jeanneau sailboat review

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 review: from the archive

• Matthew Sheahan
• May 26, 2021

Matthew Sheahan investigates a new mid-range cruiser, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37, to find out what you get for your mone

Easy to handle, practical - and pretty - the Jeanneau will fill the bill for most people's family cruising. Credit: Yachting World

Product Overview

Manufacturer:.

Jeanneau are on a roll at the moment. Over the past few years they’ve avoided the bright lights and excitement of fancy racing machines and radical cruising designs in favour of more modest, subtle cruisers and their latest, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 is once again in this mould.

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40 is a good example of this concept too. This is a boat that not only sails well and is comfortable above and below decks but actually looks good, too.

It’s easy to dismiss this last point but as far as I’m concerned there are far too many ugly ducklings out there and the 40’s new sister is not one of them.

A cracker from the start, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 has inherited the same sleek lines in profile as her bigger sister and that puts her 15-love up immediately.

Looks count for lots in my book, especially when you’re spending as much money as you might on a house.

Of course safe practical boats are very important but the fact is that it is difficult to walk away from a family cruiser this attractive. Difficult but not impossible. She does have her weaknesses.

Designed by Jacques Faroux, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 has been created to cater for a wide range of uses, from short-handed family sailing to fully loaded charter work.

As a ‘one size fits all’ type of boat, her brief is bound to lead to corn promises. Take the cockpit, for instance. Open, spacious, comfortable and convivial to seat six for an alfresco lunch at anchor. But under sail those with legs any shorter than Naomi Campbell’s will be struggling to stop themselves from sliding to leeward as the scats are set too far apart, with only a small teak strip on the cockpit floor to act as a foot brace.

Then there’s the old chestnut of handling the mainsheet from behind the wheel, (or rather not being able to), as well as a mainsheet traveller so far forward and so short that you wonder why it’s there at all.

There are a few cheap-looking shackles and light-looking fittings, too, making you wish a few more Euros had been spent just to lift the final quality of the boat’s basic spec.

But at the end of the day criticisms like these are just niggles because the rest of the boat is well thought out. Simple, comfortable and, in the main, practical for the usage she’s likely to get.

Accommodation and construction

Below decks the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 once again apes the style or the 40, with a large galley to starboard and a small face-to-face type navigation table to port.

The layout as a whole is typical of Jeanneau ‘s current approach which is to put greater emphasis on space and comfort than on the practical aspects of long periods at sea.

The ample seating to starboard and large bench-type settee to port, with little in between to clutter the space, is just one example of the simplicity of a layout that allows her accommodation to breathe.

The spacious and simple double cabin forward and the layout of the head continued the trend and only the slightly cramped after cabin contradicts the impression of spacious living.

In the case of the head aboard the two-cabin layout, the arrangement benefits from having a single, larger than normal, combined head and shower arrangement where the shower area and wet hanging space is divided off from the head itself with a smart perspex tinted door.

The layout and proportions of the head reflect a style more commonly seen in a Holiday Inn than aboard a 30-something production cruiser, but the change is a welcome one.

Interestingly, the style throughout the rest of the interior is considerably less adventurous and rather reflects a careful balance between efficiency and cosiness.

Deep behind the Velcro-hung cushions and roughly varnished locker lids, the basic structure looks well put together and chunky, leaving little to worry about on the structural side.

The construction falls in line with Jeanneau’s normal build system with a solid laminate hull and conventionally laminated longitudinals and transverse members giving her both the appearance and credentials of a robust cruiser.

Closer to the surface, although still normally out of sight, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 was less well finished, with rough edges to some or the joinery and a varnish finish that felt a touch on the thin side.

Overall she’s still perfectly acceptable but will need to be looked after if she’s to maintain her looks for years to come.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 Under way

Slipping out of even the tightest of berths should present few problems aboard the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37.

Her 40hp saildrive engine (27hp is standard) may not provide the kind or propwalk that can be used to crank you out of a tight corner but she’s still easily manageable, especially with her fixed prop.

Once under way she turns tightly, stops quickly and goes astern as easily as she goes ahead.

Under sail she’s just as well behaved. albeit subject to my usual round of reservations about not being able to handle the mainsheet from behind the wheel.

The masthead rig means that there is a large overlapping headsail to handle, which also means that someone in the crew is bound to get some upper body exercise as soon as the boat goes up­wind.

Once wound up onto the breeze during our test, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37 bowled along at around 5.8 knots in 12-14 true and a flat sea.

She felt pleasantly slippery, accelerating to slight increases in breeze but without ever feeling like she was about to misbehave.

Her wheel was large enough to provide good visibility forward and her gear ratio felt spot on. giving good feel through the helm.

Where l believe she could be improved is in the ability to change gear as the breeze comes up.

An adjustable back stay tensioner and a set of genoa car pullers are just two extras l’d want fitted to give me a bit more flexibility as the breeze fluctuates. It may sound too racy for cruising, but who actually likes putting reefs in? Changing gear with just these two controls is often enough.

First published in the June 2000 issue of Yachting World.

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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 review

• Theo Stocker
• December 21, 2023

Jeanneau has squeezed plenty of innovation into the Sun Odyssey 380. Theo Stocker goes sailing to see if it adds up to a serious cruising boat

Product Overview

• Walk-through sidedeck access | Just three companionway steps | Proper cruising fit-out available
• Not the most weatherly boat | A couple of exposed veneer edges on corners below

Price as reviewed:

Age comes to us all, and with it a certain softening of our midships. After almost 40 years of the Sun Odyssey line, you could be forgiven for thinking Jeanneau’s cruising boats are looking rather tubbier than they did in their younger days. Certainly, the usual dressing tricks have been used to disguise their growing beam – topside chines below the gunwales, bold hull stripes, and a rakish inverse bow all work their magic.

Far from trying to hide their boats’ newfound width, however, Jeanneau is proud of the amount of beam they’ve managed to squeeze into the new Sun Odyssey 380, just as they have with her larger sisters, the 410, 440 and 490, all from the pen of the late Marc Lombard.

You would also be wrong to suggest that the Sun Odyssey 380 is just trying to squeeze in more volume for accommodation (though it certainly does) at the expense of sailing, and this is where the black magic invoked by naval architects comes into its own.

A wide boat doesn’t need as much weight in the keel to keep it mast-upwards and boats have been getting broader for years. A few problems arise with this, however. The wider the stern: the more the rudder lifts out when heeled, hence the move to twin rudders; the more asymmetric the waterline becomes when heeled, the more the bow sinks and unbalances the boat; the more wetted surface area and drag you have, the slower in light airs.

It may be wide, but the coamings are higher, and the table offers good bracing. Photo: Richard Langdon

Lombard has taken inspiration from Jeanneau’s Sun Fast race boats, in turn inspired by the scow bows of the racing world, to lift the bow out of the water and make it much fuller, carrying beam further forward thus creating more form stability and a more symmetrical waterline when heeled.

Wetted surface area in light airs is reduced with a chunky hull chine and a concave in the stern to lift the quarter out of the water. The question is whether this still feels like a crisp, weatherly and seaworthy boat to sail.

I headed down to Sea Ventures at the top of the Hamble River to find out, and was pleased to find that we not only had sunshine, but a solid 15-knot southwesterly breeze, which should be enough to kick up a bit of chop and find any rough edges in the boat’s handling.

We set off just before low water, so with a draught of 2m, we were going to have to keep a sharp eye on the depth. A shoal draught keel of 1.56m is an option, as is a lift keel that is said to increase performance, thanks to a whopping 2.7m draught when down, reducing to a rather tamer 1.32m when up, on which the Sun Odyssey 380 can take the ground with the aid of beaching legs.

The bluff bow is raked slightly aft below the moulded bowsprit. Photo: Richard Langdon

We settled into our first beat as I settled down behind the wheel. To Jeanneau’s credit, the helm is responsive and precise with just enough feedback. My only gripe was that the heavy steel wheels made steering a little laggy, while the composite wheels offered in the Performance pack would be a big improvement. If you do tick that option, you’ll also get an extra 6m2 of sail area from the square-top main, thanks to the boat’s lack of backstay and a flat-deck headsail furler, plus Dyneema running rigging.

In the Voyager fit-out of our test Sun Odyssey 380, however, cruisers will appreciate the hefty stainless dinghy davits, 80W solar panel on the coachroof, seawater foot pump in the galley, a good, high sprayhood complete with LED lighting strip (though the deck plug for power was rather cumbersome), and importantly, a removable inner forestay for working jib or storm sails.

To my mind, this all makes the boat a much more serious cruising boat – one which acknowledges the realities of the cruising life and the possibility of having to tackle stronger winds.

Simple but effective, the flying genoa fairleads offer precise control of sheeting angles. Photo: Richard Langdon

Shoulder to the breeze

On the wind in a moderate breeze, I was impressed by how the Sun Odyssey 380 sailed. We were pointing at about 32-350 to the apparent wind and tacking through 75-800 on the compass. The boat’s instruments were showing 7.2-7.3 knots of boat speed on the wind; while that was pleasing, it exceeded the usually optimistic polars by some margin, not counting that this boat was also dragging a three-bladed fixed prop along with it.

Over the ground, we were nudging 5.5 knots with half a knot of tide against us, and at 35-400 to the true wind, the polars suggest 6.5-6.9 knots would be on the money. In reality, we were likely around the 6.0-6.5 mark. Stick on some slightly better sails and a folding prop and I don’t think it would take much effort to be sitting at 6.7 knots at 370 to the true wind.

With access from the shower compartment, the vast cockpit locker has lots of useful stowage space. Photo: Richard Langdon

Interestingly, the lift keel and performance sails should get you the same speed and an extra 50 of pointing upwind, or an extra quarter of a knot on the same heading.

While the Sun Odyssey 380 doesn’t have a mainsheet traveller, and the mainsheet attaches about halfway forward along the boom, the mainsheet bridle maintains a good degree of lateral sheeting angle so that you can get the boom close to the centre-line, with leech tension controlled by the kicker, though the latter could do with a smidgen more purchase.

I was also impressed with how the Sun Odyssey 380 handled the small but sharp chop we experienced on the day, sufficient to throw a bit of spray to leeward, while the boat remained (almost) completely free of slamming, thanks to a well-rounded forefoot devoid of flatspots.

Twin rudders ensure there’s plenty of control when heeled. Photo: Richard Langdon

No-step deck access

At the helm, as with many boats these days, the wheels are aft, right outboard on the quarters, which wouldn’t be the most sheltered in bad weather, but affords a good clear view forward, with wooden foot chocks giving enough security for standing, and at the right height to see to windward even when standing at the leeward wheel.

A triangle helm seat tucked into the quarter was also comfortable for sitting facing either inboard or forward, where sidedeck seats normally mean you have to twist to face forwards, thanks to the walkthrough access to the sidedeck. This is a unique feature for the Sun Odyssey range, and one of which they are rightly proud – saving creaking knees is a theme we’ll come back to on this boat.

The cockpit sole ramps up gradually to the side deck inside deep bulwarks, making access to the sidedeck feel both easy and extremely secure – the guardrails atop the bulwarks are well above waist height at the stern. I was also surprised to find that they had remarkably little impact on the space available below as they occupy the space aft and outboard of the aft berths, which is normally pretty inaccessible and neglected.

The mainsheet bridle and genoa fairleads allow for good tight sheeting angles despite the lack of tracks and travellers. Photo: Richard Langdon

The walkthroughs also mean you have standing access to the primary winches, to which the main and genoa sheets are led aft. For anyone who doesn’t like kneeling to grind sails in, this is a big plus.

Our test Sun Odyssey 380 had optional powered winches to both of these, making singlehanded tacking simple. The location of the winch buttons on the helm pedestal, however, put them out of easy reach of the crew. As all the instruments, chartplotter and other controls are also on the pedestals, this does make it harder for crew to get involved if they did want to.

The cockpit as a whole has been improved over previous generations of Sun Odyssey, thanks to deeper and more comfortable coamings, a table with good bracing and stowage, and a large sprayhood with integral cockpit lighting. Rope bags weren’t yet fitted, but would be a useful addition. A cockpit tent can be zipped onto the sprayhood, enclosing the cockpit, while usefully leaving the sidedeck walkthroughs clear for easy access on deck.

Dinghy davits and outboard brackets come as part of the Voyager options pack. Photo: Richard Langdon

Stowage is very good on the Sun Odyssey 380, at least on the two-cabin version, where the sole-depth draining locker under the port seats is supplemented by a hull-depth locker to starboard.

Jeanneau has fitted a floor and outboard shelving to this, and given access through the starboard aft shower compartment, calling it a ‘workshop’. That might be generous, but it’s certainly a very useful space with a vast amount of useful stowage that will be welcomed by cruising sailors.

Two lazarettes aft offer access to the liferaft on starboard (with top and aft access when the bathing platform is down). The port locker contains a gas locker large enough for a 4.5kg bottle though sadly no spare, and access to diesel heating, steering quadrants and autopilot, though I’d be reluctant to cram kit in amongst these systems.

A decent drop below the windlass makes for easy anchoring, though access for stowage is limited. Photo: Richard Langdon

The anchor locker is also a decent size with a reasonable chain drop, thanks to the additional space created by the forward double berth being aligned to the hull-side on starboard. The chain exits via a guide below deck and through the bow roller in the integral bowsprit, a standard feature capable of setting Code Zeros inboard and gennakers at the outboard end.

Under engine, the Yanmar 40hp gave plenty of power, thanks in part due to a shaft driven fixed three-bladed prop. At 2,000rpm we were doing 6 knots, up to 6.6 at 2,300rpm and 7.2 at 2,500rpm. The raised forefoot helped the boat respond quickly to the helm, turning in her own length at 3.5 knots.

Prop kick pushed us to port in astern, and you’ll need a couple of knots of boat speed to overcome this. Given there’s no prop wash over the twin rudders, marina handling could get spicy at times without the optional Sleipner tunnel bowthruster, which restores steerage at slow speeds when going astern.

There’s oodles of natural light and ventilation in the functional but roomy main saloon when you are back in harbour. Photo: Richard Langdon

Sun Odyssey 380 down below

Now, back to those knees. With the mainsheet bridle allowing a long sliding hatch , the companionway’s gentle incline takes you down with just three steps. This is starting to sound like an advert for a care home, but it all helps make life aboard easier…

Jeanneau has worked hard to create a saloon that feels brighter, more spacious and with cleaner lines, but it’s not done so at the expense of a sensible seagoing layout. The L-shaped galley to port allows for bracing against the companionway steps, and includes decent amounts of stowage outboard and below the sink, and a cavernous top-opening fridge, though it did lack drawer space other than one small cutlery drawer below the sink.

The L-shaped galley has simple but decent stowage and is equipped with a vast fridge and practical double sink. Photo: Richard Langdon

I’d have liked a splashback behind the double sink too, but the work surface fiddle is large enough to offer a solid hand-hold when the boat is heeled, with another handle on the heads bulkhead.

In this two-cabin version, the heads and shower are separate, meaning that there is a huge shower compartment, complete with hanging rail as well as a large wet locker outboard, and access to the workshop. The heads, conveniently at the foot of the companionway is a decent size with the toilet orientated fore and aft. All eminently practical. It’s a shame the corner of the heads bulkhead panels are just butted together, rather than edged with a solid wood corner piece, leaving the veneers vulnerable.

Facing aft towards the heads is a good-sized chart table, with the seat on the aft end of the 180cm starboard berth. Access to the switch panel wiring is top notch and neatly finished. The chart table is topped with tan leather, and little touches like the Jeanneau clock and barometer are nice. I was disappointed that the baffles inside the chart table precluded the stowage of paper leisure charts, but left inaccessible void space that would have allowed for this – it seems an odd oversight to me.

A chaise-style bench seat is a comfortable spot to put your feet up, in harbour or at sea where the view out is perfectly placed. Photo: Richard Langdon

Forward of all of this, the saloon is extremely comfortable, with C-shaped seating to port, including a lift-up panel to turn this into either a decent single berth or a narrow double (204cm x 80cm). The folding table sits on the centreline, but an opening panel in the side of the base ensures access to keel bolts, bilge sump and pump.

I particularly liked the ‘chaise longue’ detail on the starboard berth – an armrest projects aft from the forward bulkhead, so that you can wedge yourself in securely when heeled, with views out of the hull window, up to the helm, and of the instruments at the chart table – an off-watch skipper would be very comfortable here with good views of what’s going on. There’s also plenty of stowage under and behind all of the seats, though no overhead lockers or shelves.

The sloping decks have little discernible impact on the generous aft berth. Photo: Richard Langdon

Into the forward cabin, forward of the mast compression post (lacking it’s leather cover on the test boat), a one-and-a-half double door can be kept open for a sense of space if it’s just a couple aboard, or used as a normal single door.

This boat didn’t have the optional ensuite heads to port, though the deck moulding reveals where this would be. You’d sacrifice a fair bit of space and stowage if you did opt for it, though there’s still a hanging locker to starboard.

Forward of this, the 135cm x 200cm berth is rectangular rather than the usual triangle, thanks to being offset to starboard – the layout worked surprisingly well, and the large hull windows make it pleasant to be in. Below the bunk is a 330L water tank. 130L of diesel is aft of the port double berth, which has good standing room and a vast 200cm x 180cm double berth, two opening hatches and plenty of locker, hanging and shelf space.

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The 38ft production cruiser market is a competitive one, and you’ll be spoilt for choice if this is what you’re after - the Beneteau 38.1, Bavaria C38, Dufour 37, Hanse 388… It’s no surprise therefore that Jeanneau has worked hard to carve out some unique selling points. Clearly, ease of access is the major one on the Sun Odyssey range, with step-free walkthroughs onto the sidedeck, with which I was genuinely impressed – I wasn’t sure how well they’d work on a boat of this size, but needn’t have worried, and nor did they steal noticeable amounts of space from the accommodation, to which access is also made gentler by reducing the companionway steps. A few tiny upgrades, like composite wheels, and maybe an extra instrument repeater or two (all on the options list) would round off this boat's edges. It would be nice to see a tiny bit more solid wood below too, on the corners of high-wear areas such as the galley and heads. Other than that, the finish is hard to fault for a production boat.

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• Sailboat Reviews

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32

The sun odyssey 32 and sun fast 32i are two versions of the same boat, designed by philippe briand. the attractive combination may well capture a good share of the market in this size slot..

Following its founding in 1956 by Henri Jeanneau, and subsequent sale and resales, Chantiers Jeanneau SA became, in 1995, a member of the Beneteau family of power and sailboat builders. Forty-plus years after its start, the company has produced 60,000 boats, and currently launches 4,000 boats annually, of which 1,200 to 1,500 are sailboats. The US market accounts for 100 to 125 sailboats. All are built in France, and range in size from 17 to 54 feet.

Skeptics assumed that the absorption of the smaller company would result in the loss of its identity, but results are the opposite. Beneteau and Jeanneau share the same top management, but marketing and dealer networks are separate operations.Paul Fenn, president of Jeanneau America, and Wayne Burdick, president of Beneteau USA, are friendly rivals who enjoy a spirited competition in the sales arena, competing for both buyers and dealers.

Jeanneau benefited significantly in two areas following the merger. Its position as a purchaser of raw materials was significantly enhanced, and it gained better access to new technology than it would have had it remained on its own. A primary example is the parent company’s response to France’s institution of regulations requiring the elimination of styrene vapor emissions by 2008. With the cash available to invest in new technology, the company is now using more environmentally friendly machinery and techniques.

The deck of the Sun Odyssey 32, for example, is constructed with a closed-mold, resin-infusion method that meets the new standard. In the process, glass fiber is placed between steel male and female tooling, the molds are sealed, and resin is pumped into the laminate. So, in addition to controlling vapor, more precise glass-to-resin ratios are achieved, as are smoother surfaces. Though still in the developmental stages, the concept is similar to SCRIMP and vacuum-bagging techniques that are becoming more commonplace among high-end production manufacturers. The issue raises questions about the future of small manufacturers required to adapt in a regulatory environment.

Both companies also enjoy what Jeanneau describes as a “sympathetic government eager to protect domestic industries,” an attitude that has, perhaps, contributed to the conglomerate’s ability to enjoy substantial market share at home and abroad.

Sun Odyssey models are known primarily as cruising boats with full interiors and a turn of speed; the Jeanneau Sun Fast line lives on the performance-oriented side of the design arena, but offers identical creature comforts.

That Jeanneau simultaneously introduced the Sun Odyssey 32 and Sun Fast 32i is unusual, but provides potential buyers with an opportunity to compare two boats with identical hulls and decks that have significantly different sailplans and displacement. That’s a far cry from awaiting the introduction of a performance version of a new model during the decision making process.

Design Veteran designer Philippe Briand is credited with the lines of the 32-footer, which combines good looks and large interior volume with sprightly performance.

In profile, she carries the combination of nearly plumb bow and reverse-transom that has characterized modern performance cruising sloops since Bruce Farr began the trend in the 1980s. However, compared to early French models, the intersection of her low, forward-sloping cabintop and the deck, coupled with triangle-shaped portlights, presents a sleek appearance. Her sheer line is nearly flat.

Despite having a large inventory of halyards and sail controls, her deck layout is clean. A wide beam carries aft to a wide transom, defined by a swim platform and two seats that break up what otherwise would be a broad slab. Like so many other designers these days, Briand tries here to maximize interior volume, cockpit space, and transom access without wrecking the looks of the boat. He succeeds better than most. Of course, you have to enjoy the plumb-stem, wide-transom look to begin with, and to do that you have to appreciate form following function.

Steering and Deck Layout Our first pleasant surprise upon stepping aboard the test boat was that a major manufacturer is producing a 32-foot cruising boat with tiller steering. Always at issue is whether a tiller requires more strength to manage than a wheel, and there’s no question that in many cases it does. It is observed, for example, in the venerable Skene’s Elements of Yacht Design, that in order to steer a boat with the same amount of force needed to turn a 28″ pedestal wheel, you would need a tiller 12’9″ long.

Of course, tillers far shorter than that do work, and on boats much bigger than 32 feet. Much depends on how the rudder is balanced, how the boat is balanced, and where the center of effort is in the sailplan. When all is in harmony, a tiller is responsive to the touch, rarely heavy to handle, and obviously simple, with no extra moving parts to break. While it can make some maneuvers tricky for a full cockpit crew under sail, it allows easy movement forward and aft, and can generally be lifted completely out of the way when the boat is at rest, opening the cockpit entirely.

Assuming that the boat can be steered easily enough with a tiller, the biggest trade-off is the loss of the pedestal, which today is home to so many instruments and controls, tables, and drink holders, that the Keene brothers at Edson must be getting hard-pressed to find room for more.

Both models of the 32-footer are equipped with Sparcraft masts, though the SO is deck-stepped, the SF keel- stepped. The SO is fitted with stainless steel wire rigging and one set of swept spreaders; the SF with rod rigging and double spreaders. Shrouds on the SF are farther inboard, to create closer sheeting angles.

The sail inventory on the SO is factory- supplied Technique Voile sails constructed of Bainbridge’s HSX hybrid Dacron. Jeanneau says the fabric is lighter than conventional Dacron, so produces less weight aloft, and is more tightly knit and durable. The sails also have a softer hand. The mainsail carries 80% battens that are easy to trim while producing excellent shape. Boats are equipped with a split backstay, but the owner of our test boat added a block and tackle arrangement that improves and simplifies tuning.

Jeanneau has equipped the boat with its version of a mainsail stacking system, a “lazy bag sailcover with lazy jacks.” In operation, the main is easily doused between lines and stacked inside a zippered sailcover attached to the boom. To our eye, the bag looks a bit flappy when the sail is up. The Doyle StackPack would be a neater alternative. Forward, the headstay is equipped with a 135% genoa and Profurl furler.

A significant difference exists between the gear and arrangement of mainsail controls on the two models. The SO mainsheet is led from the middle of the boom to blocks located port and starboard on the coachroof forward of a spray dodger that houses instruments and provides a surface for the addition of a canvas dodger. Though the arrangement is easily manageable and keeps clutter out of the cockpit, it compromises the ability to tweak the mainsail.

The SF is equipped with more efficient end-boom sheeting, and a mainsail traveler in the cockpit at the helmsman’s fingertips. The price is paid in some clutter and the loss of cockpit space. The SF also is equipped with a solid vang.

Our test boat was equipped with Harken 16 self -tailing winches on the cabintop. These are single-speed winches, but we’d go for the optional two-speed winches, and a second winch to port. The standard arrangement leads mainsheet, outhaul, and jib halyard to a Spinlock XAS sheetstopper to starboard. A separate stopper handles the furler line. To port, a triple rope clutch controls two reef lines and the main halyard. Spinnaker gear adds the need for at least one additional double stopper.

Cockpit seats are generous, measuring nearly 7′ long and and 15″wide, with 12″ backrests, and so provide support and length to fully recline. The footwell allows plenty of room for crew to stretch their legs.

The length of the cockpit on the centerline from the tiller to the companionway is 73″. A nice touch is that the helm seat drops out of the way to the cockpit sole, allowing swimmers and passengers easy access through the stern. Cockpit stowage is in a 38″ long, 20″ deep locker with a false floor that provides room for stores and an inflatable dinghy. Space below the seat to port is occupied by a stateroom.

Decks are 14″ wide, and handrails span recesses on the cabintop, providing a full grip without interfering with her low profile. Tracks for headsail leads on the SO are near the base of the cabin, but there’s an absence of track for outboard sheeting of headsails or spinnakers. However, eyes welded into the base of the stern pulpit provide places to secure turning blocks when flying a drifter or spinnaker.

The space at the bow is large enough for crew work, but too short for sunbathing. The anchor locker is a sealed compartment designed to store an anchor, chain, and rope secured to a Lofrans electric winch that is standard gear.

Accommodations Spaces in the saloon are fairly conventional. Notable characteristics are a minimum headroom of 6’1″ throughout, a minimal nav station, and the extensive use of teak and teak veneers, including battens on a white headliner running the length of the 9’6″ long, 6’9″ wide cabin. The headliner is secured by screws, and can be removed to reach deck hardware.

Add several portlights and hatches, including two in the hull at eye level when seated, and she has a feeling of spaciousness.

The port settee measures 5’7″, and will seat 3-4 adults at the table, positioned on the centerline. Elevate a table leaf, and four passengers to starboard also have a dining surface. The wine is close at hand in a compartment recessed in the center of the table. Storage is below and outboard of the settees, and on shelves running the length of the hull.

The navigator faces aft at a chart table measuring 28″ x 20″ with a 4″ deep storage area. A fuse panel is outboard, and fixed with screws rather than a piano hinge. Space for instruments is at a premium on a small bulkhead, though adequate for small GPS and VHF units. Outside, instruments will need to be mounted on the aft end of the house, and be large and well-lit enough to see from the tiller. Here’s where instrument fanciers may begin to miss that Edson pedestal.

The chef will operate in a smallish, C-shaped space that has all of the tools of the trade: two burner stove-oven, single stainless steel sink, dry locker outboard, and refrigerator aft. The working surface is 31″ wide, so elbow room is adequate, and storage is in several cabinets and drawers.

A bi-fold door encloses the forward cabin, which has adequate space for dressing and 6’2″ of headroom. The berth measures 6’1″ on the centerline, but comes to a sharp V at the foot. Storage is in a hanging locker, on shelves, and below the berth in a space shared with a water tank.

The aft cabin is an almost-queen-sized, almost-square area, that allows bunkmates to sleep athwartships more comfortably than fore and aft. The space is ventilated by a port in the cockpit, but could do with a second that would allow the aftmost passenger more ventilation.

A large storage cabinet outboard shares space with a stainless steel holding tank aft of the head, above the waterline to allow for a gravity drain. The steel tank should be less odorous than PVC.

On balance, the area belowdecks provides space to lounge, is well organized, functional, and well appointed. Finishes on fiberglass surfaces and wood joinery are quite good. Cabins will accommodate four crew comfortably, and light and ventilation are adequate.

Construction Jeanneau continues to build solid fiberglass hulls in the traditional manner with production workers hand- laying fiberglass and distributing resin with rollers. After NPG gelcoat is sprayed on the mold, layers of woven roving are laminated with vinylester resin, which is gradually becoming the industry standard. However, polyester resins are employed in the layup of the final layers of mat and roving. The use of chopped strand mat is disdained.

The companyuses a grid system constructed of laminated plywood bonded to the hull and glassed with biaxial or unidirectional cloth, after which stringers are bonded to the hull sides. It continues the use of plywood in the stringers rather than lighter products.

All of the furniture bases for cabinetry are molded in a single pan that is bonded to the hull with epoxy. Cutouts in the pan accommodate underwater transducers and seacocks, and those areas are easily accessible for maintenance. Similarly, wires are run through heavy hoses to reduce chafe and ease modifications and maintenance.

Economies of scale are reflected in the methods employed in the construction of cabinetry. In previous years, Jeanneau’s joinery was considered to be slightly above average; more recently, computer-controlled woodcutting equipment is producing cuts that are within thousandths of an inch of specifications, and the final product evidences the changes. Varnishes are applied mechanically.

Both boats are constructed to meet varying European CE standards, depending upon crew size.

Performance With assistance from Dan Krier of Marine Sevicecenter of Seattle, and a willing client of his , we tested the SO on a balmy morning on Puget Sound. The wind built to 13 knots during our test sail (before fading away later) and she performed well with the full main and 135% genoa. In 5 knots of breeze she sailed close-hauled at 3.5 to 4.5 knots; when winds piped up to 10-13 knots speed ranged from 5 to 6.3 knots. The semi-balanced rudder and tiller produced slight weather helm at the upper range, just about right, and the boat responded quickly to every move of the tiller. At 15° of heel she settled into a comfortable groove, close to the wind, and tacked within 90°.

With sheets eased and sailing on a broad reach in 9-10 knots of wind, speed held steady in the 6-knot range. We think she’ll add a couple of knots of boatspeed under a cruising or conventional spinnaker.

She tracked well and felt buoyant in the near-flat conditions. We’d want to sail her in heavier chop to better evaluate her motion if we planned on sailing offshore or in high-wind areas like San Francisco. And we’d sure like to compare the performance of the SO32 and her almost-twin sister.

Under power, her standard 18-hp Yanmar pushed her quietly at 6 knots in the calm water (a Yanmar 3GM 27 would be a wiser option in some areas), and her 4’11” fin keel produced good tracking and maneuverability in a tight marina.

Comparison Here’s how she stacks up to two similar-sized, contemporary production boats, the Catalina 320 and J/32.

The Catalina 320, designed primarily as a couples boat, or for a family with young children, measures 34’3″ overall, including the bow pulpit, and 32’6″ on deck, with a 28′ waterline. Her beam is 11’9″, and draft with fin keel 6’3″. According to Catalina, her approximate weight is 11,300 lbs., including 4,000 pounds of ballast. Total sail area is 521 square feet, assuming a 100% foretriangle. Her SA/D is 16.5, on the high end of the low-power scale. The current price is approximately $91,000, FOB the factory.

The J/32, the most recently introduced J/Boat not equipped with a sprit, measures 32’5″ on deck, has a 29′ waterline, and 11′ beam. She draws 6′, displaces 10,000 lbs., and carries 3,850 lbs. in her keel. Her SA/D is 18 (100% foretriangle), in the middle of the moderate scale. When introduced in 1997, the base boat retailed for $109,000. Base price today is $157,000.

The SO32 measures 31’5″ at the stem, but her LWL is 27’11”, within inches of the 310, but a foot shorter than the J-Boat. She’s the narrowest of the three, has a standard draft of 4’11”, and displacement of 10,009 lbs. She carries 3,020 lbs. in her keel.

The Sun Fast 32i has the same hull and deck as her sister. Her displacement is 9,237 lbs., the keel is 6’5″ deep, with 2,491 lbs. of ballast, so she’s significantly lighter, with most of the weight removed from the keel. Normally, this would make her more tender, but the added keel depth puts weight and leverage lower, and so compensation is made at the cost of added draft.

The interior layout and tankage are identical. A high-aspect mainsail is 11″ shorter on the foot, but the sailplan is balanced by a larger headsail. Her mainsail carries 275 square feet, her genoa 307 square feet, and a spinnaker 721 square feet.

Most recent pricing for the SO32 is $90,575; the SF32i list price is $95,575, FOB East Coast. Options with the SO32 include a mainsail furler ($1,620), and cockpit table on steering wheel pedestal ($700). Additional standard gear on the SF32i includes spinnaker halyard, foreguy and topping lift, spinnaker gear and barber hauler, tweaker system on the mainsail, and rigid boom vang. Sails are not included in her base price. An owner can expect to spend $4,337 for factory sails, or more for a performance inventory.

Conclusion Jeanneau struggled for quite a while to create a presence in the US, a task made difficult by ownership changes in the ’90s. Today, Jeanneau joins its sister company as a real competitor in the US market. With the Sun Odyssey 32 and Sun Fast 32i , the company has introduced boats that will appeal to a broad spectrum of sailors at prices designed to compete with major American production builders.

The boat is well designed, constructed, outfitted, and sails well. We’d like to know how she goes in stiff breezes and bumpy water.

Contact – Jeanneau America, 410/280-9400, www.jeanneauamerica.com .

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2020 Jeanneau NC 895 Sport

• By Chris Caswell
• Updated: August 18, 2020

You don’t have to be a computer geek to know that abbreviations abound on everything from Twitter to emails (LOL), so I’m inventing one right now that will come up regularly in this test of the new Jeanneau NC 895 Sport: SFABTS. It stands for “Surprising for a Boat This Size,” and I’ll use it a lot.

The 895 translates from meters to just over 28 feet LOA. The NC stands for New Concept, which it certainly is for those of us on this side of the Pond. (It’s called the Merry Fisher in France, but I can see all kinds of issues with that translation.) This is the Sport version with twin outboards, and a boat that will find ready acceptance whether in colder northern waters or steamy tropics, or for fishing or family outings.

You might question the word “Sport,” since the styling is “commercial fishing boat vertical” with a square pilothouse and a windscreen that slants slightly forward rather than back, but it’s the first of our SFABTS moments. It doesn’t waste dashboard, it minimizes reflections, and it keeps rain off the windshield and sun off the helm.

Yet the NC 895 Sport is one of the brightest and lightest boats I’ve been aboard recently. Start with the windshield—one piece, two wipers, big. Then there’s side windows that start low (below dinette level) and go to the overhead, and an oversize slider aft (note the single level from transom step to helm).

But there’s more. Not only is there an opening window to port, but the skipper has a big walk-through sliding door next to the helm seat, which is perfect for short-handing, or just yelling at the gas dock attendant. I loved that the door can lock partially ajar, to give the skipper a taste of breeze on hot days. And then there are two large (33-inch) sunroofs that slide independently, so you can open the 895 to feel a breeze on four sides. Should this not be enough, opt for the Westerbeke 3.5 kW generator to power enough air conditioning to get you through the steamiest summer (or stretch your winter season by months with heat). There’s a dedicated cockpit compartment to make access easy.

A word about power: Jeanneau decrees you can have only twin 200 hp or 250 hp Yamahas, which the builder has chosen for the balance of power versus speed versus economy. The choice is easy: Go for the 250s. Yamaha engineering boffins were tinkering with props during our test, but we nailed a solid 47 mph while they fooled around. SFABTS. The engines are too close together for Yamaha Helm Master joystick steering, but our test boat had the optional Quick electric bow thruster for maneuvering.

Interior and Accessories

The cockpit is nothing but cool, with an aft seat that slides forward so you can tilt the outboards above water. Imagine, replacing less zincs (or even lower units). Optional folding cockpit seats around the available 2-by-4-foot table (the French love alfresco dining) don’t hinder access to the starboard swim platform with folding ladder or the 16-inch-wide side deck to the bow wraparound seating.

Like all of us, the French fret about kids around water, so the cockpit coamings are a full 36 inches high, with gates protecting the two swim platforms. A starboard side-deck door through the coaming makes boarding from the dock easy, as well as jumping ashore from the helm.

Inside is SFABTS. Les Francais have, in a 28-footer, achieved two private staterooms, each with a closing door and nearly 6 feet of headroom to pull on les pantolons in the morning. There is an enclosed head (same headroom) complete with shower and a folding seat over the loo.

Up in the salon, the dinette easily seats four, and a backrest flips to become a forward-facing companion seat. The galley is elegantly simple, with a single gas burner and a pressure sink on the dash in front of the companion. A 68-quart fridge is tucked under the helm seat for, at a guess, 25 Champagne bottles to toast your smarts in acquiring the 895 Sport.

When it comes to sleeping off the Champagne, the forward stateroom has the expected V-berth, and it’s 7 feet long to minimize tangled toes.

The second stateroom is tucked under the salon, and I’d be tempted to claim this as the owner’s cabin because it has a 55-by-78-inch rectangular berth, just a few inches shy of a queen (60-by-80). Both cabins get great light through hullside windows, and the fore cabin has a large opening port as well as a hatch.

Shopping around? Check out the 9-inch-longer Cutwater C-302 Sport Coupe with twin Yamaha 300s and more standard equipment: genset, thrusters, etc. ($304,937).

Underway, the NC 895 Sport is a SFABTS hoot, with the power of 500 snorting horses to give skiers or wakeboarders a serious ride, and enough punch so the skipper should warn, “OK, hang on everyone,” when he nails the throttles. The 895 goads you into carving some doughnuts just for the heck of it, and we sliced through fat wakes with aplomb. The skipper has, by the way, a compact but thoughtful dash, with room for twin monitors, a tidy row of illuminated rockers, and optional ZipWake trim tabs, which did an admirable job of keeping us running fast and efficiently.

Solidly built by Jeanneau and with more than 1,500 already launched in Europe, the NC 895 is truly SFABTS: Surprising for a Boat This Size.

I loved her. Je l’aime !

How We Tested

• Engines: Twin 250 hp Yamaha V-6 4.2-liter
• Drive/Props: Outboard/Yamaha 15 3/4″ x 15″ Saltwater Series II stainless-steel 3-blade
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 100 gal. Water on Board: 10 gal. Crew Weight: 1,300 lb.

High Points

• Side-door access from the helm makes short-handing a cinch; kick out the fenders, grab dock lines, and be close to the helm.
• Outboards that tilt completely out of the water eliminate many maintenance issues, especially in salt water.
• Great access to service points, shut-off valves and battery switches.
• Every ounce of possible space is used for stowage lockers or hatches.
• One-burner stove says “let’s eat ashore,” unless you’re jonesing for soup. The builder should at least add a microwave.
• Hanging locker should include either a bar or shelves.
• Electronics rack atop the cabin roof for radar, antennas, spotlight, etc. is clunky.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, efficiency, operation.

Jeanneau – Annapolis, Maryland; 410-280-9400; jeanneauamerica.com

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Nominee Spotlight: Jeanneau Yachts 55

• By Andrew Parkinson
• October 3, 2023

On the heels of the Jeanneau Yachts 60 and 65, the French boatbuilder synonymous with sailing in style premieres its latest prodigy, the Jeanneau Yachts 55, at the Annapolis Sailboat Show. Our editors first saw the 55 as a scale model back at the 2023 Miami Boat Show. A quick study suggested it was anything but another everyday sailboat design. With this new model, Jeanneau has emphasized the idea of building a boat around its potential owners’ needs, with an eye on long-range cruising in more space and comfort than ever before.

The Jeanneau 55 was penned in a collaboration between Philippe Briand Yacht Design, Winch Design and Jeanneau. According to the builder, the 55 sought inspiration from catamarans for space optimization. That approach is evident in the final product.

It starts with the boat’s exterior, in the form of a true dual cockpit setup. The twin helm stations are positioned a bit forward, leaving a wide area abaft for entertainment and relaxation, with two sofas: one U-shaped and one L-shaped, which both convert to sun lounges, and a hydraulic swim platform. Sheltered by an optional hardtop arch, the helm area and forward “exterior salon” include a chart table with a GPS screen and autopilot controls, all protected by a wraparound windscreen with excellent visibility. The streamlined foredeck also includes plenty of real estate for a sun-lounge, which can be shaded with a canopy at anchor.

Below the waterline, it’s a dual rudder system and a sturdy keel (either a traditional L-shaped fin keel with a weighted bulb or an optional shallow-draft version). At 40,878 pounds with a D/L of 125.5 and a 26 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio, it extends its beam throughout, adding a topside chine for more interior volume.

Its sail configuration comprises a modern fractional sloop rig, enhanced by an attractive bowsprit. Versatile rig options are available. Downwind performance can be enhanced with an optional asymmetrical spinnaker, spanning 2,690 square feet. 

The Jeanneau 55 employed advanced composite materials in the build, with elegant wooden accents carrying a sense of timeless craftsmanship. Inside, the 55 sports a distinctive three-cabin layout, providing roomy, comfortable accommodations for up to six guests. Designed with a private apartment in mind, the forward owner’s suite occupies nearly two-thirds of the main interior. The cabin has an inviting island berth, while the salon offers an inviting L-shaped settee and two comfortable chaises. Two aft cabins offer cozy double berths, each accessible via its dedicated staircase from the protected cockpit salon. A functional crew cabin can be integrated into the bow as an option.

The starboard-side galley has a streamlined design, incorporating an island with a cooktop, an ice storage unit and a double sink. The 55 has three private heads, one in each cabin. Cabin headroom is also a plus, at over six and a half feet.

Attributed with the 55’s living spaces, design Andrew Winch says ergonomics are essential to the success of any boat design. “I was so pleased with the Jeanneau range, I even bought one for myself,” he says. “I have always wanted a yacht that was as comfortable as this and performed extremely well as an ocean sailing yacht. If there is one unifying thread which runs through all of our design departments, it’s our commitment to designing not just spaces for clients, but lifestyles.”

Jeanneau Yachts 55 Specifications

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Jeanneau Sailboats, Pleasure at Sea

Sun Odyssey

A new vision of life onboard

Onboard the comfort is served by a timeless design, performance is achieved without effort, and above all, safety at sea is guaranteed. Ideal for your family cruises. Live moments of pure happiness!

Jeanneau Yachts

Enhance your horizons

Welcome to the refined world of cruising aboard Jeanneau Yachts. Set sail and discover these jewels of the sea.

Performance and technology by Jeanneau

On the water, speed and exhilarating sensations are guaranteed, without compromising dependability, ease of handling and safety at sea. These sailboats will impress you with their seaworthy qualities, stability and robust structure.

Pure bliss.

A sunrise at sea. The soft clicking as you sheet in the jenny. The kite is up, you bear away, ease the sheet, and feel the boat’s acceleration. Pure bliss. Sailors live for moments like these. And at Jeanneau, we live to make them happen. We combine superior functionality and innovation with proven designs.

Smart features with a down-to-earth-approach. Outstanding performance, safety, and cruising comfort – a Jeanneau will give you everything you need and nothing you don’t, so you can enjoy what really matters: the pure experience of sailing.

For the purchase and/or sale of a sailboat , please don’t hesitate to contact your Jeanneau dealership by clicking here:

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