AB Oja Batar

AB Oja Batar was a Finnish boatbuilding company based in Oulu, Finland, active from the 1970s to the late 1980s. Specializing in fiberglass sailboats, the yard focused on performance-oriented cruiser-racers designed for Scandinavian waters, emphasizing seaworthiness, balanced handling, and affordability. Founded amid the post-war fiberglass boom, AB Oja Batar collaborated with prominent naval architects like Peter Norlin (Swedish Olympic medalist) and Sparkman & Stephens (U.S. firm) to produce a small but influential lineup. Production totaled around 100–200 units across models, with the Avance series as its hallmark. The company ceased operations around 1988 due to market consolidation and economic pressures, but its boats remain popular in Europe for their robust construction and active racing fleets. AB Oja Batar's legacy lies in bridging traditional Nordic design with modern fiberglass, influencing later builders like X-Yachts.