JEANNEAU SO 350
Jeanneau’s long-running Sun Odyssey range has now gradually been updated into this, its eighth generation. The Sun Odyssey 349 sold 2,500 hulls but after 12 years of service it was due for replacement.
The 350 follows her older siblings with a wide hull (15cm beamier – widest in her class), more volume, an aft-raked stem and sharp hull chines, all the way to the bow. Step-free access to the deck is via a ramp aft of the wheels up onto the side deck which, amazingly, doesn’t steal any useable space from the aft cabins.
Keel options remain the same, making this boat unique in offering winged shoal-draught and lifting keels as well as standard options.
A 29hp engine is now standard – and the only option – where this was an upgrade on the 349 from the standard 19hp.
Things have been kept simple on deck, with lines led aft on the deck surface rather than through tunnels, and jib sheeting angles controlled by flying friction rings rather than car tracks. She also comes with deck-mounted rope bags outboard of the coachroof winches, inside the spray hood. It makes you wonder why so few new boats think about line stowage. The anchor locker still slopes under the windlass, but the forward end is now deeper, swallowing more chain to minimise pile-ups.
Below, the fit-out is clean and simple with no overhead stowage in the saloon, and limited stowage in the forward cabin.
This helps with the feeling of light and space, as does the nicely finished hull lining. There’s one heads compartment and a decent L-shaped galley, though again stowage isn’t vast. There’s also a choice for two aft double cabins, or a huge cockpit locker to port, accessible through the heads (which has a separate shower compartment and hanging space – big tick) or from on deck, and this turns the boat into a proper cruiser.
Opt for the Voyager pack, and you’ll also get a removable inner forestay for storm sails too, and there’s also a Performance pack.