Design and Construction
The Ovni 395 is built entirely in aluminium, using the magnesium-rich 5083 H111 alloy welded in an argon/helium atmosphere that Alubat has relied on for its welded hulls, deck, coachroof, and cockpit. The chined hull is left largely unpainted because painting labour on an aluminium substrate is punishing, and the metal itself is strong without being unduly heavy. Internal ballast is lead encapsulated in resin and boxed inside aluminium on each side of the centreboard case, which lets the centreplate itself stay light and easily lifted in aluminium. The combination of aluminium construction and a fully-retractable keel, plus a hydraulic lifting rudder on a skeg, gives the boat a centreplate-up draught of just 0.58 m and a down draught of 2.10 m, with the rudder adding 1.6 m when lowered. A protective propeller skeg and a flat grounding plate support the yard's claim that the design can be beached.
Rig and Handling
Stepped on deck, the Ovni 395 carries a near masthead rig with the forestay joining only inches below the masthead and a combined mainsail and foretriangle area of 68.28 sq m. The sail area/displacement ratio of 16.33 and displacement/length ratio of 225 place her among moderately powered, moderate-displacement cruisers. The standing rigging is unusual for a swept-spreader layout: forward lowers are fitted alongside twin backstays, and the chainplates run to the inboard edge of the decks. A removable inner forestay takes a staysail or storm jib, and the mainsheet tail leads to a coachroof winch. Testers found the centreplate could be raised with a gentle tug, making the shallow-draught mode trivial to engage. The trade-off sits in stability: the internal ballast and light centreplate produce a relatively low angle of vanishing stability of 115°, a figure any offshore buyer should weigh.
Accommodations
Buyers could choose between two or three cabins and one or two heads, with different layouts offered for the saloon, galley, and navigation station. Headroom in the saloon is 6 ft 5 in, and the joinery is substantial light oak with vinyl-covered plywood headlining and pale laminates in the heads and galley. Practical touches include a water tank with three inspection hatches and a water meter showing both cumulative and resettable consumption. Fuel is stowed under the forecabin berth, and the engine is a Volvo D2 55 shaft-driving diesel. The RCD category A rating confirms the boat's intended ocean scope.
Known Issues
Aluminium construction demands disciplined ownership: period assessments note that these boats require extra attention with regard to stray electrical current, wiring, sacrificial anodes, and paint systems. The unpainted topsides are a maintenance choice rather than a defect, but the metal's vulnerability to galvanic corrosion means a survey must scrutinize bonding and anode history.
Refits and Ownership
The Ovni 395 supports an active owners association, and its hydraulic systems for keel and rudder are the obvious long-term service items. The utilitarian styling may narrow its market appeal, but testers describe Briand's brief as a no-nonsense, go-anywhere cruiser, and the structure reflects that over cosmetic flourish.
The Verdict
The Ovni 395 is a serious aluminium voyager whose lifting keel and rudder open shallow anchorages and beachable refuges that fin-keel boats cannot reach. The chined welded hull is tough and light for its size, and the rig's redundant aft support and inner forestay suit offshore work. The low AVS is the principal caveat, and aluminium upkeep is not for the casual owner.
Pros
- Fully retractable keel and hydraulic lifting rudder for 0.58 m draught
- Tough welded aluminium hull in 5083 H111 with light easily-lifted centreplate
- Near-masthead rig with forward lowers, twin backstays, and inner forestay
- RCD category A with 6 ft 5 in saloon headroom and flexible cabin layouts
Cons
- Low angle of vanishing stability of 115° from internal ballast and light plate
- Aluminium requires vigilant anode, wiring, and paint-system maintenance
- Utilitarian styling may limit resale breadth
