When it comes to building successful cruising yachts, there are few yards that can match the might and scale of Jeanneau. If the number of hulls sold is any measure of how good a yacht is, then the fact that Jeanneau built over 2,500 Sun Odyssey 349s in its 12 years production run is a pretty big stamp of approval.

Every boat has its day, and the time came to bring the 349 up to date. Jeanneau unveiled the new baby in its cruising range at the Düsseldorf boat show in January 2024. Anyone who has sailed on the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 will feel instantly like they’ve just been reacquainted with an old but subtly different friend, as if they’ve had a midlife crisis, started working out and had a touch of cosmetic surgery.

When I arrived on the pontoon at Swanwick Marina in August for a test sail with the Sea Ventures stock boat, the new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350 was lying alongside a 349 being sold on brokerage; it was like a game of spot the difference.

The most significant change comes to the hull shape. The hull is more muscular and beamier, though only by 15cm, carried both all the way aft, and also much further forward, resulting in a fuller bow. The waterline has been kept narrow thanks to the full-length hull chines onto which the boat should heel under sail and generate both more power from its form stability, and a more balanced hull shape when heeled.

If you want a backstay to control mainsail shape and forestay tension, you’ll need the Performance pack. Photo: Paul Wyeth

On deck, the hallmark of this, the eighth generation of Sun Odyssey yachts has now also been added, in the shape of the stepless access from the cockpit to the side decks by means of a walk-through aft of the wheels and up a ramp to level out with the deck just before the shrouds to minimise the amount of stepping up, down and over that yacht sailing often entails.

The forecast was for the wind to veer from the south east to the southwest, promising anything between 5 and 20 knots; it was always going to be a bit pot-luck with the breeze on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year, though in this largely chilly year, that doesn’t feel like much of a claim to fame.

Nevertheless, we slipped the lines and hoped for something to get us properly moving. Taking the boat astern out of a rather fiddly marina berth, I was pleased to find that the twin rudders developed steerage quickly at low speeds, helping me get clear, though without the benefit of prop wash, most owners will opt for the tunnel bow thruster to keep the shallow forefoot under control.

Refining the previous model, the cockpit offers plenty of bracing and stowage as well as comfort. Photo: Paul Wyeth

Motoring down the river, I was impressed with just how much oomph the 29hp Yanmar delivered, chugging us along easily at 5.8knots with 2,400 revs on the clock, while acceleration to full chat was rapid and gave us 7.8knots at 3,400rpm, helped by the fixed three-bladed prop, though the optional 3-bladed folding prop would be preferable for sailing.

On the wind

This is a boat that is designed for ease of handling as well as for enjoyable, efficient sailing, and setting sail with two of us aboard was straightforward.

All halyards and furling lines are taken to the coachroof winches (Harken ST35s) so sails are hoisted at the companionway – rope bags on the coachroof and below the wheels are standard to tame the rope tails. A furling main is also an option that will probably prove popular, though I’d be tempted to go the other way and take the Performance pack for a slightly larger, fully battened main.

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Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349 – Yachting Monthly review

Is this the ideal entry-level small family cruiser? Chris Beeson thinks the Sun Odyssey 349 is very, very close

£130,412.00

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Not that we were short of power – the boat soon heeled to the 7-9 knots or so of breeze funnelling in past Calshot and quickly speed up to over 5 knots at 35º to the wind. This being a new boat, we found the mainsheet strops – a solution that works well in place of a traveller – were a little too long and we couldn’t get quite enough leach tension to fully power up the main.

I think we’d have got another quarter of a knot and another degree or two of pointing had this been sorted, though we did manage to shorten them enough to just about get the telltales looking right.

After a brief and windless hiatus for lunch, the breeze filledin again from the south-west this time, giving us a modest and very pleasant Force 4, in which we nudged 6 knots boatspeed at about 32-35º to the apparent wind, which looks pretty close to the boat’s polars. Point much higher, and the speed drops off, but we were up over 7 knots without trying too hard on a close reach – that’s a pretty good turn of speed for a cruising boat of this size.

Controls fall easily to hand at the helm and at an easily usable height. Photo: Paul Wyeth

Our boat didn’t have an offwind sail on board, but the moulded bowsprit projects the tack point 40cm (18in) forward, which you’d definitely want if you had the optional self-tacking jib. The 110% overlapping genoa gave pretty good all round performance, and the in- and out-haulers actually give more control over sheeting angle than jib car tracks. A self-tacking jib is also an option.

The boat is fitted with a backstayless 9/10ths fractional deck-stepped rig from Selden, supported by two spreaders swept well aft. There’s no backstay, but you can add one with the conventional main (but not with the larger fathead Performance main). I did notice a small amount of forestay sag as the wind built, though the new rig needed a little more tension, so a backstay would be a nice addition, if you don’t mind it impinging on the helm seat. For those heading offshore, the Voyager pack includes a removable inner forestay on which to set heavy weather sails.

A bowroller is integrated into the bowsprit, with tack points for a code zero and gennaker. Photo: Paul Wyeth

Well-balanced handling

Sail-handling and tacking was straightforward singlehanded with main and genoa sheets taken to clutches and winches (Harken ST40s) just ahead of the wheels, where both sails can be trimmed from the same side by using the clutches. Just make sure crew don’t use the coaming-top lines as handholds when you’re working the sails.

On the helm, she remained remarkably well balanced for such a beamy boat; even when heeled to 20º or so, with the chine well dug in, I could let go of the wheel and she just kept tracking obediently to windward.

Step-free deck access via the walkthroughs at the helm. Photo: Paul Wyeth

As with all twin rudder boats, there’s slightly less feedback than from a single rudder, and the stainless steel wheels made the helm a little heavy, but the optional composite wheels would liven this up.

That said, you don’t want a cruising boat to bite your hand off and I felt the Sun Odyssey 350 has just the right balance of being forgiving while remaining rewarding on the helm. When I bore away with the sails pinned in, there wasn’t a hint of the rudders losing grip, meaning broaches are unlikely.

Wide beam and muscular chines help generate power to keep the boat driving in chop. Photo: Paul Wyeth

Attention to detail

I am also a big fan of the helm seats tucked into the stern quarters – they’re just the right size and distance from the wheel to sit and helm looking forward with your legs stretched out in the walk through, or on the high side braced against the foot blocks, while leaving enough space to stand and helm comfortably on either side.

Going forwards on deck felt more secure than on most boats – the walkthroughs mean there’s no clambering and the guardrails are waist-height rather than knee-height for much of the way to the shrouds, with plenty of handholds as you go. The only improvement I could see here would be to have the lower shrouds split inboard; as it is, it’s just a slight duck under on your way to the foredeck.

At the mast, two steps fold down to help reach the main, though with the gooseneck at knee height, zipping up the stack pack is easy even for shorter crew. The foredeck itself is amazingly broad, butwith good grip moulding, moulded toe rails and fairleads for lines crossing the deck to keep them low down, the foredeck is still pretty secure.

Twin rudder and right outboard ensure good grip when heeled. Photo: Paul Wyeth

The anchor locker has the same slope under the windlass as on the 349, but the chain well forwards has been made deeper to minimise chain pile ups. There’s space in here for a couple of fenders if you need it, but the main stowage comes in the cockpit.

If you opt for the two-cabin version of this boat, the space aft of the heads to port becomes a vast cockpit locker, lined with a wooden base and shelving to make this a really practical space. The gas struts on the test boat were a little short, limiting the amount the lid opened, but this would be easily remedied, while the hatch from the heads compartment into this locker gave excellent access.

Plenty of windows and hatches ensure lots of natural light in the saloon. Photo: Paul Wyeth

On the three-cabin version, the cockpit locker becomes a shallow, sole-depth locker, while the starboard lazarette offers stowage alongside some of the systems mounted there. The port lazarette gives top access to the liferaft stowage, with rear access also opened up when the bathing platform is lowered. There’s space for a single gas bottle in the draining locker under the port helm seat, while the starboard one houses the bilge pump and deck shower.

Drinks holders by the helm and in the fixed cockpit table, along with a small stowage bin, means there’s plenty of space for cockpit clutter to be kept secure.

I also like the layout of the engine controls – putting the engine panel on port side, opposite the throttle on starboard meant I could see the rev counter without having to bend down. The instruments and plotter are tucked behind the wheel at the aft end of the cockpit coaming – useful for the helm, though crew can’t see them unless they come aft.

The galley is a decent size with decent stowage for a boat of this size. There are just three steps leading down into the saloon from the cockpit above. Photo: Paul Wyeth

Step this way

Jeanneau has worked hard to reduce steps on the Sun Odyssey 350, and the companionway has three gently-sloping steps down to the saloon. Down below, there’s a sense of light and space, while providing a practical layout – the heads is to port, in this version with a separate shower compartment that also boasts a huge locker for sailing kit, and a removable rail to hang wet weather gear.

To starboard, the galley includes a top-opening fridge and two-burner gas oven with a decent amount of stowage in drawers and lockers below the work surface, and in lockers above it, though worktop space is limited. I’d have liked a double rather than single sink, but the double bins and extra drawers beneath it work well.

With full headroom and stowage either side, this is a generous forward cabin. Photo: Paul Wyeth

Our test boat had the optional aft-facing chart table to port – you can have Jeanneau’s signature ‘chaise longue’ style seat instead, but I’d far rather have somewhere to wield a pair of dividers. It was a shame the chart table stowage was designed around storing a laptop, as it wouldn’t be big enough for leisure folio charts, though the chrome clock/barometer and the leather-covered table top all added a touch of class.

Generous living space

Straight settees either side were long enough to make good sea berths under way, and a folding saloon table is large enough for six to eat comfortably. There’s masses of stowage beneath the settees and behind the seatbacks, as well as in the deep-fiddled shelves outboard.

The aft cabin has an almost rectangular berth. Note the sloping deck moulding for the helm walkthrough left. Photo: Paul Wyeth

Some overhead lockers or shelves would be a nice addition, though without them and with the large hull windows, the saloon feels huge for this size of boat. A forward-opening coachroof hatch, and an opening window over the galley, give good ventilation. The only negative on the accommodation was that the Alpi-wood veneers felt thin, and corners without solid-wood mouldings could be vulnerable to wear.

Accommodation in the cabins was more than comfortable with 190cm headroom forward and 193cm aft (189cm at the aft end of the saloon), and all the berths are 2m long. The forward V-berth is 180cm wide at the head end, and leaves standing room inside the double doors, with hanging and shelved lockers outboard and great views out thorough the hull windows.

The aft cabin has one large locker, and a row of bin lockers outboard of the berth, meaning that the bed isn’t squeezed under the sloping side decks – even though it’s 160cm wide. A water tank forward and fuel tank aft takes up the space under the berths.

The chart table is an option, with a chaise-longue seat as an alternative. Photo: Paul Wyeth

Access to the 29hp Yanmar engine was good, with all systems easily accessible from the forward end below the companionway steps, and side hatches giving access to the oil filter. Hull construction is in hand-laid fibreglass while the deck is injection moulded to reduce weight above the waterline.

Uniquely for a boat of this size, Jeanneau offers three keel options – the standard deep-fin we tested, a 1.49m shoal-draught wing keel, and a lifting keel which gives the best performance thanks to its 2.54m draught when lowered and lighter weight, while allowing the boat to dry out with the aid of sea legs. I reckon I’d go for this option for both the performance and the flexibility of staying afloat in 1.2m of water.

Access for the 29hp Yamar is excellent. Photo: Paul Wyeth

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350 specifications

Price as tested: £199,934 inc VAT
LOA: 10.94m / 35ft 9in
Hull length: 9.99m / 32ft 9in
LWL: 9.38m 30ft 9in
Beam: 3.59m / 11ft 9in
Draught Standard: 1.98m / 6ft 5in
Draught Shoal: 1.49m / 4ft 9in
Draught Lift keel: 1.28m – 2.54m / 4ft 2in – 8ft 4in
Displacement Deep keel: 5,656kg / 12,470 lbs
Ballast Deep keel: 1,580kg / 3,483lbs
Ballast Shoal keel: 1,860kg / 4,101lbs
Ballast Lift keel: 1,522kg / 3,356lbs
Sail area: 55m2 / 592 sq ft
Bal/disp ratio: 27.9%
Disp/length: 192.3
SA/D Ratio: 17.6
Engine: Yanmar 29hp
Transmission: Shaft drive
Water: 206L / 54 gal (+optional 336L / 89 gal)
Fuel: 130L / 34 gal
RCD Category: A6
Designer: Marc Lombard Yacht Design
Builder: Jeanneau Yachts

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