The 370 continues the marque’s long tradition of aluminium lift-keel cruisers, but the rounded inverted bow and raised panoramic saloon give it a distinct look. At 11.95 m overall and 3.99 m wide, its hull is only about 30 cm shorter than that of its larger sister, the Ovni 400.
Design and Construction
Alubat builds the Ovni 370 entirely from aluminium alloy AW 5083 H111, including both hull and deck. That maintains the yard’s welded-aluminium practice rather than introducing a composite deck structure.
For this model, the builder adopted a new construction method. The hull is welded over an auxiliary frame, with the frames and stringers added later. Just five preformed plates, each 8–10 mm thick, make up the hull. Each plate carries two pronounced chines per side and is folded and welded on a slipway.
The integral centreboard is made from light aluminium, milled to a NACA profile and weighs 260 kg. It swivels and retracts fully into the hull, allowing the boat to enter shoal water and dry out. It also has a safety release for grounding. A protective bottom plate lets the yacht stand upright when beached.
More than three tonnes of encapsulated lead ballast sit low in the bilge, providing the righting moment for the boat’s CE Category A rating.
Alubat produces the interior furniture in its own joinery. On the 370, the yard also used sprayed cork for the first time, both as insulation and as visible hull panelling above the waterline. Owners can choose to leave it exposed or cover it with headlining.
Rig, Cockpit, and Sailing Performance
The Ovni 370 has a conventional, comparatively short anodised-aluminium rig from Z-Spars, with double spreaders. Standard sails from Incidence comprise a Dacron mainsail, a 106% furling genoa, and a modest 33 m² Solent. The only additional sail-power option is a laminate square-top mainsail with running backstays.
All control lines lead aft from the mast to the coachroof, centralising manoeuvres for a short-handed crew. However, the mainsheet and genoa sheets are handled from the companionway winches rather than at the helm.
The deep cockpit has high coamings, while the linked sprayhood and bimini provide strong protection. Yachting World found the dual-rudder helm light and well balanced, with plenty of feedback.
The angular hull and ample wetted surface don’t give the boat any special talent for pointing. In single-figure winds, it averaged 4 to 4.5 knots while beating at wide angles. Under Code 0, it exceeded 5.5 knots on a reach at 60° to the apparent wind. In the YACHT test, the 370 averaged 5.7 knots on a 95-degree tack in 15 knots, before sailing more dynamically off the wind.
Accommodation
The two-cabin layout makes good use of the boat’s beam and chines. Its true deck saloon has a panoramic roof and stepped living levels. The raised chart table provides visibility when standing watch, and there’s a proper navigation station to starboard.
The saloon table lowers to create a large daybed or pilot berth. Its carbon support pole also serves as a leeboard.
There are forward and aft double berths to port. The aft berth is particularly capacious, with generous headroom and a large porthole. To starboard aft, a work-and-utility cabin is reached through the split heads and shower. It primarily stores cruising equipment but can also take a bunk.
On early boats, the forward berth measured a remarkable 2.20 m across at shoulder level but was only 1.85 m long. Alubat has since moved the bulkhead aft to lengthen it. Headroom at the forward-cabin threshold is 5 ft 10 in.
Wet hanging stowage is positioned beside the companionway. The test boat also had a vast forward shower room with enough space for a washing machine.
Machinery, Equipment, and Stowage
The standard engine is a Nanni N4-38 rated at 38 hp. Alternatively, buyers can specify a Volvo D2-50 rated at 50 hp. Both use shaft drive with a three-blade fixed propeller. Alubat offers no further engine-performance upgrade.
There is no permanently installed generator, furling-mast option, or self-tacking jib. A fixed aluminium dodger is optional, as is the large sprayhood.
The technical room provides easy access to the boat’s equipment. There is also plentiful stowage inside and out, including a central position for the liferaft and a block-and-tackle dinghy hoist on the transom arch. Together, these features mark the 370 as a genuine long-range cruiser.
Known Issues
Early Ovni 370s had a forward berth that was too short for comfortable sleeping. The builder addressed this on later hulls by moving the forward bulkhead aft.
Separately, during the YACHT test, the sprayed-cork lining had come apart in multiple spots. This was a teething problem with the finishing method rather than a structural fault in the aluminium shell.
The Verdict
The Ovni 370 brings Alubat’s aluminium lift-keel philosophy to a manageable 39-footer with genuine bluewater credentials. Its fully retracting centreboard suits shoal and drying harbours, while the low-set lead ballast provides the stability required for its Category A rating. Below, the deck-saloon layout makes excellent use of the hull’s beam and chines.
The short rig and angular hull trade upwind finesse for offwind ease and secure, short-handed cockpit control. The all-aluminium construction and sprayed-cork interior point to a modern, maintainable cruising boat, although the cork finish failed in places on at least one test hull. Alubat has also addressed the overly short forward berth found on early boats without compromising the hull.
Pros
- Fully retracting aluminium centreboard and protective bottom plate for beaching and drying out
- Entirely welded aluminium hull and deck, with low-set lead ballast for CE Category A stability
- Deck saloon with a raised navigation station, panoramic roof, and practical pilot-berth conversion
- Sail controls led aft for straightforward short-handed handling
- Easy equipment access and plentiful cruising stowage
Cons
- Angular hull and short rig limit upwind pointing ability and speed
- Sprayed-cork insulation failed in places on at least one test hull
- Forward berth was too short on early boats before the bulkhead was moved aft
- No permanently installed generator, furling mast, self-tacking jib, or further engine upgrade offered