Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349

OVERVIEW
- Small boat with big-boat features
A few years ago if someone told you they had a new yacht with twin steering wheels, twin rudders and a huge drop-down transom, you’d think they’d just bought a 50 footer – especially when they told you it also had room to comfortably sleep six or seven and had a separate full-height shower stall in the bathroom.

But no. Jeanneau’s new Sun Odyssey 349 fits all that and more into just 10.34 metres (33ft 11in) plus a bit more for the optional bowsprit.

Jeanneau has been a fan of the twin-steer concept for some time and we can remember being intrigued by the Sun Odyssey 40 when that came out with two wheels, thinking that it was too small a boat for dual helms – but a 34-footer? This would be interesting…

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Good starting price with some must-have options
The price of the standard Sun Odyssey 349 in either two-cabin or three-cabin layout is $193,753. But that’s a pretty basic boat. There are some items from the option's list that would be must-haves for a yacht like this. Our test boat was fitted with a number of options that brought the final total to $224,707.

Agent for Jeanneau in Victoria, 38 South Boat Sales, has sensible packages that allow you to spec up the boat to suit you usage. These include comfort features, performance packages and electronics. This boat had pretty much the lot. First up is what the company calls the Trim Level Premiere package which gives mid-ship mooring cleats, LED nav lights, shorepower and battery charger, extra battery, screens and shades for hatches and a 25-litre hot water system. Add to that Bluetooth with remote, interior and exterior speakers, cockpit table and hot and cold deck shower.

Also added was the performance pack (more on that later), the electronics pack, rigging for the asymmetric kite, lazy jacks and bag for the main and a few other bits and pieces.

We now had a pretty well specified boat suitable for family cruising, short-handed sailing and the odd round-the-cans for a twilight or weekend race.

HULL AND RIG
- An interesting rig with no backstay
The hull of the 349 builds on the existing Sun Odyssey 33i. It has a more bluff bow, brings more of the beam aft (hence the twin wheels and rudders) and adds chines running aft from just aft of amidships.

Fixed or swing keels are available and the standard draft is 1.98 metres or 6ft 5in.

The 349 has an interesting rig. The mast is a twin spreader alloy Selden item with 30-degree swept-back spreaders and no backstay. In a break with tradition, the shrouds are outboard mounted.

The main features a German mainsheet system with a ‘bridle on the cabin top rather than a traveller system and the main sheet comes back to a Spinlock jammer near the helm then on a Harken 35 self-tailing winch.

The headsail sheets run through nifty barber haulers and back to the helm and another separate jammer and then onto the primaries. The barber hauler system is controlled from the cockpit and means you can sheet the jib in tighter on works and let it run out more free when the sheets are eased – it’s not a new idea but it works well on this beamy boat.

As mentioned, out test boat was fitted with a bowsprit for running asymmetric spinnakers meaning that the anchor roller was offset to port. The tack line runs through the bowsprit and down to a fitting on the bow near the waterline negating the need for a bobstay.

We didn’t get to use the spinnaker gear on our test but it looked nice and neat and easy to use.

Halyards come back to two Harken winches on the cabin top (part of the Performance Pack). We also had a solid boom vang which was part of the Premiere Pack.

Motive power was supplied courtesy of a Yanmar 3YM20 diesel. The 3YM20 is a three-cylinder 21hp engine that’s freshwater cooled. The standard prop is a three-blade fixed affair but this was replaced with a two-blade folding prop locally.

LAYOUT AND ACCOMMODATION
- Comfortable interior with either two or three cabins
Stepping down below through the ‘saloon-style’ twin companionway doors, you get a feeling of light due to the hull windows cabin windows as well as the big central hatch.

There is full headroom throughout the boat with Jeanneau quoting around 1.9 minimum.

The saloon itself if roomy for 34-foot yacht and the lounges are comfortable. There is a dedicated nav station on the port side where a navigator would sit facing aft using the end of the lounge as a seat. The electrical switchboard is simple and easy to use and there is plenty of room to mound extra electronics if needed.

Interestingly, the nav table can fold up and lock so that a small cushioned stool can be placed at the end of the lounge to increase its length and make it a full-sized berth.

Folded out, the central table and the saloon becomes a comfortable dining area for four or more.

Our test boat was a two-cabin version which we think would be the most popular choice. With the two-cabin layout you get an increase in the size of the bathroom which allows for a separate full-height shower cubicle and the third cabin becomes a voluminous locker on the port side which you can spec with a bunk anyway.

Access to the locker is either via an XXL hatch from the cockpit or through a door in the shower.

The aft cabin, to starboard, is roomy with a big berth for two and a hanging locker.

Forward, and opposite the bathroom is the galley which would suit any nautical gourmand. A two-burner gas stove with oven, single sink, roomy top-loading fridge and stacks of storage would mean a week out cruising is not out of the question.

Right up the front is the V berth cabin which carries on the twin-door theme.The Vberth isn’t as big as some but as I tried it out, my mind jogged back to the fact that this is, as the name suggests, a 34 footer.

ON THE WATER
- Light and easily driven
We hit the water on a lovely spring day in Melbourne with a fading northerly breeze. Still it was an honest 10-15 knots and perfect for gadding about the Bay aboard out Sun Odyssey.

With the boom bag, lazy jacks and furling headie, needless it say it was a snap to get sailing. The main was coming up before we’d cleared the marina and the jib rolled out a moment later. Off with the donk, fold the prop. And we were gone.

On the breeze, the 349 heeled over nicely and sat on its chine on starboard tack. With the breeze varying we were getting about 5.5 to 6.1 knots of boat speed uphill at about 40 degrees. With the broad beam aft, we thought the boat initially felt tender but as the gusts hit and got a few more knots, she didn’t feel bad at all – she’d sit on the same angle and simply increase speed.

The helm is very light even though you’re driving two wheels. In fact, we’ll admit that Rohan from 38 South Marine was quite amused to find that we were steering the boat happily with the helm lock partially tightened. Once we took it off, it was as though the boat had power-assisted steering.

Through tacks the 349 was a dream. With the light steering, over steering was easy but once we got used to it, we found it easy and direct. She held speed though the tacks and quickly accelerated back to our original velocity – jump over onto the other helm (gee, it is fair way across there) and we’re off again.

The great thing with the sheets coming so far back is that the helmsman Can do plenty of other things than just sit back and bark orders. Main and jib sheets are close to hand so it’s nothing to reach forward and crank on or ease either sail.

Coming off the breeze, we eased the sheets, adjusted the barber hauler, and a bit of the Cunningham (did I mention it had a retro-fitted Cunningham?) and increased speed to around 7.2 knots.

What we did find (and Rohan already knew) is that with the 30-degree swept-back spreaders, it’s hard to go deeper than about 160 to the wind – and even that’s pushing it a bit. Downwind it’s gybe-to-gybe like the big boys.

Back to the pen and the size of the rudders comes into play when reversing. It’s a bit like backing an old IOR boat, you need to get a good water flow over the rudders to make them work properly when reversing. Prop throw doesn’t help either, but owners will soon get used to this.

Overall, we really enjoyed the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349. It is a yacht that is enjoyable to sail and one that just seems to bring a smile to face. From our brief sail, it didn’t seem to have any vices wan’t too tender and had a good turn of speed.

VERDICT
- A boat that belies its size
Whether you’re down below up on deck or lounging on the fold-down swim platform at anchor, it’s easy to get the feeling you’re on a bigger boat.
It’s only when you’re handling the sails, trimming or steering that this boat feels its size – either that or when you’re paying the pen fees…

This is a great option for those just getting into sailing – maybe the first or second keelboat – or those who are downsizing from a larger boat into something more manageable that doesn’t require a full crew and is easier to take out single or double handed.

LIKES
>> Room for its size
>> Ease of sailing
>> Good price for a sail-away package

NOT SO MUCH
>> Would like more opening pots for cross-flow ventilation
>> Smallish V berth
>> Some deck gear could be beefed up for serious racing

SPECIFICATIONS
Overall length: 10.34m
Hull length: 9.97m
Waterline length: 9.40m
Beam: 3.44m
Displacement with standard keel: 5350kg
Standard draft: 1.98m
Standard keel weight: 1580 kg
Shoal draft: 1.49m
Shoal keel weight: 1860kg
Engine: Yanmar 3YM20 three-cylinder 21hp diesel
Water: 206 litres
Fuel: 130 litres
Holding tank: 80 litres
Designer: M. Lombard

SUPPLIED BY:
38 South Boat Sales
Unit 6, 347 Bay Road
Cheltenham, Vic
www.38southboatsales.com.au