Design and Construction
Ferretti’s transition from wood to GRP found its first expression in the Altura 33, a motorsailer intended for cruise use rather than racing. The fiberglass hull carries a fixed keel and a modest standard draft of 1.50 meters, suiting sheltered and coastal wandering more than bluewater passages. At 9.77 meters long with a 3.00-meter beam, the hull form is compact but beamy for its length, and the 7,000 kg displacement signals a heavy, stable platform consistent with the motorsailer brief. The Italian builder’s move to glass with this 1974 design established the Altura name as a cruising lineage before later, larger motorsailers and motor yachts adopted it.
Rig and Handling
The Altura 33 is rigged as a sloop, yet its documented sail area is just 4.74 m² — strikingly small for a 9.77-meter hull displacing 7,000 kg. That figure places the boat firmly in motorsailer territory, where the Fiat Aifo engine producing 83 hp supplies the primary propulsion and the rig serves as a steadying or auxiliary sail. With a fixed keel and 1.50-meter draft, the boat is built for predictable, low-speed handling under power, and the sloop rig keeps deck work simple for a cruising crew.
Accommodations
The standard accommodation layout lists one cabin, one toilet, and seven berths within the 9.77-meter hull. Seven beds in a 3.00-meter-beam motorsailer implies a convertible saloon and compact sleeping spaces rather than private staterooms beyond the single cabin. The single head serves the whole crew, a typical cruising compromise for a boat of this size and purpose. The arrangement favors casual coastal cruising with a small group over extended offshore liveaboard use.
The Verdict
The Altura 33 is a purposeful 1974 entry into fiberglass motorsailing from a builder better known later for larger yachts. Its heavy displacement, beamy hull, and modest sail plan make it a stable, engine-forward cruiser rather than a sailor’s sailboat. The seven-berth layout packs maximum sleeping capacity into a small hull, but the single cabin and head keep privacy limited.
Pros
- Ferretti fiberglass construction with a documented cruising pedigree
- Beamy 3.00-meter hull on a 9.77-meter length for interior volume
- 83 hp Fiat Aifo diesel provides strong auxiliary propulsion
Cons
- Sail area of only 4.74 m² underlines minimal wind-driven performance
- Single cabin and single head restrict privacy for the advertised seven berths
