Boat Review: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 439

The pushpit rails extend forward of the helms creating a sense of security. I did find, however, that the double backstays intrude on the otherwise comfortable steering stations, and the dodger and bimini set-up obstructed the view of the sails. The flow forward is clear, with aggressive non-skid, good handholds, double lifelines, and a flat and practical foredeck workstation. The anchor rollers extend far enough forward to protect the plumb stem.

Jeanneau does a nice job of partnering rich woods with white paneling to create an interior that is simple yet stylish. They offer several layout options, but I believe the most popular choice will be the three-cabin/ two-head version as it offers a spacious private owners cabin forward with a handy seat and vanity desk. Especially as the demographics of sailing are increasing in age, the more easily accessed island berth in this option will find favor. The double-berth aft cabins are spacious enough to house a gaggle of guests.

The entire interior is awash with light due to eight deadlights and eleven ports and hatches. The main saloon is spacious yet rendered safe at sea with the strategic placement of several leather covered stainless-steel handholds. The main saloon table is cleverly designed. A fixed center console creates a fiddled stowage space on top and a wine/liquor cabinet below. The table leaves flip over instead of dropping down, thus it can be used at half size, or doubled without having to evacuate the seats or interfering with knee space.

Across the aisle a divided settee has a central cocktail table/navigation station, that with the flip of the seats becomes his & hers computer stations.

The L-shaped galley is well thought out with generous fiddled counter space, usable stowage areas, double stainless-steel sinks, two-burner stainless-steel stove/oven, and an attractive splashguard separating the galley from the main saloon.

The wind gods of the Chesapeake favored us with 10-18 knots of breeze on our test day. We easily managed 7 knots respectably close to the wind, and hit the polar predictions on all other points of sail. Partially due to the in-mast furling system, I felt the gooseneck was inordinately high above the waterline. This not only reduces the mainsail area but also raises the center of effort, both detracting from the overall sailing performance. This may account for the excess weather helm we experienced. I believe the traditional slab-reefing mainsail option is more congruent with the 439’s performance persona.

The Yanmar 54-horsepower diesel, driving a three-bladed fixed prop, pushed us at 7 knots with power to spare. The boat backed well due to its deep spade rudder. The Lewmar helms are solid yet responsive, and the controls are well laid out and easily at hand.

In summary, I did not find the performance or deck ergonomics of the 439 equal to that of the smaller Jeanneau 379. Having said that, selecting a different option for the rig and rethinking the dodger/bimini set-up would go a long way to mitigate that. The 439 is well conceived, and for the most part well executed. It offers a balance of style, performance, and lush living, and it does so at an attractive price. Most importantly, Jeanneau builds and backs solid boats with their commendable two-year “bumper to bumper” warranty.

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey is part of Cruising World's 2012 New Boat Showcase.