Design and Construction
The DALU 47 belongs to META’s line of metal cruising yachts. Her hull length is 14.32 meters, and her 4.44-meter beam produces a length-to-beam ratio of 3.23. That makes her relatively broad and voluminous for a cruiser of this size.
Her wetted surface is about 49 square meters. The immersion rate is roughly 425 kg per centimeter, or 2,385 pounds per inch, indicating how much more deeply the hull sits as weight comes aboard. Published figures include a capsize screening value of 1.71 and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 25.31. Together, they describe a boat intended for loaded cruising rather than all-out performance, with a rig proportioned to her mass.
Rig, Draft, and Handling
Shallow draft is the DALU 47’s defining handling characteristic. Depending on load, she draws about 0.90–1.00 meter, allowing access to shallow marinas that deeper-keel boats can’t reach.
The standing and running gear are sized on a practical cruising scale. Jib and genoa sheets are 14.3 meters long and 16 mm in diameter. The 16 mm mainsheet is 35.8 meters long, while the spinnaker sheets measure 31.5 meters. These dimensions suit a large foretriangle and powerful mainsail.
Auxiliary power comes from a shaft-drive inboard diesel of around 68 hp. It’s a sensible match for an 18-tonne aluminium boat that needs authority under load and in close quarters.
Accommodation
The DALU 47 has eight berths and is arranged for a full cruising crew. Her broad 4.44-meter beam supports that berth count without the compromised passageways found in narrower hulls, while the aluminium construction provides a durable structure. The design brief clearly favors extended voyaging with companions over minimalist, shorthanded coastal sailing.
Refit and Ownership Considerations
Every surviving example is now at least four decades removed from the 1980–1984 production period, so its rigging and diesel systems will have passed through many service cycles. The specified 68 hp shaft-drive inboard is a straightforward arrangement to maintain, and standard 16 mm sheets are easy to source.
Prospective owners should regard the original aluminium hull as a long-lived structure that depends on careful inspection, rather than as a consumable item. Given the boats’ age, the systems also warrant a thorough survey.
Verdict
The DALU 47 DI is a purpose-built aluminium cruiser from Joubert & Nivelt’s partnership with META. She combines shallow-draft access, a broad and voluminous hull, and eight berths in a 1980s offshore package. Her ratios point to a loaded cruiser rather than a racer, and the shaft-drive diesel reinforces that purpose.
Pros
- Aluminium hull from a noted French design collaboration
- Shallow 0.90–1.00 m draft for access to marinas and gunkholes
- Eight berths within a 4.44 m beam
- 68 hp shaft-drive diesel suited to her displacement
Cons
- Moderate sail-area-to-displacement ratio limits acceleration in light air
- Production ended in 1984, so age calls for a thorough survey of the boat’s systems
