“The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 is the epitome of the modern cruising sailboat, but there’s plenty of unique subtleties once you look closer…
A notable feature on the Jeanneau 349 sail boat is the simple sail controls and clean decks thanks to the absence of jib cars and mainsheet track. Halyards are controlled from twin Harken 35.2 winches on the coachroof, while sheets run via padeyes right back to the Harken 35.2 winches near both helms. Both the Dyneema mainsheet and jib sheets run out of Spinlock jammers beside the helm where the H35 primary winch can easily control both. As on Jeanneau’s sporty Sun Fast range, instead of a main track a simple Y-bridle triangulated block is used giving strong mainsheet control from a single block, rather than on the SO33i whose three-block system can distort.
The twin helms were fitted with the optional Carbonautica composite wheels which are fast, light and smooth to use. Emergency steering for the twin rudders is directly under-foot, ideal for quick access – which of course is when you need it. The throttle for the optional 29hp Yanmar 29HP is in the traditional knee-high position on the starboard side but inconveniently, the controls and rev counter are ahead of the wheel, under the cockpit bench.
As a basic yacht with price an important factor I commend Jeanneau’s use of a simple shaftdriven Yanmar engine and as the boat is relatively small there’s no bowthruster in the option list, nor of course the joystick 360 Docking which only works with saildrive configurations.
Log, depth and wind information is via B&G’s new Triton T41 display which is large and easily readable, while the B&G autopilot controls sit nearby, beside the binnacle compass. Navigation is also well taken care of with the 7in B&G Triton multifunction plotter on the port helm.”