum cruiser designed by Philippe Briand and built by Chantier Alubat in France. It is a no-nonsense, go-anywhere cruiser that will carry its crew safely, quickly and in comfort through any ocean of the world. It also has a hydraulic lifting keel and rudder that allow it to explore shallow waters and even beach itself.

Overview
The Ovni 395 is a 12.68 m (41' 11") long monohull sailboat with a beam of 4.10 m (13' 5") and a draft of 0.58 m (1' 11") to 2.10 m (6' 11") depending on the position of the keel. It has a light displacement of 8,800 kg (19,360 lb) and a ballast of 3,200 kg (7,040 lb) encapsulated in the shoal hull. It has a sail area of 83.70 m² (687 sq ft) and a low sail area to displacement ratio of 15.22. It is powered by a 55-hp Volvo engine with a three-bladed Max-Prop propeller. It has a water capacity of 430 liters (115 gal) and a fuel capacity of 250 liters (67 gal). It is CE approved as a Class A ocean-going vessel.

The Ovni 395 is available in several configurations, with two or three cabins, one or two heads, and different layouts for the saloon, galley and navigation station. It has a light and spacious interior with high-quality fit and finish. The centerboard trunk is cleverly used to create open and useful spaces. The boat has a single wheel steering system in an ergonomic aft cockpit. The mast is deck-stepped and the boat has swept-back spreaders. The boat has a trademark radar/antenna arch that doubles as davits.

The Ovni 395 is a boat that can handle any sailing condition, from light to heavy air, from calm to rough seas. It is easily driven, stiff and efficient. It can perform well to windward with its deep draft and also reach fast speeds downwind with its lifting keel. It is a boat that can take you to remote places that other boats can't access thanks to its shallow draft and flat grounding plate. It is a boat that can offer you comfort, safety and adventure.

Accommodation
The Ovni 395 has a spacious and bright interior with plenty of ventilation and storage space. The interior is made of light-colored wood and fabrics that create a warm and cozy atmosphere. The interior can be customized according to your preferences, but here we will describe the most common layout.

The boat has two or three cabins depending on your choice. The owner's cabin is located in the bow and has a large double berth, hanging lockers, shelves and drawers. It also has an en-suite head with shower, sink and toilet. The guest cabin(s) are located aft and have double berths, hanging lockers and shelves. They share a head with shower, sink and toilet located on the port side.

The saloon is located amidships and has a U-shaped settee on the starboard side that can seat six people comfortably around a large table. The table can be lowered to create an extra double berth if needed. There is also a long settee on the port side that can be used as a single berth or as a lounge area. There are lockers, shelves and cabinets above and below the settees for storage.

The galley is located on the starboard side next to the companionway. It has a large L-shaped countertop with a double sink, a three-burner stove with oven, a top-loading fridge and a front-loading freezer. There are also plenty of drawers, cabinets and shelves for storing utensils, dishes and food.

The navigation station is located on the port side opposite the galley. It has a large chart table with a swivel seat, a switch panel, a VHF radio, a GPS plotter and other instruments. There is also a large locker for storing charts, books and tools.

The Ovni 395 has a deck saloon with large windows that offer panoramic views of the surroundings. The deck saloon has a sliding door that leads to the cockpit and a hatch that leads to the foredeck. The deck saloon also has a heater and a stereo system for your comfort and entertainment.

Hull and Deck
The Ovni 395 has a robust hull made of high-grade aluminum that can withstand impacts and corrosion. The hull has a round bilge shape that gives it good stability and performance. The hull also has a protective propeller skeg that prevents damage from grounding or debris.

The deck is also made of aluminum and is semi-flush, meaning that it has a slight camber that facilitates water drainage and reduces windage. The deck is painted with non-skid paint for safety and aesthetics. The deck has six opening hatches and eight opening portholes for ventilation and light. The deck also has six mooring cleats, two bow rollers, an electric windlass, a chain locker, a self-draining anchor well, a bow pulpit, stern pushpits, stanchions, lifelines, handrails, a swim ladder and an outboard bracket.

The cockpit is located aft and has a single wheel steering system with a pedestal that houses the engine controls, the compass and the instruments. The cockpit has two large lockers for storing sails, fenders, lines and other gear. The cockpit also has two seats with cushions and backrests for comfort. The cockpit is protected by a sprayhood and a bimini that can be removed or folded when not in use.

The Ovni 395 has a trademark radar/antenna arch that doubles as davits for lifting a dinghy or other equipment. The arch also supports the solar panels, the wind generator, the radar dome and other antennas.

Mast and Rigging
The Ovni 395 has a deck-stepped mast made of anodized aluminum that is supported by two sets of swept-back spreaders and stainless steel shrouds. The mast has an internal conduit for wiring and halyards. The mast also has steps for climbing to the top if needed.

The Ovni 395 has a fractional sloop rig with a single forestay and a single backstay. The forestay has a roller furling system for the genoa. The backstay has an adjustable tensioner for tuning the rig. The boat also has an optional inner forestay with a removable staysail for heavy-weather sailing.

The Ovni 395 has a boom made of anodized aluminum that is attached to the mast with a gooseneck fitting. The boom has an internal reefing system for the mainsail. The boom also has an optional vang for controlling the mainsail shape.

The Ovni 395 has a sail area of 83.70 m² (687 sq ft) that consists of a fully battened mainsail of 36 m² (387 sq ft) and a roller furling genoa of 47.70 m² (300 sq ft). The boat also has an optional staysail of 13 m² (140 sq ft) and an optional gennaker of 80 m² (861 sq ft) that can be flown from the bow or from an optional bowsprit.

The Ovni 395 has all the sail controls led to the cockpit for easy handling. The boat has two self-tailing winches on the mast for raising and reefing the mainsail. The boat also has four self-tailing winches on the cockpit coaming for trimming the genoa, the staysail and the gennaker. The boat also has two sets of jammers on each side of the companionway for securing the halyards and reefing lines.

Keel and Rudder
The Ovni 395 has a hydraulic lifting keel that can be raised or lowered by using an electric pump located in the cockpit or by using a manual pump located in the saloon. The keel is made of cast iron with lead ballast encapsulated in epoxy resin. The keel is attached to the hull with four stainless steel bolts and has a rubber seal to prevent water ingress. The keel has a flat grounding plate that allows the boat to sit upright on the beach or on a hard stand.

The Ovni 395 has a hydraulic lifting rudder that can be raised or lowered by using the same electric pump as the keel. The rudder is made of aluminum and has a stainless steel shaft and bearings. The rudder is connected to the wheel by a cable and chain system. The rudder has a protective skeg that prevents damage from grounding or collision.

The Ovni 395 has a unique feature that allows it to adjust the angle of the rudder according to the position of the keel. This ensures optimal steering performance and balance in different sailing conditions. The boat also has an emergency tiller that can be fitted in case of failure of the steering system.

The Ovni 395's keel and rudder give it a great advantage over other sailboats in terms of versatility, performance and safety. The boat can sail in very shallow waters and access places that other boats can't. The boat can also reduce its draft and wetted surface area to increase its speed and maneuverability. The boat can also protect itself from damage and corrosion by lifting its keel and rudder when not in use.

The above text was drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; we believe it to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.