Design and Construction
Ferretti built the Altura 422 as a motorsailer with a fiberglass hull and a fixed keel, a construction approach consistent with the yard's move into GRP that began with the Altura 33 in 1974. The 12.80-meter hull draws 1.85 meters and spans 3.80 meters of beam, giving the volume a cruising motorsailer needs without sacrificing the moderate draft that lets her explore shallow anchorages. The 16,800 kg displacement is the kind of mass that steadies a boat in a seaway and supports the three-cabin interior below.
Rig and Handling
The ketch rig on the Altura 422 splits the 135 square meters of sail area between two masts, a configuration that makes individual sails more manageable than a single large mainsail and jib would be on a boat of this size and weight. With two Mercedes 74 CV engines aboard, the 422 is as much about reliable motoring as she is about sailing — a defining trait of the motorsailer type she represents.
Accommodations
The standard accommodation version of the Altura 422 provides three cabins, two toilets, and seven berths. That layout supports a cruising family or two couples with a guest, and the seven-berth count signals a boat intended for extended time aboard rather than weekend coasting. The 10.37-meter waterline and 3.80-meter beam give the hull the room to carry that accommodation without cramping.
The Verdict
The Altura 422 is a purpose-built cruising motorsailer with a ketch rig, a fiberglass hull, and the displacement to carry a full three-cabin interior comfortably. Her twin Mercedes diesels and generous sail plan make her a versatile passage-maker, though the 16,800 kg displacement and 1.85-meter draft mean she is a heavy, settled cruiser rather than a light-air sprinter.
Pros
- Fiberglass hull with fixed keel from a recognized Italian builder
- Ketch rig splits 135 m² of sail for easier handling
- Three cabins, two heads, seven berths for extended cruising
- Twin 74 CV Mercedes engines support motorsailing range
Cons
- 16,800 kg displacement limits light-air performance
- 1.85-meter draft restricts the shallowest anchorages
