Trade a Boat Magazine - Jeanneau

SAILTestHomelike accommodation andplenty of relaxing space makesit an ideal family yachtJeanneau’s BriandDesign team resistedthe temptation to turnthe new 40-footer into a50-footer, or a catamaranstyleentertainer, so the SunOdyssey 409 doesn’t exhibita big, fat bum, high freeboardand lumpy coach house. Thefreeboard is there in sufficientheight to give full headroomthroughout the interior, but it’sbroken up by four longitudinalhull ports and slimming striping.A long, unbroken band of coachhouse glazing focuses the eyelengthways along the boat andthe coach house sides are convex,so cabin height isn’t accented.Hull shape isn’t radical, withan almost plumb bow, slightlyhollow forward sections, a flattishmid-section profile and nowmandatoryaft chines that taperoff into the forward two-thirds ofhull length. Current hydrodynamicthinking is that aft chines helpwith sailing performance and theydon’t do interior space any harm,either.HULL TALKConstruction is a monolithic,handlaid FRP hull with a PrismaProcess balsa-cored deck laminateand both are ISO gelcoat finished.A new FRP grid system withre-laminated high-load areas isemployed as a hull stiffener andthere’s an emergency repair zoneadjacent to the keel attachment.There is a dip in the pan belowthe floors that allows enoughspace to re-laminate shouldThe swivelling GPS multifunction display (aboveleft) on the cockpit table is included in theNavigation Pack option. Helm seats (above)face inward and forward. On three-cabin 409s,chairs flank a chart table opposite the U-shapeddinette (left).that be required after a heavygrounding.A cast iron keel with a choice ofshoal or standard draft is fitted,and the design has a verticalleading edge and aft-taperingbulb that won’t catch weed. AnFRP rudder blade almost matcheskeel depth and between the twois a saildrive. Jeanneau must be atad shy about this departure fromits traditional shaftdrive, becausethere’s no illustration of the legin the brochure illustrations, butJeanneau needs saildrives to offerjoystick control system options.(See our Dock & Go report inTrade-a-Boat issue 415).The standard mast is a constantsectionextrusion with twin,swept-back spreaders, wirerigging, fixed backstay andpoly running rigging. Optionsare Dyform rigging, a tackleadjustablebackstay and Dyneemarunning rigging and sheets.AWARD-WINNING DECKBriand Design was conservativeabout cockpit capacity and theresult is a space that’s comfortablefor eight during a day sail, butnot so large that the crew feelsexposed when conditions aren’t sorelaxed. The forward- and inwardfacinghelm seats feel secure andthe crew has well-positioned footbracingbars integrated into thecockpit table.Ease of sailing was a primaryfocus in the 409’s design andthat starts with twin wheels thathave forward-facing and coaminghelm seats, with bevelled solerecesses for foot bracing. Harken46.2 mainsheet/jib sheet winchesare positioned just in front of thewheels, with clutches adjacent tothe winch bases. A combinationof German mainsheet systemand adjacent clutches means theprimary winches can alternate asmainsheet and jib sheet winchesquite easily. Their proximity tothe wheels means that sheets canbe controlled by the helmspersonwhen cruising.The standard arrangementis for a slightly overlappingheadsail, sheeted via inboarddeck tracks and adjustable carsto the primaries, but a self-tackerand a 140 per cent overlappingheadsail are optional. The testboat had all these sail choices,so it’s cruised using the selftackingjib and raced with theoverlapping headies. The 409 hasa proper mainsheet traveller, infront of the spray dodger basebut, surprisingly, a rigid vang isan optional replacement for thestandard tackle.Running rigging is controlled bya portside cabin-top winch thatcan be swapped for a poweredHarken Rewind winch, whichpowers in and out. The test boatwas fitted with this option and asecond cabin-top winch.The central section of thetransom drops down to form ateak-faced swimming platformand is light enough to be manuallyhandled. It’s flanked by twolazarettes — the starboard onebeing a gas locker with room fortwo LPG bottles — and a floor binthat will hold a tender outboard.An emergency tiller cover spinsoff with a winch handle.AWARD-WINNINGINTERIORThe Sun Odyssey 409 comes witha choice of three layouts: threecabinwith one head; three-cabinwith two heads; and two-cabinwith one head. The test boathad a three-cabin, one-headlayout, finished in standard teak,with teak/ash-strip flooring. Awalkthrough saloon layout makeshead access easy from the dinetteas well as providing ample floorspace when handling spinnakers.The forward cabin is the samesize in all three layouts, but inthe two-head configuration acombined shower and toilet fitsbetween the bulkhead and thedouble vee-berth bed. In thecase of the test boat this spacewas clear, but there’s an optionalvanity/desk and chair availablefor single-head boats. Jeanneaupersists in having unusedbulkhead flanges in its cabininteriors, even when the forwardcabin head option isn’t takenup. Surely there’s a tidier wayof finishing off than leaving anunsightly protrusion into such abeautiful cabin.On the starboard side of thesaloon is a four-place — six withremovable stools — U-shapeddinette with centre table andaft of that an L-shaped galley.Opposite the dinette on threecabinboats is a pair of loungechairs flanking a chart table; adesign that allows the chart tabletop to function as a coffee tablewhen not needed for nav work.On two-cabin boats the charttable and one lounge chair moveaft, allowing a two-seat loungeopposite the dinette. The standarddinette table is a centre-pedestaltype, but an optional fold-over-toptable is available. This modulehas a wine storage cabinet andpushes down to create a doublebed base.Two hull ports on each side helplighten the saloon, but privacy isgained by sliding curtains acrossthem. The curtains fold invisiblyinto recesses when not required.In the forward and aft cabins thehull ports can be covered by solidsliding shutters that disappearinto recesses when not in use.There’s a stainless steel handrailat the base of the companionway,fiddles on the galley tops thatThe forward cabin (top) is the same size on allthree SO 409 variants, but on two-head models,the en suite fits between the bulkhead and veeberth,otherwise it’s clear space as per the testboat. The L-shaped galley (above) is ready toserve being immediately aft of the dinette.106 tradeaboat.com.au tradeaboat.com.au 107

SAILTestEasy dock access,manoeuvrability,thoughtfully laid-out sailcontrols and a safe cockpittake much of the worry outof using the JeanneauSun Odyssey 409Aft cabins (above left) in three-cabin layouts have double berths and wardrobes. Saloon head (left)has a separate shower stall. In forward and aft cabins, hull ports (above photos) are covered bysliding shutters that disappear into recesses when not in use.[HIGHS]› Value for money› Ease of sail handlingand manoeuvring› Accommodation, cockpitand deck layout[LOWS]› Unused bulkheadmoulding in forwardcabin› Awkward mainsailstowage with bimini inplacedouble as handholds, andhandrails at shelf height andrecessed into the cabin roof.The saloon heads have separateshowers, with optional plexiglassdoors dividing shower and toilet,but the smaller forward head intwo-head boats is a combo design.Aft cabins in three-cabin layoutsare both doubles with wardrobes,but the aft cabin in two-cabinlayouts is a queen bed. Thisversion also has a larger headcompartment and a huge storagebin, accessed from the portsidecockpit locker.The galley is fitted with agimballed two-burner gas stovewith oven, a top-loader fridge/freezer, twin sinks with reversiblecutting board lids and a glasssplashback. There’s a cleverlydesigned magazine rack at thefront of the galley cupboards.Engine access is excellent, via alift-up companionway and largeaft-cabin-bulkhead side covers.Large, lift-up floor panels provideaccess to under-sole plumbing andwiring and we were pleased tosee a bilge pump sump and limberholes in the reinforcing grid.The only downside of the saloonwe could see was the lack of freshair cross-ventilation that mightbecome an issue moored in a penthat doesn’t align to the prevailingbreeze. Only small hatches in theforward and aft cabins, the headsand galley open sideways.PERFORMANCE &HANDLINGTest breezes were light, withwind speeds ranging from six to12kts. We relish these conditionswhen checking out cruiser/racers,where light-air performance is agood indicator of likely leg timesand club-racing ability. Almostanything will go well in a blow.The Sun Odyssey 409 slid out ofits pen under little engine powerand soon was motoring smartlyalong at 7kts, with almost nonoise and vibration. When theengine warmed up, we took itmomentarily to 9kts-plus at WOT.An optional powered halyardwinch had the main out of itsboom bag with no effort and theself-tacking headsail unfurledeasily. With no jib or mainsheetadjustment needed through thetacks the 409 went to windwardwith merely a turn of a wheel. Allcrew had to do was hang ontotheir drinks, if they’d neglectedto put them in the fiddledholders on the cockpit table top.108 tradeaboat.com.autradeaboat.com.au 109

SAILTestFacts& figuresJEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY 409AT THE HELMA competent, safe cruising yachtthat’s easy for a small crew to handle,but with good club-racing potential.Homelike accommodation and plenty ofrelaxing space makes it an ideal familyyacht.CAPACITIESBERTHS: Two or three double-cabinberths; one or two headsFUEL: 200ltWATER: 530ltHOLDING TANK: 80ltFRIDGE-FREEZER: 180ltThe upside of mid-boom sheeting (above) is shorter mainsheet length meaning less line to handle on gybes.Lewmar chain/cable steeringand a balanced rudder meant thehelmsperson didn’t need to hurryacross to the windward wheel,because the 409 held coursebeautifully.Even with a traveller, mid-boomsheeting isn’t ideal for mainsailcontrol, but the upside is shortermainsheet length, meaningthere’s less line to handle whengybing. The test boat had abasic Dacron, partially-battenedstandard offering. In concert witha self-tacker it had reasonablewindward performance, but I’veseen this boat club-racing witha genoa and it does well in itsclass. We’d love to try a 409 withthe optional Performance sail kit:a fully-battened taffeta tri-radialmain and matching 140 per centheadsail.On the wind in club-race modethere would be more for the crewto do and jamming the leewardmainsheet frees that primarywinch for headsail control. Ifthe mainsheet hand needs toalter trim it can be done fromthe windward winch, while theleeward winch is being used forheadsail sheeting. I reckon you’dget away with some spinnakerhandling with the standardwinches, too, because the bracecould go on the windwardprimary and the sheet to theleeward cabin top winch, leavingthe leeward primary free formainsheet adjustment.We dropped the halyards downthe companionway during ourtest, but there are optional ropebins for the forward end of thecockpit. Rope tails from the aftwinches drop into a pair of liddedbins, so there are no lines to tanglefeet cruising or two-sail racing.We found tidying up the boatfor berthing easy enough, butbagging the mainsail would betricky with a dodger in place.Manoeuvring into a tight berthwas straightforward, thanks tothe large rudder and no evidenceof prop-walk. A bowthrusteris optional, but unless the boatneeds to negotiate a tricky berth itshouldn’t be necessary.PRICE AS TESTED$319,423OPTIONS FITTEDPremiere Pack (amidships cleats,electric windlass, LED nav lights,shower divider door, 220V shorepowerand charger, additional battery, ST-70,two-burner stove, second anchor roller,shades and flyscreens for hatches andports, and cockpit shower); PreferencePack (CD/MP3 player, interior andcockpit speakers, power winchon cabin top, folding cockpit table,starboard lifeline gate and indirectsaloon lighting); part Navigation Pack(spinnaker fittings, second cabintop winch and adjustable backstay);autopilot; bimini; and swivelling C90WGPS multifunction display on cockpittablePRICED FROM$263,414GENERALMATERIAL: FRP hulls and decks— balsa resin composite deck andmonolithic hullTYPE: KeelboatLENGTH OVERALL: 12.34mHULL LENGTH: 11.98mWATERLINE LENGTH: 11mBEAM: 3.99mDRAFT: 2.1m; 1.55m (shallow-draftoption)WEIGHT: 7450kgBALLAST: 2260kg (shallow draft keel2470kg)SAILSMAINSAIL: 42m² (optional 45m² fullybattened Performance)HEADSAIL: 28m² self-tacking jib(optional 35m² 106 per cent jib andPerformance 48m² 140 per cent genoa)SPINNAKER: 120m²ENGINEMAKE/MODEL: Yanmar 3JH5-CETYPE: DieselRATED HP: 40PROP: Saildrive with fixed three-bladepropeller (folding prop optional)SUPPLIED BYPerformance Boating Sales,Gibson Marina,1710 Pittwater Road,Bayview, NSW, 2104Phone: +61 (2) 9979 9755Fax: +61 (2) 9979 9780Email: info@performanceboating.com.auWebsite: www.performanceboating.com.auSAYS…Easy dock access, manoeuvrability,thoughtfully laid-out sail controls anda safe cockpit take much of the worryout of using the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey409. Below decks, it’s naturally lit andhas a choice of stylish yet practicallayouts. Performance options availablefor cruiser/racers include tri-radial-cutsails110 tradeaboat.com.au tradeaboat.com.au 111