The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS is a lot of boat. The DS stands for deck saloon, which isn’t quite accurate, but its raised coachroof creates a sense of spaciousness, and its large ports contribute plenty of light. Rather than try to cram a second head into the boat, the builders put one head amidships and added the extra room to the forward and aft cabins. The saloon features a big dinette with wraparound seating for six on the starboard side, opposite a settee. Both seats are straight and good for lounging and enjoying the warm teak woodwork. The aft cabin features a large athwartships double berth that-because the cockpit sole of the 39 DS is 2 inches higher than the one on the 39i (see next review)-feels roomy.
The cockpit is big and well set up. The dodger attaches to a raised splash rail, and the deck is cambered so any water that gets under the dodger runs off to the side. Another user-friendly touch was moving the lower shrouds inboard and leading the uppers outside the rail, which makes it easier to move along the wide side decks. The twin wheels allow the helmsman to get well outboard with a good view of the sails, and the primary winches are immediately forward of the wheels so the driver can trim the jib. The helm had a nice, tight feel, and I found the boat a pleasure to steer. Even with in-mast furling, the SO 39 DS performed well in my light-air test sail.
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS Specs
LOA: 38′ 10″
LWL: 35′ 1″
Beam: 12′ 8″
Draft (deep): 6′ 6″
Sail Area: 667 sq. ft.
Displacement (deep): 16,010 lb.
Water: 94 gal.
Fuel: 34 gal.
Engine: 40-hp. Yanmar
Designer: Marc Lombard/Garroni Designers
Price: $181,000
Jeanneau America , (410) 280-9400, www.jeanneauamerica.com
