Design and Construction
The Dalu 47 is a large aluminum sailboat. The specific Di example was built by META in 1982 with a full-strong aluminum hull; broker documentation describes it as a solid construction on Joubert.
At just under 14.3 meters overall, with a beam of 4.4 meters, the boat has a length-to-beam ratio of 3.23. That makes her relatively beamy for her length rather than a slender racing design. Displacement is listed at 23,000 kg, while an immersion rate of about 425 kg per centimeter (2,385 lbs per inch) indicates how firmly she settles once loaded for a long voyage.
The bottom has around 49 square meters of wetted surface. Combined with the 3-meter draft recorded for the Di example, that places her firmly in the deep-keel voyager camp.
Rig and Handling
The sail plan uses generously sized control lines. Jib and genoa sheets are 14.3 meters long and 16 mm in diameter. The mainsheet is 35.8 meters long, also with a 16 mm diameter, while the spinnaker sheet is 31.5 meters long. Those lengths suit the large foretriangle and big mainsail of a boat this size.
Reference data says the Dalu 47 may be equipped with an inboard diesel and shaft drive. The Di example has a single 100 hp Iveco Nef 100 diesel, with 3,000 hours recorded.
The capsize screening value is 1.71, which, by the standard formula alone, would admit the boat to offshore events. Its sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 25.31 describes a moderately powered cruiser rather than an over-canvased light-air flyer.
Accommodation and Tankage
Below deck, the Dalu 47 has eight berths. The Di specification lists two cabins, eight beds, and capacity for eight passengers. Spreading that berth count across only two cabins suggests additional saloon berths, typical of a charter-oriented or owner-converted layout.
The same Di example carries 630 liters of water and 1,000 liters of diesel. That tankage supports the broker’s description of a boat well equipped for a big trip and ready to leave.
Cruising speed is cited at 6 knots, with a maximum speed of 9 knots. Fuel consumption at cruising speed is listed as a modest 3.5 liters per hour.
Performance Profile
A broker listing called the Dalu 47 Di a “real 4x4 of the seas”. The figures behind that description are consistent with a heavy, stable aluminum passagemaker: 23-tonne displacement, 3-meter draft, and nearly 49 square meters of wetted surface.
The 25.31 sail-area-to-displacement ratio and 1.71 capsize screening value together suggest a boat intended to keep moving safely in open water rather than win buoy races.
Verdict
The Meta Dalu 47 is a serious aluminum voyager, with the tankage, beam, and structural pedigree for extended offshore cruising. It was designed by a respected French naval-architecture team and built by a yard with a long custom-aluminum heritage.
Pros
- Aluminum hull from the META–Joubert lineage, built as a full-strength structure
- Generous 1,000-liter fuel and 630-liter water capacities for long passages
- Shallow-enough draft—about 0.90–1.00 m loaded, according to the reference—to reach modest marinas
- Stable offshore profile, with a 1.71 capsize screening value and 25.31 sail-area-to-displacement ratio
Cons
- Only two documented cabins despite eight berths, limiting private accommodation
- Heavy 23-tonne displacement and a large wetted surface, which curb light-air performance
