Allures 39.9 review: assured blue-water cruiser

In times of economic uncertainty, even a minor success stories is gratifying to behold. The small French manufacturer Allures Yachting has been in business for just 10 years, but has accomplished quite a bit in its small and exclusive niche far from the mainstream. Steady, market-driven refinement of finely graduated product lines has produced full order books and continuous growth lasting years. It’s something not too many other manufacturers can boast about.

The Allures 39.9 sports a modest rig and a retractable centreboard to increase range and reduce stress for long-term cruisers.

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With more than 100 boats built between 40 and 50 feet in length and a current output of 20 units per year, Allures, which is based in Cherbourg on the English Channel, is the current market leader for aluminium cruising boats, having surpassed Alubat and the associated brands Ovni and Cigale.

Allures 39.9 review: Fibreglass deck and stern reduces weight.

Allures boats are built from aluminium with round frames, which is their specialty and rare in the industry. Nine aluminium sheets between 6 and 10 millimetres thick are pressed into shape in a special workshop that is adjoins the yard. Then this structure is welded to the frames, stringers and floor timbers without strain. It's a complicated and elaborate construction method but it guarantees a very robust and rugged hull structure.

Another one of Allures’ specialties is the combination of aluminium and fibreglass. On previous models, portions of the coachroof, cockpit and stern are made of GRP. But with the Allures 39.9 the designers have significantly increased the portion of fibreglass, by building the entire deck and the stern as one complete glass sandwich element using vacuum infusion technology.

This way, Allures tries to combine more of the advantages of both materials. The hull continues to be built from damage resistant aluminium while the fibreglass deck with foam core reduces weight and offers better temperature and sound insulation. Fibreglass is also much easier for mounting deck hardware, which could be problematic with aluminium due to corrosion issues.

For all conditions

The Allures 39.9 follows on the heels of the Allures 40 from 2007.

Allures 39.9 review: Cautious sailplan for cruising peace of mind.

Just like her predecessor the new model should be a solid and safe passage-maker with a strong emphasis on offshore capabilities and convenient handling under all conditions. This is reflected in the rig, which consists of a thick and strong mast profile with a simple sail plan and comparatively small sail area. For long-distance cruising the optional jib staysail is a recommended supplement for the standard genoa with 105-per cent overlap. That sail, a so-called trinquette, attaches to hounds three quarters of the way up the mast and is mostly used in heavy air. When unused, it remains attached and furled.

The Allures 39.9 is not a boat for sport or racing enthusiasts. Nevertheless, the vessel proved to be quite lively during the tests in wind speeds of approximately 10 knots. Especially during manoeuvres, her 11 tons, which is about average for this size, was easy to turn and accelerated well. Sailing upwind in these conditions, the boat managed 6.5 knots at a true wind angle of 45 degrees. These numbers are consistent with expectations for a pure cruising vessel of this size.

The steering system for the twin rudders remained nearly neutral, which makes it a bit difficult for the helmsman to drive the boat cleanly in the groove of the breeze. But since a bluewater cruiser of this kind is likely to be helmed by the autopilot most of the time, less rudder pressure is advantageous, because the system won’t have to work as hard, which means it will use less power, too.

As with all Allures yachts, the 39.9 is fitted with ballast and a ballasted aluminium centreboard. When it is retracted the minimum draft (defined by the rudder blades) of this 40-footer is 1.06 meters, which means it can dry out upright at low tide without any problems. The board is easily raised and lowered with a block-and-tackle system that is led up to the deck.

More space, better access

This ballasted centreboard has been reshaped as well, which means its trunk in the cabin is now much shorter than on the previous model.

Allures 39.9 review: The lifting keel takes up less space than in previous models permitting the fold-out table down below.

That way the designers have achieved one of their goals, a freestanding saloon table and a much more spacious pantry in a functional L-shape. The galley to port is elevated relative to the saloon, as is the nav station on the opposite side, which is spacious and thus makes it easy to work when under way. For a blue-water boat of this kind a functional nav area with a chart table is still an absolute must.

The Allures 39.9 is offered in two layouts. In the standard version the boat has two staterooms with a spacious locker for systems and storage aft and a generously sized lavatory with separate toilet and shower. Alternatively, the boat can be ordered with three cabins, however then the lavatory aft is shrunk to a painfully compact size without the separate shower. This somehow doesn’t fit well with the orientation of the Allures 39.9 as a yacht for the long haul.

There are variations for the fore cabin as well. If the buyer desires, an additional heads can be installed there, but that too will be comparatively small.

At more two metres in length and 1.86 metres wide at shoulder level, the triangular bed in the forecabin is sufficiently large to sleep two. In the aft cabin though, relaxed rest is only possible for one occupant as the width of that berth is only 1.37 metres at shoulder height, which is not sufficient for a double cabin. This is because Allures has allocated more space to the service tunnel between both cabins for the installation of larger gen sets, cabin and water heaters, or a watermaker, which are necessary accessories for extended ocean trips.

The price is right

The impeccable quality of workmanship and the high-end method of production in aluminium also result in higher cost. At a base price of €308,805 (inc German VAT at 19%) for an unusually well equipped globe girdler, the Allures 39.9 is about twice as expensive as a mass-produced boat of similar size, but still more affordable than a yacht from the upscale Scandinavian manufacturers.

The technical systems of the Allures 39.9 are immaculate and the quality checks out, which all contributed to the boat’s nomination for the European Yacht of the Year 2014 contest. In summary: If you plan on going long and want to play it safe, you can’t go wrong with an Allures.

Allures 39.9 review: Specifications

LOA: 12.65m (41.5ft)

Beam: 4.15m (13.6ft)

Draught: 1.06–2.75m  (3.47ft - 9ft)

Displacement: 10,900kg (24,000lb)

...of which ballast: 39% (4,200kg / 9,260lb)

Mainsail area: 42,6 m2 (460 sq. ft)

Genoa (105%): 38.5sq m (414sq ft)

Engine (Volvo Penta): 40kw/55hp

Designers: Berret/Racoupeau

CE Category: A

www.allures.fr

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