Stability Ovni

[kidnapped]

I'm surprised the 'stability' discussion hasn't started again with Ovni showing an AVS of 'only' 100* for their 385. Ovni's are well proven deep sea cruisers ... 'long term cruisers aspire to them'[approx]. Where does this leave the discussion about Legends et al? The series YM is doing on stability and what it actually means is going to be interesting ..... I hope ..... slow start though in June's issue.

 

[webcraft]

I think the point is that Ovni provided a stability curve and allowed it to be published - Legend, on the other hand, appeared to have something to hide.

New series was certainly a slow starter - I turned straight to it and was disappointed to finish it in five minutes! I am hoping that the further articles will hold my interest for a bit longer.

- Nick


BlueMoment.Com
http://www.bluemoment.com

 

[Guest]

Stability-related question

As a dinghy sailor who, through ignorance and impulse, bought a bigger boat that is only stable upside-down and only floats when right-way-up, I am curious to know at about which size of boat you can no longer play the sails to spill wind.

I have a 22ft boat with a mainsail of 8.5 sq metres and headsails from 15.6 sq metres to 7.4 sq metres (excluding storm jib and spinnakers) and I sail it like a dinghy, spilling wind when necessary to keep the boat level. Unless I get caught by a gust suddenly with too big a jib, I don't need the winches to trim the sails. The mainsail can be trimmed without a winch, reefed or not, in any wind that I'm prepared to sail in _ no more than gusts to bottom of a F7.

At what sail/boat size does trimming without winches become impractical for somebody of normal physical strength in reasonable wind, say top of F3 to bottom of F5? Partly curiousity, partly because I hope to upscale one day.

 

[Jacket]

I'm amazed that the stability curve wasn't comented on. 100 degrees seems very low for an offshore cruiser- it doesn't take a very big breaking wave to knock you over that far, especially if you're already well heeled over to a gust. I've been knocked over to 90 degrees a couple of times- and neither time in much more than a F7. But at least then I've known that the boat still had a fair bit of stability left. Don't think I'd be quite so happy if I thought that there were only 10 degrees left between floating and swimming. And once you've added radar etc, what's your stability then?

 

[jamesjermain]

I am following up the question on the Ovni stability curve at the moment and will report findings as soon as I have them.

JJ

 

[Guest]

James, I am based on the French West Coast, surrounded with Ovni's of different dimensions. From what I see they are not very stable and travel as fast broadside as they do ahead. One tends to keep well away from an Ovni in a tight environment. In the Marina here at Arzal there are over 60 based here alone.

 

[Guest]

That's worrying. I assume the skippers have lowered their keels? I actually requested a brochure from their new UK agents about a month ago. There's a lot of positive aspects about their 43 model, but I'm not entirely convinced. What IS compelling is the price for a new OVNI vs. most of the rest of the new boats of a similar size in Europe (not counting the Jeanneau type of boats).

So far, the review, the stability curve, and now your remarks are making me think I must keep looking.

On the positive side, just try and find a used OVNI. I searched sites all over Europe, searching the web in multiple languages, and I could only find one (old) boat for sale. If they were truly poor, would not people be trying to sell them on, and would the factory be so fantastically busy that the lead time is over 18 months?

JJ - you mentioned your three favourite cruisers a while back, would you mind repeating yourself (i.e. 38 - 42 used, liveaboard but good for World voyaging). Thanks in advance.

Humperdinck

Email: HJ@Seacracker.org
Website: www.seacracker.org

 

[Guest]

The keels are not very large/long, but the Ovni's are ideal for going up rivers or rummaging around shallow waters. If you want to take a visit to Arzal, not far from Les Sables d'Olonne, you will see hulls of differing types, with apendages for keels and rudders that lift up etc.

When YM tests any vessel, they should also ask, through the pages, for feedback before the vessel is tested itself and the article published. This will allow James, for example, to look out for things that perhaps the manufacturer would not want air at the particular time.

The Ovni is a very popular boat, and at Arzal they are for sale!

 

[Guest]

Re: Stability-related question

I trim the main whilst steering my 33' 7/8 fractional sloop. The mainsheet is lead through a 5:1 harken system with a ratchet and camcleat at the end. On a reach I'll take it straight from the boom and bypass the ratchet and cleat. As a dinghy sailor I can't cope with someone else trimming the main.

I guess the upper limit to steer and trim is 40' or so.

 

[Guest]

Has anything further been discovered re-the Ovni stability characteristics? We looked at a few boats whilst in France last month - and are verrrry close to committing to an Ovni. Would hate to make an expensive mistake!

Many thanks,
Ruth

 

[dk]

I chartered an Ovni 435 around the Caribbean last Xmas and found her to be very stable and an excellent cruising boat. We kept full sail up in F5 without washing the decks too much. Only problem we had was a blown diaphragm (sort of safety valve) in the hydraulics which meant we couldn't get the rudder down - fortunately this was discovered before we left the berth!
One other worry - there was no indicator to remind us when we had cranked the keel up after sneaking into shallow waters, so we used to leave the pump handle in, which in turn meant the cockpit locker lid wouldn't close, just to remind us.
From an accomodation point of view she was excellent.

Good luck, Duncan