Shoal Draft Voyaging

Reading Time: 3 minutes

One of the main attractions of the OVNI range is their shoal draft and beachability. We’ve all seen the photos: parked on some deserted islet with an impossibly azure sea far in the background. The theory looks enticing, but how far does it reflect reality? Colin discusses their experiences on Pèlerin.

Self-Sufficiency In Power

Reading Time: 3 minutes

When building their OVNI, Colin and Louise remained true to their commitment to renewable power after so many years of both working in the environmental field by designing a power generation system that balances wind and solar.

A Practical Cruising Rig

Reading Time: 3 minutes

A sloop rig might be fine in sunny sheltered waters with an army of gorillas as crew, but it is less than ideal for shorthanded crews sailing in windy and exposed seas. This is when the ability to reef swiftly and safely is far more important, and the true cutter rig comes in to its own.

Making The Most Of Aluminum

Reading Time: 3 minutes
The OVNI 435 aluminum sailboat deck showing deck fittings welded on rather than screwed on.

Aluminum has many obvious attributes as a construction material—high strength to weight, durability, lack of maintenance—but there are other, subtler benefits that aluminum can offer, especially if building a boat from scratch.

A Boat Built To Travel

Reading Time: 3 minutes
The OVNI 435 aluminum sailboat has a well-protected rudder and prop.

Colin and Louise need a sailboat that can go virtually anywhere, for extended periods, and be as self-sufficient as possible—something like an ocean-going 4×4. They chose an OVNI 435.