Somebody has designed my dream yacht... at last :)

Well, maybe, but OVNIs seem to do OK. And as the designer says:
The design is rated Class A according to the European Community Monohull Stability Index (STIX) even when the keel is retracted!
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Why "at last"? Such designs were around for long time. Not many with twin rudders, granted, but this hull does not need twin rudders, from what can be seen on pics; they are more as legs here.
 
She does look like a very nice design.
In addition to the Cigales and Ovnis, have a look also at the Maracuja aluminium round bilge yachts with lifting keels.
Here is one for sale :
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1985/Gamelin-Maracuja-2169626/Brittany/France

And here is a smaller sister :
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1991/Agm---Fr-Carambola-38-2445645/France

These Maracujas are deceptively fast - some friends crossed the Atlantic from the Canaries to Barbados in theirs in 14 days, reeling off a steady 200 miles every day with twin genoas poled out, and the keel wound up, surfing......... :)
 
Bajansailor said:
She does look like a very nice design.
In addition to the Cigales and Ovnis, have a look also at the Maracuja aluminium round bilge yachts with lifting keels.
Here is one for sale :
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1985/Gamelin-Maracuja-2169626/Brittany/France

And here is a smaller sister :
http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1991/Agm---Fr-Carambola-38-2445645/France

These Maracujas are deceptively fast - some friends crossed the Atlantic from the Canaries to Barbados in theirs in 14 days, reeling off a steady 200 miles every day with twin genoas poled out, and the keel wound up, surfing......... :)
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They are Philippe Harlé designed - who also designed my Feeling 920. His daughter had a smaller version, a Jurançon, and was moored next to us for a few years in the marina.
 
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I'm not completely sold on the twin rudder thing, but a single lifting rudder isn't perfect either.
Maybe this is just lack of experience, but I am convinced that I want a tiller.

EDIT: the Carambola looks a lovely boat- very similar concept really. I wish my French was a bit better so that I could understand all the adverts... the French seem to have a much better grasp of what I want in a boat...

Now here's hoping that by the time I come to actually sell up and sail away, some of these boats will be old enough to be within budget...
 
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nimbusgb said:
Nice looking but 10:1 it'll be as stable inverted as it is the right side up especially with a lift keel!
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I would think that the inverted buoyancy of that deckhouse will ensure quite the opposite. Remember RNLI life boats have no keel but the really high superstructure makes them passively self righting. It was the low slung, sleek old designs like the Oakleys and Watsons that either required transfer water ballast tanks to self right or were simply accepted as not being self righting.
 
Mavanier said:
Carambola looks a lovely boat- very similar concept really. I wish my French was a bit better so that I could understand all the adverts... the French seem to have a much better grasp of what I want in a boat...

Now here's hoping that by the time I come to actually sell up and sail away, some of these boats will be old enough to be within budget...
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My personal favourite concept in centreboards is made for some 30 years - better seaboat than those above looking like sheltered lake cruisers, which I know well sailing Polish lakes on such.
"Trismus" - were made in aluminium or fiberglass - roomy, more stable and nicely running in seaway. No unprotected flimsy rudder, protruding prop, or raising ballast that is a pain... Tiller - as desired. This shows original http://les.trismus.free.fr/wikinimst/wakka.php?wiki=2007FrancePoland
Available for some 20K, cheaper in Polynesia :)
http://uk.boats.com/sailboats/trismus-37-13109708/#.URJc3aV2Tis
 
TimBennet said:
I would think that the inverted buoyancy of that deckhouse will ensure quite the opposite. Remember RNLI life boats have no keel but the really high superstructure makes them passively self righting. It was the low slung, sleek old designs like the Oakleys and Watsons that either required transfer water ballast tanks to self right or were simply accepted as not being self righting.
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I was going to say the same, the deckhouse (assuming it didn't immediatly flood) would help get up upright pretty quick.
 
Some of the blurb I read about aluminium said that it was naturally resistant to corrosion without the need for any coatings. Seems a bit too good to be true! Certainly aluminium fittings on boats that I have seen can often look pitted and scarred, and I'm aware of the dangers of electrolytic/galvanic corrosion. But, if not in contact with dissimilar metals, or stray electric currents, is it true that an appropriate aluminium alloy can be effectively immune from saltwater corrosion?
 
Mavanier said:
Some of the blurb I read about aluminium said that it was naturally resistant to corrosion without the need for any coatings. Seems a bit too good to be true! Certainly aluminium fittings on boats that I have seen can often look pitted and scarred, and I'm aware of the dangers of electrolytic/galvanic corrosion. But, if not in contact with dissimilar metals, or stray electric currents, is it true that an appropriate aluminium alloy can be effectively immune from saltwater corrosion?
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Yes, there's only need for paint below the waterline (on the outside). And then only because you need antifouling. Obviously you can't put bronze fittings anywhere near the boat.

It all goes a dull grey, but nothing more. Top sides can be 'polished' with a regular swirl patten from a DA sander which counts as a finish of sorts.
The French pioneered the look and has been adopted successfully by many others including Starzinger and Leonard with Hawk.

Going witht he unpainted look actually has the double advantage of being cheaper, and avoids the problems of keeping paint on aluminium, which isn't easy, especially near even stainless fasteners.
 
Can be. Proper alloy for this naturally (Hydronalium was one, couple % Mg and Mn). Coating helps, but some french boats were left bare. Electrolysis may be a problem, acts quite fast, important to watch this. Aluminium is light and can be used in thicker plate which is better for cruising boat. One drawback is weld strength, usually welds have only some 60% strength of plate, not like 100% possible with steel.
 
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