In this installment of “A Boat Owner’s Insights,” we speak with the owner of a 2005 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49. This A Boat Owner’s Insights – 2005 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49 Sloop is currently listed for sale on our Boatshed Everett website (link below). This is a truly well cared for sailboat that boasts many notable additions and upgrades.
What motivated you to buy this beautiful sailboat?
The hull shape and bulbous keel were reminiscent of a star class sailboat that I previously raced for 25 years. My overall impression of the boat was that it had the makings of a fast sailing boat – it did not disappoint. It performs very well in light wind and also surprisingly so in heavy wind as well. The boat is set up for easy single-handed sailing in all conditions, which is ideal for me as I sailed it by myself at least once a season. I have sailed it with no issues whatsoever in up to 35 knots of true wind with just one other person onboard as crew. It easily moves along at 8 to 9 knots to weather and on a reach up I have had it up to 13 knots. It is incredibly stable and strong. The motor is a 100 hp turbo charged Yanmar and can easily push the boat at 9 knots. I personally prefer to sail whenever I am able to, but the engine is there if needed and it is easy to take care off.
What have you most enjoyed during your ownership of this boat?
Besides being an excellent sailing boat, I’ve also been grateful for its spaciousness as I am 6’5” and can comfortably move around below deck. The lineal galley is a great, roomy space for two people to use simultaneously. The navigation table is amply sized and large charts can be laid out easily. It has all the necessary electronics to safely and capably sail in all conditions. I once sailed it in fog so thick that the bow could not be seen, and knew exactly where I and the other boats were at all times.
I greatly enjoyed working on this boat and kept it looking very sharp. I hauled out every two years, ensuring that the bottom was kept clean and in good shape, and serviced the prop on each of these occasions as well. I went up the mast several times each summer to check on and clean the rig. The sails have been serviced every year by a local sailmaker. I’ve taken pride in maintaining the boat to a high standard and have kept all maintenance records from the day I purchased it to the present time. I’ve been trained on diesel engine repair and maintenance and have performed some of that work myself, in addition to having the engine serviced by local mechanics as well. The fuel tanks have also been inspected and cleaned several times. Preventive maintenance is key to having a great time on a boat, and this boat has consistently received such care.
What notable destinations have you traveled to?
We sailed mostly inland waters, cruising the Salish Sea and visiting the Gulf Islands, Sun Coast, Princess Louisa Inlet and Desolation Sound a handful of times. We were able to stay at anchor in various coves for days at a time without starting the engine as the house batteries have the capacity to last for at least 3 days.
What impressed you most about its performance?
Ease of handling has probably been my favorite feature with regard to performance. It is very responsive at the helm. You can tell right away if the boat is overpowered by the heel and the resistance on the helm. When the sails are optimally positioned, it is an absolute joy to sail.
What about this sailboat is unique or notable compared to similar ones on the market?
The boat has a very large house battery bank of three commercial grade Rolls batteries, which are wet celled and have been watered and tested every 3 months. They are charged by a dedicated 270 amp alternator, and there is another 80 amp alternator for the engine start batteries and the bow thruster batteries. The heater is an aftermarket Hurricane hydronic system and allows the temperature of each cabin and the salon to be controlled separately. It also heats the domestic hot water, so hot showers are always a given. The electric winches enable easy single handling of the boat. The bow thruster is highly responsive and because the prop is a max prop, the boat is as controllable in reverse as it is forward. When the max prop is feathered under sail there is no vibration and it allows the boat a bit more speed. The dodger is roomy with large windows for excellent visibility and a Bimini covers the sizable cockpit. The cockpit is large enough to comfortably accommodate 6 people. The walk-through transom is very useful and after experiencing it on this boat, I would never want to have a boat that didn’t allow for such effortless access to the water and dinghy. When at anchor the transom was used constantly for ease in coming and going.
Why did you entrust the listing of your boat with Waterline Boats?
I appreciated that Waterline Boats was agreeable to my keeping the boat in Bellingham at an ideal slip location, and I valued the responsiveness of the team in our communications together.
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For complete listing details on this beautiful and well-equipped vessel, including over 130 large format photos as well as videos and 360 Virtual Tours, please view our Boatshed presentation: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49
Our “A Boat Owner’s Insights” series serves to share useful and noteworthy information about the boats we currently have for sale, as relayed by their owners. This is a unique opportunity to learn intimate details and stories about the boats in our inventory from the owners themselves, and is another method by which Waterline Boats / Boatshed makes the process of buying a boat a more informative and enjoyable one. Waterline Boats – Boats For Sale Inventory
