Ovni- Finally set foot on my dream boat

[Telesail]

Alternative Sailing charters Ovni’s out of Trinite St Martin in Brittany. Pretty well maintained and definitely a way to drag you deeper into the rabbit hole.

We are about to take delivery of an Alubat - after test sailing several we went with a Cigale - fixed rather than swinging keel. However, the Allures, Garcia Expeditions and Boreals are all great boats as well.

[AluCan]

Hallo OVNI Fans,
I am am friend of Aluminium boats and owned my third of this kind, this time a so called bullet proofed 4 WD OVNI 41 not good maintained from 1990 at a very low price.
I expected a lot of TLC being necessary but it went worse:

the watertight section under the bathing platform had some not watertight bolts and carried about 300 liters of water.

the hydraulic shaft of the ss steel rudder cylindern got 2*2*4mm corrosive defect so every time you move it i lost a lot of fluid (car anticorrosive fluid, no oil)
To put the rudder down I had to use maximum hydraulic power. Now after changing the delrin Bolts of the rudder ( i had to drill them out 60 mm diametr) it moves due to it own weight from alone downwards

In both side bilges nobody did any maintainace the last 30 years. A mixture of oil, dirt, salt, woodpowder, bathing water from the shower basain with a whole in it developed an atmosphrer which leed to a corrosive process from inside the boat with holes 2*2 to 30*35mm and a depth of 3 mmm. The AW5083 plate there ist only 7mm. So I had to weld a 3500*400*6mm plate outside the boat at the lowest part of the billge and to fix the inside with epox primer and epoxy shield.
You have to remove the ss steel watertanks to inspect this area or use an usb endoscope to view it.
I was very astonished about this developement which is only in the wet area of the bilge.
The boat doesnt show any sign of electrolysis, the resistance from both + and - batterie to the hull is graeter than 10M Ohm.

Have a look at this critical parts !!

Its possible to do the repais, but it takes time an money and for the hydraulic repairs you need professional help unless you are able to manage lathe works for 0,01mm exactly an have access to 1.4460 steel and french bases O rings.

Good luck.
Our UFOs are great !!

[Otia]

Originally Posted by fschaefer4

Ovnis are hard to find in the US, and we're not quit ready to start flying to check them out.

You will see many in the French West Indies (Martinique, Gwada); it is a much shorter flight.

[fschaefer4]

@Telesail! A brand new Cigale?! Congratulations. That should be a boat to last you a very long time. Very exciting. Were do you plan on taking it? Everywhere I hope. Please post pics and a video walk through of the boat when you get her commissioned.

@Alucan- this is a nightmare scenario for me. I'd much prefer to get a survey and avoid all that. I'm pretty good with my hands and not afraid of work, but that's a hard one. You should check out the Ovni owners facebook page. Lots of good info there. Sounds like you'd have a lot to offer others.

[geoffrey cass]

Originally Posted by B23iL23

Indeed there was (Lost a mast on one of those once). Now called Oyster Yachts.

Known: for losing keels!!

[geoffrey cass]

Originally Posted by bcboomer

Speaking of unidentified objects, what is that complex looking object in the centre of the stern platform?

I think its called a boarding ladder

[JPA Cate]

@bcboomer:

That is the top section of a Wind Pilot wind vane, without the blade on it, for ease of entry to the sugar scoop.

Ann

[Telesail]

Originally Posted by fschaefer4

@Telesail! A brand new Cigale?! Congratulations. That should be a boat to last you a very long time. Very exciting. Were do you plan on taking it? Everywhere I hope. Please post pics and a video walk through of the boat when you get her commissioned.

Sorry it took so long... never saw your message but here are a couple of shots.

Had a ball for the last year sailing her from France to Antigua and then up to Maine. Now back in Antigua and looking forward to a few months exploring the islands down south.

[fschaefer4]

Originally Posted by Telesail

Had a ball for the last year sailing her from France to Antigua and then up to Maine. Now back in Antigua and looking forward to a few months exploring the islands down south.

le sigh... All that sounds fantastic. Great boat and great cruising grounds. Well done and congrats all the way around.

[jmh2002]

Originally Posted by Telesail

Sorry it took so long... never saw your message but here are a couple of shots.

Had a ball for the last year sailing her from France to Antigua and then up to Maine. Now back in Antigua and looking forward to a few months exploring the islands down south.

What a nice looking boat

And it looks like you are out there doing stuff with it too