The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32i size keeps marina costs down with little loss of safety or comfort
Stay under 32ft and you’ll be able to afford a marina berth without compromising on safety or comfort, says Duncan Kent
If you want to tell us why you love your boat, get in touch by email yachtingmonthly@futurenet.com or by post Yachting Monthly, Future Plc, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF
Yachts for coastal cruising start to make sense around the 10m (32ft) mark. They’re big enough to cope with most weather and sea conditions and spacious enough to provide all the essential cruising comforts.
The Philippe Briand-designed Sun Odyssey 32 was first launched in 2003 as a direct replacement for its popular 32.2. In 2006, it was given a new deck and keel and renamed the Sun Odyssey 32i, the
‘i’ denoting Jeanneau’s vacuum-injection moulding process, used to create the new deck. The system involves the resin being injected under controlled conditions to create a uniform, void-free laminate that improves the strength and rigidity of the deck. Furthermore, it reduces the weight by a fifth, eliminates the need for deckhead liners and increases headroom below. The process is also more environmentally friendly as any styrene emissions are reduced to a minimum.
She was available with a fin, shoal or lifting keel, the latter enabling her draught to be reduced to just 0.80m (2ft 8in) when fully raised. This model also has a pair of small bilge plates and twin rudders that allow the boat to take the ground safely.
BELOW DECKS
Being slightly narrower in the beam than many similar sized yachts, the interior of the 32i had its volume maximised by placing the saloon furniture close to the hull sides. While this increases the available floor space, it does reduce accessible stowage. Above the settees are just narrow shelves with no fiddles, except in a small area for books and a shallow locker to starboard.
The saloon has a bright ambience thanks to white upholstery and deckhead, and topside portlights. Ventilation is limited to the one overhead hatch and small port over the galley, but the hatches have all-weather vents. Her twin-leaf, fiddled table will easily seat six and headroom is also good at 1.88m (6ft 2in). The settees are slightly curved and short, so don’t make good adult berths. There is some stowage in moulded bins underneath and a little more in caves behind the seatbacks, although the freshwater pump and filter occupies some of this space.
A grab pole from the galley top to the deckhead and full-length wooden handrails each side help considerably when moving around below. The small, aft-facing chart table just takes a Small Craft chart and there’s room for a few charts in the table, with an adjacent locker for everything else. The electrics panel is quite reasonable and has a voltmeter but no tank gauges. Shore power (230Vac) was also installed as standard.
The galley is good for a boat of this size and has all you’d need for a prolonged cruise. It’s U-shaped and partly tucked away behind the companionway steps. Most opted for a full-size gimballed cooker and there’s a fridge and deep, top-loading food store, plus well organised lockers and two small open shelves.
The heads, between the settee and the aftercabin access, is a reasonable size
at the expense of a shorter port settee. It has 1.8m (6ft) headroom and ample elbowroom for showering. The small, moulded sink suffices and a small opening portlight provides ventilation. There is adequate stowage in two lockers and under the sink, where the seacocks are accessed. Engineheated hot water was standard, as was a holding tank.
She has a good size aftercabin with a roomy berth that can be used as a 1.9m, 6ft 4in-long single sea berth with lee cloth, or as a 1.4m, 4ft 8in-wide transverse double berth. Headroom and dressing space is quite good, but what appears to be a sizeable hanging locker is half filled with the holding tank. Ventilation and natural light come from an opening portlight each side.
The forecabin utilises the available space well, although squeezing in a small hanging locker shortens one side of the vee berth. Headroom under the hatch is 1.85m/6ft 1in and there’s room to stand without the infill in place. The water tank is beneath the berth, but there’s an open locker and a top-opening bin plus deep shelves each side.
Rapid engine access is gained by dropping the step box forward, but for servicing, the hinge pins come out allowing the box to be removed completely.
ON DECK
For a 32ft boat, the cockpit feels a good size. Tiller steering was standard, but most opted for a wheel, which allows you to sit out on the coamings with a clear view ahead. There are footrests for when she is heeled, and the helm seat hinges up for access to the rather narrow transom step and boarding ladder.
Having the Harken 32ST two-speed genoa sheet winches beside the wheel means single-handed tacking is a doddle. A single speed 16ST winch on the coachroof handles all other lines via a bank of Spinlock clutches, although I suspect some owners will have added a second winch to simplify sail handling.
The pedestal comes with a smart instrument pod, binnacle compass and a stout grab handle. With tiller steering, the instruments are mounted on the hatch garage. A single cockpit locker also houses the fuel tank and gas locker, which is a little restrictive.
Her side decks are wide and the non-slip effective, although the handrails are too short. The solid alloy toe rails have integral fairleads and there’s six chunky cleats. While the bow roller looks slightly flimsy, the chain locker is big enough to house an electric windlass.
Leading the genoa furling line 150mm (6in) high across the foredeck in order to lead it to the coachroof winch creates a definite trip hazard, so I’d suggest redirecting it back along the stanchion bases to a clutch beside the helm.
RIG AND SAILS
She sports a 7/8ths fractional rig and a deck-stepped mast with twin swept spreaders, supported by discontinuous cap shrouds, single lowers and twin backstays. The shrouds lead to single, through-deck chainplates that spread the rig loads via substantial fillets bonded to the hull sides.
Her mainsheet fixes to two eyes on the coachroof, forward of the main hatchway, but a track in the cockpit was optional. There’s also a rope kicker led aft. The genoa tracks run well inboard for closer sheeting.
Her semi-battened, two-reef mainsail had lazyjacks and a zip sail bag as standard, though in-mast furling was optional.
The headsail is a 125% Dacron genoa on a Facnor furler. The Performance version came with a deep keel, taller, keel-stepped mast, laminate sails, mainsheet track, cockpit adjustable genoa cars, Dyform standing rigging and Dyneema running rigging.
UNDER WAY
She sails well in light airs, usually pointing 33º-35º off the apparent wind. Her helm is well balanced, giving a light feel and positive feedback at all times. She tacks swiftly through 75º-78º, with little effort and almost no winching.
The boat’s speeds vary between 5.0-5.5 knots close-hauled, 5.5-5.8 knots on a close reach and up to 7.0 knots with the wind abeam. Swept spreaders allow her to sail up to 150º off the wind before needing to gybe.
Under power she manoeuvres easily in a tight spot and picks up steering almost immediately astern. Her standard 21hp Yanmar with fixed, 2-blade prop packs all the punch you’re likely to need, giving around 5.6kn at 2,500rpm and 7.0kn flat-out at a noisier 3,800rpm.
WHITE PEARL (2007)
Carolyn and John Bowler bought White Pearl, a 2-cabin, deep-fin keeled model, in 2015. They had previously owned an Oceanis 320 and a Hunter Horizon 21.
They have added a chart plotter at the helm and an AIS/VHF with cockpit speaker. They’ve also fitted a rod kicker to the boom and replaced the sprayhood, sail and wheel cover, plus cockpit cushions and folding table.
‘We live in a fantastic location with 24-hour access to the River Orwell. Although we have sailed via Ramsgate and Dover to Boulogne, we are equally happy in the local rivers: Stour, Ore, Deben and Hamford Water. So far, we haven’t managed more than two weeks on board but when I retire, we’ll head to France. Our best improvement to comfort was fitting a proper sprung mattress.
‘She’s easy to handle and has plenty of room for two and occasionally four. She sails fabulously, but we can’t sail as close to the wind as we’d like without a mainsail track. There’s nothing we dislike about her.’ ORLAOIFE (2008)
Billy and Ellen Keady sailed dinghies in their youth, only buying their first cruiser, a Leisure 22, after getting married. Moving from Galway Bay inland to Lough Corrib in Ireland, they upsized to a 26ft Gibsea 76, and continued sailing with their family for another 22 years before buying their wheel-steered, lifting keel SO32I two years ago.
They still sail on Lough Corrib for weekends and holidays, and usually stick to short hops, stopping at isolated anchorages, but occasionally use moorings and harbours.
‘With a “no discharge” policy on the Lough and no pump-out facilities, we changed to a chemical toilet,’ says Billy. ‘She also came with three electric winches: one halyard and two genoa, which is great. The halyard winch also handles the mainsheet, lifts the keel and furls the headsail.
‘She sails very well, is responsive and offers great feedback. While I’m no expert, she “powers up” rather than being overwhelmed in the gusts. She is easily manageable, thanks to single-line mainsail reefing and genoa winches within reach. The mainsheet, though, is not easily accessible from the wheel. Some had a mainsheet track but I would rather keep the cockpit clear. Sailing alone I use the Wheelpilot when hoisting the sails.
‘Under power, her twin rudders lack the “prop kick” effect but, once moving, she steers well – even astern.
‘We love the electric windlass as we anchor a lot and usually take long lines ashore. She also has a very functional cockpit table and great transom access.
‘We have spent two weeks with four people onboard very comfortably.’ SEREN (2006)
Bob, 66, and Jane, 62, Dickson bought Seren in 2014. She is the 3-cabin model with lifting keel, twin rudders and tiller. They have since replaced her standing rigging and added a backstay adjuster, folding prop and asymmetric spinnaker to improve performance. They’ve also installed diesel heating to extend their season.
Bob started sailing GP14 dinghies at seven, at the Bay of Colwyn SC before moving to Lasers. They bought a Parker 23 and then a Parker 27 for sailing with family before buying Seren, primarily for the extra space and luxuries such as a fridge, heater and shower.
‘I usually just sail with Jane.
At first, she didn’t want to lose sight of land but nowadays she’s a confident sailor and good crew. We also sail with friends and sometimes family,’ explained Bob. ‘I single-hand occasionally, though never further than the Isle of Man. Typically, we sail around Anglesey, the Menai Straits and the Llyn Peninsular, holiday cruising to
Pembrokeshire, Devon, Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and Ireland. We stay in quiet anchorages or harbours, and the ability to dry out is a real bonus, despite sacrificing speed and pointing ability.
‘She sails well but isn’t the quickest. She’s happy between Force 3-5, reefing at 16 and 22 knots respectively. The single-line reefing can be tricky, due to friction, but simple once you learn not to overtighten the reefing lines before securing the halyard. Off the wind her twin rudders keep her tracking straight, but under power in a marina you need to use prop walk to advantage.’ ELENA SKYE (2008)
Owned by Greg Parkinson, 54, for the past three years, Elena Skye has a lifting keel, twin rudders and a wheel. Greg has fitted a solar panel, a third domestic battery, a 3-bladed feathering prop, a smaller wheel and AIS. The previous owner fitted a wheel pilot and replaced the genoa.
Greg has sailed from the age of eight and owned yachts for 25 years, including a Jaguar 22, Salty Dog 27 and a Sun Odyssey 29 – all with swing keels.
‘When upgrading from our S/O 29, our options were limited as we moor in a drying harbour and we have a 31ft 6in length x 10ft 6in beam restriction,’ Greg explains.
He and his family have completed many crossings to the Channel Islands and France. ‘We often have two-week stays on board and for two adults she is very spacious. We have had six overnight too.
‘Elena sails like a dream. Upwind she’s slightly compromised by the swing keel but it’s a small concession considering the advantages. I have a cruising chute and spinnaker for light airs. She is easy to sail single-handed, which I often do, as the sheets are all led back to within easy reach of the helmsman. Our only problem is my wife can’t pull the keel up on her own.
‘Motoring astern can catch you out as there is no prop wash over the twin rudders, but the addition of a feathering prop has transformed close-quarter manoeuvres.’
Jeanneau Owners’ Network: www.jeanneau-owners.com
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY...
Nick Vass B,SC B,ED HND FRINA MCMS Dipmarsur YS, Marine Surveyor (www.omega-yachtservices.co.uk)
I enjoy surveying the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32i as they are bright inside, ergonomically well designed and everything is easy to get at.
The last 32i I inspected had the swinging keel that pivots inside an iron ballast block. Bilge plates also allow it to take the ground safely. I was concerned that the ballast keel was attached by only six thin studs.
I found distortion on the outside of the hull around where the keel studs were located and noted cracks around the studs on the inside indicating excessive localised loads. Water was coming in around the aft studs and the studs, nuts and washers were all rusty. Rust streaks were also noted on the outside.
I commented that the studs were too small in diameter and too few in number. I believe they were made from 18mm diameter mild steel studding and recommended that they were replaced with 20mm or 25mm stainless steel. Alternatively, high tensile studs or bolts secured with large washers to help spread the load of the keel over a larger surface area. I also recommended that more keel studs/bolts (8 or 10) should be fitted as the existing six were clearly inadequate. I believe that the designer of the 32i had in fact specified the use of thicker keel studs.
On that yacht the keel-lifting pennant winch was not properly attached and had broken the dining table to which it was fastened. The transverse floor stiffener from above the keel had also been cut away.
On others with fin keels I’ve found the studs to be rather thin but sound. They have been covered with sealant, though, making careful inspection problematic.
On fin keel models it is wise to make sure the hull is supported by prop stands as the hull can be deflected upwards if its weight is taken mostly by the keel whilst sat in a boatyard cradle. This deflection can cause transverse floor beam stiffeners, bonded to the inside of the hull, to bend and crack. Ben Sutcliffe-davies, Marine Surveyor and full member of the Yacht Brokers Designers & Surveyors Association (YDSA) www.bensutcliffemarine.co.uk
Over the years I’ve surveyed several of the 32i range, and have found similar issues to Nick on both the fin-keeled and lifting-keel versions. All the fin-keeled versions I’ve surveyed had seven keel fastenings: six of the same size and one small one aft. Where the keel bolts are passed close to the edges of the GRP internal pan moulding, some of the bonding paste was failing due to overloading.
Obviously it’s impossible to confirm if this was from a light grounding or other developing issues. I have seen the breaking away of flow coating. This is an indication that something has occurred and should be investigated further.
The steering pedestal on most of the 32is I’ve surveyed had several fastenings without any large penny washers for the loads. These fastenings could become exerted. Several boats had glued down teak decks within the cockpits, and all but one had similar issues of detachment so look carefully when buying. The gas system on the 32i models I’ve surveyed all used normal hose behind a gimballed cooker that was wearing on the edge of the stove. Watch the security of the pull pits and push pits as in every 32i I have looked at they were extremely loose.