The Jeanneau Solar Odyssey line is in its eighth era, which is to say that the brand new Solar Odyssey 350 represents the eighth time this 34-footer has been reimagined. And this time round, the collaborative expertise from Lombard Yacht Design, Piaton Yacht Design, and Jeanneau has produced a sharp-looking hull that strikes properly, with a cockpit and inside structure that make it really feel like way more boat than a 34-footer. Briefly, they pack quite a bit into what may very well be thought of, by right this moment’s requirements, a comparatively small package deal, with considerate ergonomics and goodies you’d sometimes anticipate on a a lot greater mannequin.
Picture by Wendy Mitman Clarke
The 350 replaces the Solar Odyssey 349, which since its launch in 2013 has bought almost 1,000 boats. The redesigned hull incorporates a full-length chine and inverted bow for a extra up to date look and efficiency. A sprit for setting an a-sail or code zero and carrying the anchor brings the total size on deck to only underneath 36 toes. Twin rudders and a alternative of keels—the usual six-and-half-foot fin, shoal draft of slightly below 5 toes, or a lifting model that may drop to eight toes, 4 inches—full the package deal beneath the waterline.
The brand new deck is about 3 inches wider than its predecessor, which doesn’t sound like quite a bit till you notice that this further beam enabled what’s considered one of this boat’s most important options—the total walkaround deck. From both helm, it’s a easy transfer outboard to stroll ahead, eliminating any steps or clambering over the coaming and onto the cockpit settees. Trimming can also be enhanced by this characteristic, since you may stand on the aspect deck immediately over the Harken winches on the coamings and trim with one hand whereas protecting one other on the wheel, if wanted. There’s no awkward positioning or twisting from the sofa to get leverage. The total walkaround is nothing new on Jeanneau’s bigger fashions, however sorting it for this 34-footer makes an enormous distinction in cockpit ergonomics on this dimension boat, letting the helms really feel roomy and logical when it comes to sail and boathandling.
The salon is expansive for a 34-footer. Picture courtesy of Jeanneau Yachts
I sailed hull No. 26 of the 350 in Annapolis a few weeks forward of the U.S. Sailboat Present, the place it was making its official debut. We shook out a Efficiency model, which implies that it carried a 370-square-foot Method Voile square-top mainsail, 110% genoa, and equipment for a code zero—which sadly wasn’t put in but, so I must stay unfulfilled within the downwind division. This model included composite Carbonautica wheels on the dual helms, in addition to an electrical/guide Harken main winch on the deckhouse to enrich three further guide Harken winches—one on the other cabintop, one on every coaming—Iroku flooring within the cockpit, upgraded electronics, an extra water tank, and different extras.
Instantly, I used to be struck by the cockpit ergonomics. The centerline desk contains full-length grabrails, and with sides down leaves loads of room for shifting simply from the companionway to the transom, which lowers through guide block system to turn into a voluminous swim platform with an built-in ladder. Underneath the ground simply aft of the port helm is a locker for a liferaft, whereas the other area supplies prepared entry to the rudder posts and steering gear. Emergency tiller apertures are right here on both aspect, as properly.
The dual helms additionally incorporate handholds in entrance of the wheels, and every has a seat tucked into the aft nook of the strict pulpit, the place a safe set of railings almost reached my shoulder whereas standing. With the walkaround deck, these are among the many two finest seats in the home, since you may sit right here, stretch your legs, and steer fairly simply with full visibility ahead.
Underneath the port cockpit seat is a large space for storing; this storage can also be accessed through the bathe beneath (extra on that in a sec). The coamings behind the settees are excessive sufficient to supply good again help. Every is topped with a mainsheet and genoa sheet led by jammers to the helm winches. Beneath every helm is a helpful line bag for tails—a easy however efficient resolution, as are the 2 canvas line luggage connected to the cabintop for holding and defending halyards, reefing strains, and different miscellaneous sailhandling gear coming aft.
Picture by Wendy Mitman Clarke
The starboard helm integrated a Raymarine chartplotter, in addition to controls for the 29-hp Yanmar. Once more, the walkaround right here enabled the designers to maneuver the throttle from ankle stage to knee peak on the outboard aspect of the coaming—a small however vital change when maneuvering underneath energy. Cruise velocity with the three-blade Flexofold prop was 6.1 knots at 2,500 rpm, extensive open throttle 7.2 knots at 3,600 rpm.
The mainsail is on a German-sheeted system, and genoa tweakability comes through floating jib leads led by low-friction rings simply aft of the mast. They supply extra flexibility than a conventional jib automotive system, mixing barber haulers and adjustable vehicles into one light-weight characteristic—all simply managed by strains main aft on the cabintop. You will get an non-obligatory self-tacking jib, however I like this model with the power to optimize sail form. The 2-spreader Seldén rig has 30-degree swept-back spreaders, eliminating the necessity for backstays.
Strolling ahead from the helms, the aspect deck slopes up, with good grabrails on the cabintop. Ahead, the deck is sort of flush with an anchor locker ahead together with the windlass and its controls. Total, just like the cockpit, the deck structure is cleanly executed and never overcomplicated.
Picture courtesy of Jeanneau
So how does all this translate into crusing? We had flat water in comparatively mild winds, not often seeing way more than 8 knots true. On the one hand, this didn’t give us an opportunity to get a really feel for a way the boat would deal with chop or how the helm would really feel in greater breeze. On the opposite, it did assist help the designer’s declare that “in simply 5 knots of wind, she is a pleasure to sail.” In true wind that hung proper round 7 knots, we constantly made 4 to five knots of boatspeed crusing upwind at obvious wind angles within the low 30s. When a uncommon puff of 9 or 10 got here alongside, she popped proper as much as 5.8 to six.2 knots. Beam reaching the numbers had been a lot the identical; since we couldn’t fly the code zero, downwind was a stretch with simply the genoa and foremost in such mild air, and we motorsailed again to the slip.
I discovered the helm to be a bit of stiff, and whereas in apply it was enjoyable to look at the boat observe completely properly with out anybody steering in any respect, I’d have appreciated a bit extra suggestions and fewer stickiness within the steering. It will have been fascinating to see if this modified with extra windspeed. Total, the boat was straightforward to sail, fairly responsive even in mild air, with simply sufficient tweakability on this Efficiency model to make it enjoyable.
The apparent draw of this boat for a pair, small household, and even an older sailor wishing to downsize and simplify is amplified whenever you go beneath. Even in 34 toes, the 350 has just about all the things you want in a snug package deal. Three extensive steps with stable handholds on both aspect lead from the cockpit into the cabin. Overhead, a dropped ceiling working fore and aft amidships supplies for fashionable recessed lighting and doubles as overhead handhold.
The principle salon has a centerline desk and two settees to every aspect; the portside sofa can both be a intelligent lounge with a stable arm that lifts to carry you in place, or you may go for a extra conventional nav station right here. An L-shaped galley to starboard features a top-loading fridge, two-burner propane range, and light-colored Corian counter tops. A V-berth is ahead with a closing door however admittedly not a lot area apart from the mattress, though the brand new design enabled home windows that admit loads of pure mild, together with the overhead hatch.
By Gilles Martin-Raget, courtesy of Jeanneau
A separate cabin with a double berth is aft to starboard with three opening portlights serving to present air flow. The pinnacle reverse to port has an enormous, absolutely enclosed bathe, and a door right here supplies entry to the storage (in one other structure, this storage turns into a second aft cabin).
Engine entry is underneath the steps and on both aspect within the cabin and storage—the entry in these aspect areas may very well be greater. Typically, although, entry to mechanicals is sort of good, with the air-con compressor underneath the port sofa, scorching water heater underneath the starboard sofa, and each engine and home batteries proper at hand on both aspect of the engine underneath the bunk and the storage flooring. The bilge is neat with rapidly lifting floorboards for entry, and wire and plumbing runs are clear. Storage isn’t large, however good group within the storage will assist with that.
Jeanneau has a variety of expertise to lean on, and the success of the 350’s predecessor bodes properly for this new model. Base value for this boat is simply over $200,000. That also isn’t chump change, however it’s extra cheap for many potential homeowners than one thing north of half one million, which is the place so many bigger fashions have been touchdown.
It’s a candy spot—34 toes—when you’ve got a ship that sails properly and doesn’t overpower you with massive hundreds when it comes to sailhandling, and when properly thought out can present all you want for a simple daysail or a few weeks of cruising—extra in the event you’re formidable. This new Solar Odyssey 350 could have nailed it.
LOA 34’1”
LWL 30’9”
Beam 11’9”
Draft 6’5” (deep) 4’9”(shoal) 4’2-8’4”(lifting)
Air Draft 52’
Displacement 12,470 lbs (mild w/deep keel)
Ballast 3,483 lbs (deep keel)
Sail Space 592 sq ft (std foremost/110% genoa), 628 sq ft (Efficiency square-top foremost, 110% genoa)
Energy 29hp Yanmar
Designer Lombard Yacht Design/Piaton Yacht Design/Jeanneau Design
Builder Jeanneau Yachts
Value $205,000 base/As sailed Efficiency model $299,000
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