Design and Construction
The Altura 33 was Ferretti’s first expression of its transition from wood to GRP. It measures 9.77 meters overall, with a 3.00-meter beam and a substantial displacement of 7,000 kg. The hull is compact but beamy for its length, while the heavy displacement suggests a stable platform consistent with the motorsailer brief.
A fixed keel gives the boat a standard draft of 1.50 meters. The design is better suited to sheltered and coastal cruising than to bluewater passages. It also established Altura as a Ferretti cruising lineage before later, larger motorsailers and motor yachts adopted the name.
Rig and Handling
The Altura 33 carries a sloop rig, but its documented sail area is only 4.74 m²—a strikingly small figure for a 9.77-meter hull displacing 7,000 kg. This places the boat firmly in motorsailer territory. The Fiat Aifo engine producing 83 hp provides the primary propulsion, with the rig serving as a steadying or auxiliary sail.
The fixed keel and 1.50-meter draft support predictable, low-speed handling under power. Meanwhile, the simple sloop rig keeps deck work manageable for a cruising crew.
Accommodations
The standard layout provides one cabin, one toilet, and seven berths. Fitting seven sleeping places into a 9.77-meter motorsailer with a 3.00-meter beam implies a convertible saloon and compact berths rather than additional private staterooms.
The single head serves the entire crew, a typical compromise in a cruising boat of this size and purpose. Overall, the arrangement favors casual coastal cruising with a small group over extended offshore liveaboard use.
The Verdict
The Altura 33 is a purposeful 1974 fiberglass motorsailer from a builder that later became better known for larger yachts. Its heavy displacement, broad beam, and modest sail plan make it a stable, engine-forward cruiser rather than a sailor’s sailboat.
The seven-berth arrangement makes the most of the available sleeping space, but one cabin and one head provide limited privacy.
Pros
- Ferretti fiberglass construction with a documented cruising pedigree
- 3.00-meter beam on a 9.77-meter hull, providing useful interior volume
- 83 hp Fiat Aifo diesel provides strong auxiliary propulsion
Cons
- Sail area of only 4.74 m² underlines minimal wind-driven performance
- One cabin and one head restrict privacy when using all seven berths
