Design and Construction
The Dalu 47 is a large sailboat whose hull is made of aluminium, and the specific Di example was built in 1982 as a full-strong aluminum hull out of the META yards anchor, described in broker documentation as a solid construction on Joubert anchor. At just under 14.3 meters overall with a 4.4-meter beam, the boat carries a length-to-beam ratio of 3.23, a figure that marks her as a relatively beamy hull for her length rather than a slender racer. Her displacement is listed at 23,000 kg, and the immersion rate of about 425 kg per centimeter (2,385 lbs per inch) tells you how stubbornly she sits once loaded for a long trip. The wetted surface of the bottom is around 49 square meters, which together with the 3-meter draft recorded for the Di example places her firmly in the deep-keel voyager camp.
Rig and Handling
The sail plan is handled with control lines of generous dimension: jib and genoa sheets run 14.3 meters with 16 mm diameter, the mainsheet is a 35.8-meter line of the same diameter, and the spinnaker sheet is 31.5 meters long anchor. Those lengths suit a large foretriangle and a big main on a boat this size. Under power, the reference data notes the Dalu 47 may be equipped with an inboard diesel driving through a shaft drive anchor, while the Di example carries a single Iveco Nef 100 diesel of 100 hp with 3,000 hours recorded. The capsize screening value comes in at 1.71, a number that by the standard formula alone would admit the boat to offshore events, and the sail-area/displacement ratio of 25.31 describes a moderately powered cruiser rather than an over-canvased light-air flyer.
Accommodations
Below, the Dalu 47 is equipped with 8 berths anchor, and the Di specification lists 2 cabins with a passenger capacity of 8 and 8 beds. That berth count spread across only two cabins suggests a saloon berth complement typical of a charter-oriented or owner-converted layout. The same Di example holds 630 liters of water and 1,000 liters of diesel, tankage that supports the broker description of a boat well equipped for the big trip, ready to leave anchor. Cruise speed is cited at 6 knots with a maximum of 9, and fuel burn at cruise is a modest 3.5 liters per hour.
Performance Profile
A broker listing characterized the Dalu 47 Di as a real 4x4 of the seas anchor, and the numbers behind that claim are consistent with a heavy, stable aluminum passagemaker: 23-tonne displacement, 3-meter draft, and a wetted surface near 49 square meters. The SA/D of 25.31 and the 1.71 capsize screen together paint the picture of a boat built to keep moving safely in open water rather than to win buoy races.
The Verdict
The Meta Dalu 47 is a serious aluminum voyager with the tankage, beam, and structural pedigree for extended offshore cruising, designed by a respected French naval-architecture team and built in a yard with a long custom-aluminum heritage.
Pros
- Aluminum hull from the META–Joubert lineage, built as a full-strong structure
- Generous 1,000-liter fuel and 630-liter water capacity for long passages
- Shallow-enough draft (about 0.90–1.00 m loaded per reference) to reach modest marinas
- Stable offshore profile with 1.71 capsize screen and 25.31 SA/D
Cons
- Only 2 cabins documented despite 8 berths, limiting private accommodation
- Heavy 23-tonne displacement and large wetted surface curb light-air performance
