Ovni 25 Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

Alubat, established in Les Sables d'Olonne in 1973, quickly dedicated itself to the unique niche of constructing aluminum yachts. The Ovni 25, launched just a year after the shipyard's founding, served as the prototype for what would become the highly successful Ovni range. Its production run from 1974 to 1978 positioned it as a direct predecessor to the more widely known Ovni 28, which, in 1978, became Alubat's first aluminum lifting keel boat with hard chines.

Louis Vallé's design for the Ovni 25 featured an aluminum hull, a fin keel, and a skeg-hung rudder, configured as a masthead sloop. While specific details on Vallé's design philosophy for this particular model are scarce, it can be inferred that the goal was to create a sturdy, small cruising yacht leveraging the inherent strength and durability of aluminum. This choice of material, particularly for a boat of its size and era, underscored Alubat's commitment to building go-anywhere yachts, even in its earliest designs.

Sailing Performance and Handling

With a length overall of just under 25 feet, the Ovni 25 is a compact monohull built with a robust aluminum hull. Its design as a masthead sloop with a fin keel and skeg-hung rudder suggests a straightforward and stable sailing experience. Given its solid construction and hull form, the Ovni 25 would likely offer a dependable motion, particularly appreciated by those seeking durability over outright speed in a smaller package. While specific anecdotal reviews for the Ovni 25 are limited, the general reputation of Alubat boats is one of seaworthiness and reliable performance, attributes that likely trace back to their earliest models.

Accommodations and Layout

The interior of the Ovni 25, while compact, was designed to maximize usability within its nearly 25-foot length. The boat features a maximum headroom of 5.58 feet, which provides a reasonable amount of vertical space for a vessel of its size, enhancing comfort below deck. While detailed interior layouts or reviews of the Ovni 25's specific amenities are not readily available, early Ovni designs typically prioritized practical, robust finishes suitable for extended time aboard, aligning with Alubat's blue-water cruising ethos. It is reasonable to expect a functional arrangement, likely including a V-berth forward, a small galley, and a salon area, all designed with the durability characteristic of aluminum construction in mind.