As a former charter captain and avid long distance racer. (60,000 mikes) I did many sailing charters single handed on C-400’s, a Jenneau 410, and a Bavaria 42. I know how to trim for speed. The Jenneau and Bravaria had the German style main sheet system and it was awesome. It leads to the aft winches with clutches. I could trim the main sheet and jib sheets from the back easily. Also the twin wheels are great for opening up the cockpit. For the main sail up wind once you adjust the vang for twist and set the boom with the sheet at the height you want for helm it’s a no brained for tacking it flops to the right place on each tack no traveler changes between up wind tacks. As for most everyday sailors and the jib settings it’s as Tim said you can adjust the rings for up wind set and forget as most people do. As you get use to using the rings you could mark the adjusting lines for different wind angles but they will make you a better sailor if you learn a little bit about how they work. I read many comments about not having a back stay and how dangerous it is or how you can’t sail down wind all baloney. If you WERE out in that bad of conditions and with foresight a temporary running back stay could be rigged. As for down wind yes you can’t do really deep running like conventional style rigs , but with an asymmetrical spinnaker you don’t want to go down wind that deep it is much faster to run at 150-160 degrees and jibe more . Plus those angles are more fun to sail at. The Down wind angles are more spot boat style angles. Something like this would be great for me here in SoCal I don’t need air conditioning or heat. I did a Baja bash delivery on a Jenneau 37 it did ok not a huge fan . I also like the new Bentau 34.1 Oceanus? In this size range, Now if only I could afford one . I guess I am stuck with my 38 yo C-30 one owner.
Good to here this. I've heard a lot of criticism of the German traveler 'A' on catamarans, but the people I know who sail a cat with it like it. Those frictionless rings instead of the track. From the Beneteau Group and less costly.... Maybe I'm too cynical. I know the ORC has them. And I've fussed with my old jib. So 3D control is better but takes more effort. I have to confess that after seeing it on the ORC I tried to figure out how to do this on my old Hunter. (But there are at least stages of sailing. Beginner, endlessly fussing and yet the leaches on both sails never seem to be right, the middle stage where it seems no matter what you do the boat sails just fine. And I guess the third stage is wanting to endlessly play with a 3D jib control for an extra half knot. I'll let you know if I ever graduate from the middle stage.....
@@WillN2Go1 don’t make it too complicated. All we are doing is adjusting twist and then trim angle in and out for even air flow over the sail from the r top of the sail to the bottom. Again for the average person going for a day sail you can learn where to set it for best upwind close hauled sailing and then leave it there for other wind angles it will still work pretty good. PS on the low friction rings most race boats use them they are low maintenance, no bearing to lube or seize., and the sheets run through them great for easier tacking. Plus as mentioned they are lighter and nor holes in the deck to leak.
For a frugal sailor like myself, this boat is essentially a very pricey weekender and a limited coastal cruiser. I prefer to keeping things a simple as possible. I share your skepticism about the low friction ring system. Jib tracks are for those us seeking to enjoy the sail rather than race. Same with the mainsail bridle. The side decks are a wonderful idea. FYI: The Annapolis Sailboat show was wonderful.
My 1971 C&C 35 Mk1 has no jib/genoa tracks either and I use low friction rings just like Jeanneau are doing on this new boat. They work well and are adjustable in all directions like you noted. Easier in some ways as you don’t have to get out and move the cars. I also have snatch bocks I use on the rail to control the sheets. Jeanneau will save cost on the tracks and not having to install them. Same for the main traveler. That has to be the main reason they are doing this regardless of the sales hype. If the pass the savings on into lower sale prices then we all benefit. Guess time will tell. Cheers. Jim
Basically a time share, charter boat. Seems like a lot to like looking at that way. But as an owner boat where you might actually go cruising the lack of storage would suck. Reminds of the Catalina 30 owners I know where everything winds up in the quarter berrh. In this case will be the aft cabin.
Was a great time being able to walk on them and experience the size in Annapolis, it was a really great boat. I found the deck inviting and well laid out. There really wasnt anything bad i could say about it. I did notice those rings around many boats, as well as no main travelers on many as well, i did ask about that and was told you dont really need to point to wind do you? I did chuckle a bit, then walked off as I didnt like that answer much. The larger boats Jeannau offered were a fav of the wife, which is cool by me. That walk around side deck was pretty great too the angle was nice to walk up and didnt seem to steep
I like it! Love to see and sail one in person. My take: 1) Mark the tweaker lines so settings are repeatable; 2) The mainsheet setup is like a lot of racing dinghys, the boat has a huge solid vang - use the vang! 3) There have been a lot of boats with swept spreaders and no backstays through the years, the ID 35 comes to mind - they race across oceans with big kites without issue. Cool boat!
I like the 350 very much. Indeed the tweaker rings do require some learning, which I was able to do on the 349 thanks to a custom rig some others have also installed. Once you get used to it, you just know how and what to adjust to balance your boat especially close hauled. I'd correct you on the lack of storage below : there is enough storage (even more than in the 349) under the benches and behind the seats when you remove the cushions. I don't think the 350 loses to the 349 : correctly equipped (2 cabin version with the garage, 4 winches, Gennaker, 300l of water, and a plotter below) you get a nice boat perfectly fit for longer cruises with even more self-sufficiency than than the 349. I've tested it until 32 knots of wind and I must say that it is really well behaved, even in some messy wave patterns. I feel very confident it will do well in gale force winds but that will be for testing purposes only :)).
I went on board the 350 at the Newport show. We loved it. Previously I had read many positive reviews for this new model and was excited to see it. Access to the winches from the sloping deck is superb, I have always hated kneeling on the cushions and leaning over to trim. There is one issue that i see with almost all new production boats and it is hard to understand why it must be so. The deck sole is a laminated material. It looks like something that would be on a bulkhead ( or a basement den ). Since the sole is only laminate, why can't these builders offer a simulated teak and holy sole as an option? That cannot be difficult since this type material is readily available. I want the boat to look like a boat, not an apartment.
I sailed a similar Sun Odyssey two weeks ago in the Med. The sloping side decks are really comfortable, but the main winches are a bit small and with only two plus the bridal rigging for the mainsail, you are always fighting between jib sheet and main sheet.
One big benefit of that deck style is just how SAFE it is to walk around and from the rear of the cockpit. Those lifelines aft are nearly chest height, as compared to many of the modern plastic cruisers that have them sitting barely about your thighs
As the owner of a 349 for ten years the 350 seems to maintain most of the advantages of the previous boat while improving a few things. I particularly like the improved bowsprit and anchor stowage as the old offset anchor always bashes the bowsprit. I would really miss the shelves and lockers outboard of the main cabin seats. As far as seaworthiness goes we live on board our 349 for 3 months every summer sailing to Northern France and the Channel Islands and out into the Atlantic to the Isles of Scilly and have never had problems.
We saw this boat on Saturday and absolutely loved it! We also toured the 410 next to it, and the interior space was just as plentiful for a couple. We were told there is plenty of undersole storage to make up for the lack of storage behind the settees. We also looked at the Catalina 356, and there is no doubt the better money is spent on the Jeany. This, of course, depends on your intended use. We like sailing in the Chesapeake, and I agree that this boat would not be fun in the ocean. If my Wife gets brave enough for that, we can always upgrade to an Island Packet. ;-) Sad we missed you for a second year, but the show was great. The weather was perfect, so we went on Friday and Saturday and sailed our C22 on Sunday.
"upgrade to an island packet" because really heavy, fat, slow boats with 18th century keel and rudder that can't go to windward or sail in light airs is an upgrade. Friends don't let friends sail Island Packets. IP's are motorsailors at best.
I think the low friction ring jib sheeting and bridle mainsheet setups are more about cost than anything else. It's probably a savings of $1k/boat once installation time is factored in.
Genoa/jib tracks is the one single hardware where I’ve had the most deck/rig breakage - always in hard weather. Four points adjustments also spreads the stress point. Simplicity mixed with increased functionality is always good - I think❗️😊
Great review. As a former Catana owner i am a fan of german mainsheet system, as are the great majority of Catana owners. Super easy to jibe even in strong winds and infinitly adjustable if you have it set up right.
I'm a little bit puzzled by this boat & struggling to see how it will outsell the 349. I'd grab a 5yo 349 & spend the rest on...other stuff? Cheers Tim.⚓
Recently became obsessed with sailing thanks in large part to this channel. The girlfriend noticed how many videos I was watching and got us tickets to the Annapolis boat show last Saturday. I wasn’t sure what she thought of it until I caught her looking at boats on Facebook marketplace. Next stop, learning to sail!
Saw the boat on Friday loved it but all the manufacturers are going to a veneer interior I hate it especially at their price range , the Island packet 439 that was at the show had the most beautiful interior.looked for you but didn’t see you I did meet Brain and Kazza from SV Delos
My wife and I chartered a 410 this past June and found we missed the Jib tracks that are on our Hunter. Maybe it was my lack of know how to use them but found the rings fairly useless. We found the walkways around the cockpit very useful for going forward however, with all the lines running back to the cockpit there wasn't that much need to go forward except to anchor. We had some pretty good wind and waves that trip and found any water coming over the rails would run back right were the skipper was standing, good thing it was hot out. Speaking of standing, I've notice a lot of the new boats have reduced or completely eliminate the seat for the helmsman. Are we all expected to set a heading and turn on the autopilot? On a good note with the fold down transoms there is tremendous capacity for the water to drain out of the cockpit through the long hinge point so no worries about flooding the cockpit...just wet feet for the helmsman.
All that open space and no handholds down below makes me imagine flying through the air and fetching up solid against the bulkhead somewhere...broken limbs vs open space...I know what I prefer.
I had the opportunity to sail the Jeanneau 350 this last summer for one week. I sail a Jeanneau 409 when at home. The 350 is a fun but tough boat. I had no problem sailing her in 25+ knot winds. The cabin inside is remarkable. It was more roomy than my 409. The separate shower is excellent. There were a few observations worth noting, though. As pointed out in the video, the low friction ring for the jib was not my favorite. I could not easily tune the jib the way I wanted it. The second observation is the anchor locker. It is not designed well. To make room for the berth below, there is a shelf the chain falls on before going into a deeper well. The problem is that the chain builds on the shelf and jams the windless. To bring in the anchor, you have to bring in 10 feet, then move the chain into the deeper well. It took at least twice as long to bring up the anchor. Still, I would have no problem owning this boat. Great video BTW, as usual.
Jeanneau makes a good boat for most people. The 349 was an excellent boat too, but for not much more money you could purchase a Hallberg Rassy and get a proper sailboat.
For a daysailer or short cruiser, I think this boat will probably make a lot of people happy. Despite the attractive interior space, I wouldn't want to live on it or sail it full time. The missing storage will hurt quickly for a full-time boat, and if I'm going to spend a lot of time sailing in lots of different wind conditions, I'm really going to miss the adjustability of a more traditional rig with a backstay and traveler. But for someone who wants a boat to go weekending on, or to take a few friends out, it looks like its going to be a really nice boat for that.
Jeanneau takes a really good aim at the private owners consortium dominating the European weekend and short time leasing market with this product. A market previously exclusively occupied by Bavaria now has an alternative. I like it. The adoption of low friction rings is the best way forward. Casual sailors doesn't care much about jib shape and thus it's pointless have discussion on rings vs rails. Same with the main sail. Less fuss on deck that way. Absence of a steel rail is a given: less toe and knee injuries and less compensation layout for the leasing consortium to those elderly customers, and they can have their sundowners easier than before. What not to like?
But people who buy these sort of boats don't go anywhere. If you just want to flutter around the Greek islands foe 4 hours per day, almost always under motor anyway, then a low power displacement mobo will be just as economical.
@@jacqueslavoie9103 Lol I've had a powerboat, my reply wasn't about being green it was about the added costs when powering. In the 2 six month seasons I had it I spent about $4000 in fuel for each season of about 90 hours run time.
I have a 389. The new versions of Jeanneau do not have the hardware I’d love to see for performance and safety. They are primarly made for competition in market and safety has been compromised to build more economical boats. The sloping deck seems nice but in a small size boat the cost is loss of headspace at aft cabins.
I saw this boat on Saturday at the show, and after looking at the Bennies I expected something even better. I was sorely let down and felt the interior was horrible. Maybe good for a weekend sailor but terrible as a liveaboard. Having said that, could you review the Dufour 44 pleeeeeeeeease?
Pro: Sloping side decks, though it requires a wide stern. Cons: Everything else. Looks like they merged with Ikea in the cabin and too many trip hazards on deck. The lack of backstay is concerning as well. I'll stick with Catalina.
This boat hits the accountant and the sales teams brief bang on the nail with some really great design elements. Being and older chap, I look at LFR's with suspicion, but they play up to my oldy worldy view by giving me a baby stay point... For a typical european weekend/summer vacation workload, I think it will do very well.. I just wish they could afford to use better materials down below...
coming back from ocean sailing on mu 40.1 and seeing in heavy weather the water pouring like a water fall on my side decks. i am glade they are not made like the Jeanneau. Mine just let the water flow directly to the back of the boat and keeping the cockpit dry. great system you do not need cockpit drains to manage this The jeanneau would fill the cockpit for sure!
The first boats I saw with side decks where you could walk forward from the helm out side the coaming were Deerfoots, Thirty eight years ago. Steve Dashew also introduced the sugar scoop stern and salon settees with out cabinets or pilot berths above them to create a visually wide open feel in the salon. Chuck Paine stopped designing boats with travelers years ago. As a very successful racer himself, he felt that a center sheeted main with a vang could produce the same sail shape that a traveler produced. So there are some great old/new ideas here. As for the boat its Horses for Courses, It will probably suit what most sailors are actually doing. My taste leans more Able and Morris, But I like the walk out cockpit and lack of traveler. I Just replaced my cap rail and was going to add tweekers, so Now I am wondering if I just skip putting the tracks back on... hmmm
Not a modern boat fan really but I see the positives of side decks in that broad aft design. lack of handy storage below is negative for me, if storage is in floor not sure I want to lifting cabin sole everytime I need something for daily use. Conclusion it seems to be tailored for daysailing or weekend, not so much for longer offshore passages.
Best boats to single hand are Hanse. ALL lines are led back to the helms. This includes the halyards, mainsail reefing or furling (for in mast furling) lines, which are normally on the coachroom by the sliding hatch. I don't know of any of the other production boats that do this. When you take non sailors out, they are ALWAYS in the way, and usually exactly when you need to do something. Then they are upset with you because they think you are yelling at them (you are). With the Hanse, no one is in the way. Period. The downside of this is that when you have multiple people who know how to sail, with the 'other' set of winches on the cabin top, there is nice separation and nobody is on top of each other. With the Hanse, you have 2 winches with ALL lines for them and a bank of 4 or 5 stoppers on each side.
While I like the idea of the sloped side decks, I have the same worry as you about shedding water, i absolutely do NOT like the lack of a jib track or the main sheet bridle setup. I think this boat would like be fine for the Great Lakes but I’m not going offshore ocean sailing in that at all. Being that 90% of my time will be on the Great Lakes with seasonal haulout, I’ll pass on the backstay missing rig as well.
I tend to agree on the point that you made about the jib tracks being way easier to set up and get used to for varying points of sail. On point that i would really like to bring up about these reviews, is that i wish that you would provide a base cost point for the model being reviewed -- there are times when you do mention it, but also times when you leave it out -- I feel that just a base price is a reasonable request as part of a review.
I love the walkaround side decks! I've had 10 people on a Jeanneau 349 for a day sail and it sucks having to climb over them to go forward for any reason. The same 349 has low friction rings in lieu of a jib car track and the German bridle system instead of a traveler. Personally, I'm not a fan of either of those systems. Give me a proper traveler for trim and sheet for shape any day!
I have a SO 410 and sail in different weather here in the Mediterranean and going upwind in 35kt true is common so those side decks are regularly filled with water which for some reason empty themselves faster than they filled in so no issue at all here and not wetter than with any other boats in my experience. The bridle is not strong enough and I have seen that most of the owners have changed for a stronger one. I did it before it broke but talked to a guy who had his bridle loose in high winds, really bad experience. Otherwise the control of the main is easy and I am not sure it makes that of a difference with a track on most of the times. The German system is ok, just make sure you use both winches to make sure the sheet remains even on both sides, you don’t want to have 30 inches one side and 30 foot the other. The friction rings and their 3D settings are super easy to operate. If you don’t know nothing, an average position will make your boat move fast enough, the SO410 is indeed a great performer, just look at its hull. If you are a fine tuner, you have a lot of options to trim your headsail. You also can use the inner stay with a storm sail on a track in front of the mast with only one sheet to one of the roof winch, you trim it once and forget about it. The vang and back stay are adjustable on the 410, I am happy I have a back stay which I trim while going upwind on choppy seas. In conclusion I see a trend with those new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey’s, either you do the absolute minimum and you have a lot of fun but you still have the choice to fine tune everything and you have a blast. You know here in the med, a lot of boats are going upwind (westerly winds) from St Tropez to Marseille and it’s always an unofficial race, well, catch me if you can …
I wonder if anyone can answer ... 1. Shaft drive - isn't it crazy loud or do they have a "soft" coupling? 2. It has a very racy hull - anyone knows if it can plane and if yes at what speed?
Shaft Drives are not inherently more noisy than sail drives. It all depends on the quality and skill of thew install. Shaft drives are simpler and lower maintenance over time.
@@CarlDamm My boat has a shaft drive but compared to sail drives it's like a truck diesel vs latest Mercedes petrol engine. As I understood the engine has no "soft bumpers" but is "very directly" mounted to the hull. Must be the same for the Janneau's ... or they are mounted differently. Anyone >heard< the engine ?
Chartered a sun odyssey last year. Perfectly nice to sail - easy (even the jib control)Hard to manoeuvre in reverse. Creaked more than any other boat I’ve sailed. Won’t take one again
I love, LOVE my older Sun Legend, but this new Jeanneau has all of the things I personally wouldn't accept. That said, I'm sure they will sell a bunch of them.
To Gimmicky for me. Classic is classic because it has stood the test of time and works. Give me classic. I would take a Maine boat over a French boat any day of hte week.
Me too. It's the spreaders, swept so far back that you can't use the main downwind, or you'll be constantly repairing/replacing it. Give me a backstay and straight spreaders any day.
Cheap tricks it’s produced to increase profits. So store your stuff in the bilge ? This is a glorified weekender or charter queen . It is Not even a coastal cruiser . Daysailor at best . Not worth it .
This will sound sacrilegious, but monohull interiors need to start resembling the beach apartment kind of accommodation that cats offer. This will require some radical rethinking of design and space use, but it's overdue.I love the look of a monohull, but I hate the cave-like interiors.
If you are moving you jib car to the second last track when pointing high into the wind, your tracks are either in the wrong spot or you have no idea what you are doing. As why would you open up the leech of your sail almost all the way when pointing? Also, if you think a main sheet bridal limits how you can adjust your main, you have failed to understand what a vang is for.
The walk around decks and low friction rings are nothing new. They have been used on other Jeanneau models for many years now. You won't see them on any other boats though as Jeanneau have a patent out on the walk around deck. My wife and I are 66 years old and already have replacement hip and knees. We love them on our 410 and hope to sail for many years to come.
If there is anything you said that could make Jeaneau cringe, it's the remark that the boat falls short of being a full-on coastal cruiser. They won't like that.
That house deck is a danger; trip city. The "chain plates" are undersized and by placing the so far outboard you are limiting your sheeting angle on the headsail. Finally, how do you design a boat to prevent getting caught out in a blow? It can't be done. A proper sailing yacht will be built and designed to handle all weather conditions; because we as sailors can't control the weather. If the past is prologue, this is another example of a Jeanneau built not for the sea but for dock parties.
Agree 100%. I'm just a recreational sailor and boat owner and I'd probably turn down a ride on that boat. I immediately imagined my years and miles of experience on similar size boats and I see only failure.
Hi there, all the things you mentioned only serve 1 purpose: cutting costs. Imagine all the money they save on gear and labour to install them! Next, do you know one Jeanneau that has no propshaft? I don’t. And that’s a good thing. In my opinion, the arrowed spreaders are hell when you are travelling backstay wind on the ocean. But offcourse, this boat is not designed for this because it has no backstay. 😢
I do not like low friction rings setup. They are not very low friction. The rings and the line gets salty and dirty, and they find themselves at the wrong angle.
Actually I'm a bit disappointed with the direction that Jeanneau has been going. I feel that many of these newer European boats are starting to feel like Ikea boats. Don't fool yourself the sail controls are not "Easy of Use versus Sail Control" oriented. That's just marketing spin. It's purely about Cost and a greater profit margin. The jib fairlead are only useful for a jib, but not a genoa. For that they'd have to put a track in but I'd guess that it's now an extra you have to pay for. The side deck is unique, but it does rob space from the interior and lowers headroom down below. I also suspect that sailing in inclement weather (or just anchored in bad weather) results in a very watery cockpit. In our country we often will have entire cockpit enclosures for cold and buggy days, the enclosure helps make the cockpit a useful space, but if it wet not so much. The lack of storage inside does seem to limit this boat to short cruises, and not longer off shore sailing. So definitely it's targeting a specific market.
Jenneau 350 is too wide to go on a trailer. I don't understand no benches behind the steerind wheels. It's like they want you to get tired and fall off the back. I miss a plain old sugar scoop.
Having owned sailboat dealerships and done in depth factory tours my Strong advice is put in your contract a requirement that before cash trades hands a full survey has been done at buyers expense. What. Bob it’s a new boat , why ? Trust me it’s the best few hundred dollars you’ll ever spend . Spend extra to have the surveyor check the commissioning . AC installation is done in US . Without that storage area, not sure where they’re going to put the vents for AC. . Remember European boats have no concept of air-conditioning. However, they should all be at least vented at the factory. Whether they are used or not, that’s another story, but in today’s world, how many people buy a car without air conditioning . Same goes for boats. Actually, the fact is the Europeans don’t really understand the American market. . No backstay no tracks. Those are all cost-cutting things. . Just look for small things check the bilge pump. See what kind they installed? This company has actually used a shower pump model as a bilge pump . They cut corners like I did as. Teenager driving my mother s 1957 Ford Thunderbird lol
Imagine trying to sail downwind with those spreaders. You couldn't get the boom to 45⁰ out. More risk of an uncontrolled gybe and more risk of it bringing the rig down.
As a former charter captain and avid long distance racer. (60,000 mikes) I did many sailing charters single handed on C-400’s, a Jenneau 410, and a Bavaria 42. I know how to trim for speed. The Jenneau and Bravaria had the German style main sheet system and it was awesome. It leads to the aft winches with clutches. I could trim the main sheet and jib sheets from the back easily. Also the twin wheels are great for opening up the cockpit. For the main sail up wind once you adjust the vang for twist and set the boom with the sheet at the height you want for helm it’s a no brained for tacking it flops to the right place on each tack no traveler changes between up wind tacks. As for most everyday sailors and the jib settings it’s as Tim said you can adjust the rings for up wind set and forget as most people do. As you get use to using the rings you could mark the adjusting lines for different wind angles but they will make you a better sailor if you learn a little bit about how they work. I read many comments about not having a back stay and how dangerous it is or how you can’t sail down wind all baloney. If you WERE out in that bad of conditions and with foresight a temporary running back stay could be rigged. As for down wind yes you can’t do really deep running like conventional style rigs , but with an asymmetrical spinnaker you don’t want to go down wind that deep it is much faster to run at 150-160 degrees and jibe more . Plus those angles are more fun to sail at. The Down wind angles are more spot boat style angles. Something like this would be great for me here in SoCal I don’t need air conditioning or heat. I did a Baja bash delivery on a Jenneau 37 it did ok not a huge fan . I also like the new Bentau 34.1 Oceanus? In this size range, Now if only I could afford one . I guess I am stuck with my 38 yo C-30 one owner.
Tim I love your reviews thanks.
Good to here this. I've heard a lot of criticism of the German traveler 'A' on catamarans, but the people I know who sail a cat with it like it. Those frictionless rings instead of the track. From the Beneteau Group and less costly.... Maybe I'm too cynical. I know the ORC has them. And I've fussed with my old jib. So 3D control is better but takes more effort. I have to confess that after seeing it on the ORC I tried to figure out how to do this on my old Hunter. (But there are at least stages of sailing. Beginner, endlessly fussing and yet the leaches on both sails never seem to be right, the middle stage where it seems no matter what you do the boat sails just fine. And I guess the third stage is wanting to endlessly play with a 3D jib control for an extra half knot. I'll let you know if I ever graduate from the middle stage.....
@@WillN2Go1 don’t make it too complicated. All we are doing is adjusting twist and then trim angle in and out for even air flow over the sail from the r top of the sail to the bottom. Again for the average person going for a day sail you can learn where to set it for best upwind close hauled sailing and then leave it there for other wind angles it will still work pretty good. PS on the low friction rings most race boats use them they are low maintenance, no bearing to lube or seize., and the sheets run through them great for easier tacking. Plus as mentioned they are lighter and nor holes in the deck to leak.
For a frugal sailor like myself, this boat is essentially a very pricey weekender and a limited coastal cruiser. I prefer to keeping things a simple as possible. I share your skepticism about the low friction ring system. Jib tracks are for those us seeking to enjoy the sail rather than race. Same with the mainsail bridle. The side decks are a wonderful idea. FYI: The Annapolis Sailboat show was wonderful.
My 1971 C&C 35 Mk1 has no jib/genoa tracks either and I use low friction rings just like Jeanneau are doing on this new boat. They work well and are adjustable in all directions like you noted. Easier in some ways as you don’t have to get out and move the cars. I also have snatch bocks I use on the rail to control the sheets. Jeanneau will save cost on the tracks and not having to install them. Same for the main traveler. That has to be the main reason they are doing this regardless of the sales hype. If the pass the savings on into lower sale prices then we all benefit. Guess time will tell. Cheers. Jim
Basically a time share, charter boat. Seems like a lot to like looking at that way. But as an owner boat where you might actually go cruising the lack of storage would suck. Reminds of the Catalina 30 owners I know where everything winds up in the quarter berrh. In this case will be the aft cabin.
Was a great time being able to walk on them and experience the size in Annapolis, it was a really great boat. I found the deck inviting and well laid out. There really wasnt anything bad i could say about it. I did notice those rings around many boats, as well as no main travelers on many as well, i did ask about that and was told you dont really need to point to wind do you? I did chuckle a bit, then walked off as I didnt like that answer much. The larger boats Jeannau offered were a fav of the wife, which is cool by me. That walk around side deck was pretty great too the angle was nice to walk up and didnt seem to steep
I like it! Love to see and sail one in person. My take: 1) Mark the tweaker lines so settings are repeatable; 2) The mainsheet setup is like a lot of racing dinghys, the boat has a huge solid vang - use the vang! 3) There have been a lot of boats with swept spreaders and no backstays through the years, the ID 35 comes to mind - they race across oceans with big kites without issue. Cool boat!
I like the 350 very much. Indeed the tweaker rings do require some learning, which I was able to do on the 349 thanks to a custom rig some others have also installed. Once you get used to it, you just know how and what to adjust to balance your boat especially close hauled. I'd correct you on the lack of storage below : there is enough storage (even more than in the 349) under the benches and behind the seats when you remove the cushions. I don't think the 350 loses to the 349 : correctly equipped (2 cabin version with the garage, 4 winches, Gennaker, 300l of water, and a plotter below) you get a nice boat perfectly fit for longer cruises with even more self-sufficiency than than the 349. I've tested it until 32 knots of wind and I must say that it is really well behaved, even in some messy wave patterns. I feel very confident it will do well in gale force winds but that will be for testing purposes only :)).
I went on board the 350 at the Newport show. We loved it. Previously I had read many positive reviews for this new model and was excited to see it. Access to the winches from the sloping deck is superb, I have always hated kneeling on the cushions and leaning over to trim.
There is one issue that i see with almost all new production boats and it is hard to understand why it must be so. The deck sole is a laminated material. It looks like something that would be on a bulkhead ( or a basement den ). Since the sole is only laminate, why can't these builders offer a simulated teak and holy sole as an option? That cannot be difficult since this type material is readily available.
I want the boat to look like a boat, not an apartment.
I sailed a similar Sun Odyssey two weeks ago in the Med. The sloping side decks are really comfortable, but the main winches are a bit small and with only two plus the bridal rigging for the mainsail, you are always fighting between jib sheet and main sheet.
One big benefit of that deck style is just how SAFE it is to walk around and from the rear of the cockpit. Those lifelines aft are nearly chest height, as compared to many of the modern plastic cruisers that have them sitting barely about your thighs
As the owner of a 349 for ten years the 350 seems to maintain most of the advantages of the previous boat while improving a few things. I particularly like the improved bowsprit and anchor stowage as the old offset anchor always bashes the bowsprit. I would really miss the shelves and lockers outboard of the main cabin seats. As far as seaworthiness goes we live on board our 349 for 3 months every summer sailing to Northern France and the Channel Islands and out into the Atlantic to the Isles of Scilly and have never had problems.
We saw this boat on Saturday and absolutely loved it! We also toured the 410 next to it, and the interior space was just as plentiful for a couple. We were told there is plenty of undersole storage to make up for the lack of storage behind the settees. We also looked at the Catalina 356, and there is no doubt the better money is spent on the Jeany. This, of course, depends on your intended use. We like sailing in the Chesapeake, and I agree that this boat would not be fun in the ocean. If my Wife gets brave enough for that, we can always upgrade to an Island Packet. ;-) Sad we missed you for a second year, but the show was great. The weather was perfect, so we went on Friday and Saturday and sailed our C22 on Sunday.
Wow you had a wonderful weekend! Sorry I missed you!
"upgrade to an island packet" because really heavy, fat, slow boats with 18th century keel and rudder that can't go to windward or sail in light airs is an upgrade. Friends don't let friends sail Island Packets. IP's are motorsailors at best.
I think the low friction ring jib sheeting and bridle mainsheet setups are more about cost than anything else. It's probably a savings of $1k/boat once installation time is factored in.
Genoa/jib tracks is the one single hardware where I’ve had the most deck/rig breakage - always in hard weather. Four points adjustments also spreads the stress point. Simplicity mixed with increased functionality is always good - I think❗️😊
Great review. As a former Catana owner i am a fan of german mainsheet system, as are the great majority of Catana owners. Super easy to jibe even in strong winds and infinitly adjustable if you have it set up right.
I like Shaft drive😊
The more I see these new modern sailboats the more I want a old one before they are all gone.
I'm a little bit puzzled by this boat & struggling to see how it will outsell the 349. I'd grab a 5yo 349 & spend the rest on...other stuff? Cheers Tim.⚓
Recently became obsessed with sailing thanks in large part to this channel. The girlfriend noticed how many videos I was watching and got us tickets to the Annapolis boat show last Saturday. I wasn’t sure what she thought of it until I caught her looking at boats on Facebook marketplace. Next stop, learning to sail!
Try to find a chance to crew. 4 trips out and you'll start to have qualified opinions.
Saw the boat on Friday loved it but all the manufacturers are going to a veneer interior I hate it especially at their price range , the Island packet 439 that was at the show had the most beautiful interior.looked for you but didn’t see you I did meet Brain and Kazza from SV Delos
My wife and I chartered a 410 this past June and found we missed the Jib tracks that are on our Hunter. Maybe it was my lack of know how to use them but found the rings fairly useless. We found the walkways around the cockpit very useful for going forward however, with all the lines running back to the cockpit there wasn't that much need to go forward except to anchor. We had some pretty good wind and waves that trip and found any water coming over the rails would run back right were the skipper was standing, good thing it was hot out. Speaking of standing, I've notice a lot of the new boats have reduced or completely eliminate the seat for the helmsman. Are we all expected to set a heading and turn on the autopilot? On a good note with the fold down transoms there is tremendous capacity for the water to drain out of the cockpit through the long hinge point so no worries about flooding the cockpit...just wet feet for the helmsman.
All that open space and no handholds down below makes me imagine flying through the air and fetching up solid against the bulkhead somewhere...broken limbs vs open space...I know what I prefer.
Same thought, but I think most will hang close to the marina anyway.
@@UncleJoeLITE Agreed. Credit Card Cocktail Captains.
I had the opportunity to sail the Jeanneau 350 this last summer for one week. I sail a Jeanneau 409 when at home. The 350 is a fun but tough boat. I had no problem sailing her in 25+ knot winds. The cabin inside is remarkable. It was more roomy than my 409. The separate shower is excellent. There were a few observations worth noting, though. As pointed out in the video, the low friction ring for the jib was not my favorite. I could not easily tune the jib the way I wanted it. The second observation is the anchor locker. It is not designed well. To make room for the berth below, there is a shelf the chain falls on before going into a deeper well. The problem is that the chain builds on the shelf and jams the windless. To bring in the anchor, you have to bring in 10 feet, then move the chain into the deeper well. It took at least twice as long to bring up the anchor. Still, I would have no problem owning this boat. Great video BTW, as usual.
My Jeanneau requires me to hand pile the anchor chain as far forward as possible to prevent hockling as the windlass hoists
Jeanneau makes a good boat for most people. The 349 was an excellent boat too, but for not much more money you could purchase a Hallberg Rassy and get a proper sailboat.
I saw this boat a couple of days ago at the Annapolis show. I really didn't like the seating position for the helm but that might not bother others.
Shoal draft, and shaft drive!!! 👍👍😎
The walk around side decks were first used on larger boats. Nice to see them integrated on a smaller boat.
For a daysailer or short cruiser, I think this boat will probably make a lot of people happy. Despite the attractive interior space, I wouldn't want to live on it or sail it full time. The missing storage will hurt quickly for a full-time boat, and if I'm going to spend a lot of time sailing in lots of different wind conditions, I'm really going to miss the adjustability of a more traditional rig with a backstay and traveler. But for someone who wants a boat to go weekending on, or to take a few friends out, it looks like its going to be a really nice boat for that.
Jeanneau takes a really good aim at the private owners consortium dominating the European weekend and short time leasing market with this product. A market previously exclusively occupied by Bavaria now has an alternative.
I like it.
The adoption of low friction rings is the best way forward. Casual sailors doesn't care much about jib shape and thus it's pointless have discussion on rings vs rails. Same with the main sail. Less fuss on deck that way.
Absence of a steel rail is a given: less toe and knee injuries and less compensation layout for the leasing consortium to those elderly customers, and they can have their sundowners easier than before. What not to like?
A power boat does away with all those pesky sailing things completely. What's not to like?
@@atakd the fuel consumption.
Fuel consumption right, the planet has now to be part of the equation too😅
But people who buy these sort of boats don't go anywhere. If you just want to flutter around the Greek islands foe 4 hours per day, almost always under motor anyway, then a low power displacement mobo will be just as economical.
@@jacqueslavoie9103 Lol I've had a powerboat, my reply wasn't about being green it was about the added costs when powering. In the 2 six month seasons I had it I spent about $4000 in fuel for each season of about 90 hours run time.
Good review, Tim!
I have a 389. The new versions of Jeanneau do not have the hardware I’d love to see for performance and safety. They are primarly made for competition in market and safety has been compromised to build more economical boats. The sloping deck seems nice but in a small size boat the cost is loss of headspace at aft cabins.
I saw this boat on Saturday at the show, and after looking at the Bennies I expected something even better. I was sorely let down and felt the interior was horrible. Maybe good for a weekend sailor but terrible as a liveaboard.
Having said that, could you review the Dufour 44 pleeeeeeeeease?
Pro: Sloping side decks, though it requires a wide stern. Cons: Everything else. Looks like they merged with Ikea in the cabin and too many trip hazards on deck. The lack of backstay is concerning as well. I'll stick with Catalina.
This boat hits the accountant and the sales teams brief bang on the nail with some really great design elements. Being and older chap, I look at LFR's with suspicion, but they play up to my oldy worldy view by giving me a baby stay point... For a typical european weekend/summer vacation workload, I think it will do very well.. I just wish they could afford to use better materials down below...
coming back from ocean sailing on mu 40.1 and seeing in heavy weather the water pouring like a water fall on my side decks.
i am glade they are not made like the Jeanneau.
Mine just let the water flow directly to the back of the boat and keeping the cockpit dry.
great system you do not need cockpit drains to manage this
The jeanneau would fill the cockpit for sure!
The first boats I saw with side decks where you could walk forward from the helm out side the coaming were Deerfoots, Thirty eight years ago. Steve Dashew also introduced the sugar scoop stern and salon settees with out cabinets or pilot berths above them to create a visually wide open feel in the salon.
Chuck Paine stopped designing boats with travelers years ago. As a very successful racer himself, he felt that a center sheeted main with a vang could produce the same sail shape that a traveler produced.
So there are some great old/new ideas here. As for the boat its Horses for Courses, It will probably suit what most sailors are actually doing. My taste leans more Able and Morris, But I like the walk out cockpit and lack of traveler. I Just replaced my cap rail and was going to add tweekers, so Now I am wondering if I just skip putting the tracks back on... hmmm
Why not Coastal sailor as seems to be designed for couple going around the Med ( Bahamas with aircon option?)
Not a modern boat fan really but I see the positives of side decks in that broad aft design.
lack of handy storage below is negative for me, if storage is in floor not sure I want to lifting cabin sole everytime I need something for daily use.
Conclusion it seems to be tailored for daysailing or weekend, not so much for longer offshore passages.
Been on another Jeanneau with that deck ramp. If you like all the deck to drain the rain into the cockpit, then it's for you.
And I would be concerned that any wave that comes aboard to windward will run down the windward side into the cockpit.
Best boats to single hand are Hanse. ALL lines are led back to the helms. This includes the halyards, mainsail reefing or furling (for in mast furling) lines, which are normally on the coachroom by the sliding hatch. I don't know of any of the other production boats that do this. When you take non sailors out, they are ALWAYS in the way, and usually exactly when you need to do something. Then they are upset with you because they think you are yelling at them (you are).
With the Hanse, no one is in the way. Period. The downside of this is that when you have multiple people who know how to sail, with the 'other' set of winches on the cabin top, there is nice separation and nobody is on top of each other. With the Hanse, you have 2 winches with ALL lines for them and a bank of 4 or 5 stoppers on each side.
While I like the idea of the sloped side decks, I have the same worry as you about shedding water, i absolutely do NOT like the lack of a jib track or the main sheet bridle setup. I think this boat would like be fine for the Great Lakes but I’m not going offshore ocean sailing in that at all. Being that 90% of my time will be on the Great Lakes with seasonal haulout, I’ll pass on the backstay missing rig as well.
I tend to agree on the point that you made about the jib tracks being way easier to set up and get used to for varying points of sail. On point that i would really like to bring up about these reviews, is that i wish that you would provide a base cost point for the model being reviewed -- there are times when you do mention it, but also times when you leave it out -- I feel that just a base price is a reasonable request as part of a review.
Adding block & tackle to replace the mainsheet bridle would improve upwind performance.
I love the walkaround side decks! I've had 10 people on a Jeanneau 349 for a day sail and it sucks having to climb over them to go forward for any reason. The same 349 has low friction rings in lieu of a jib car track and the German bridle system instead of a traveler. Personally, I'm not a fan of either of those systems. Give me a proper traveler for trim and sheet for shape any day!
Is there a downside to what they did with the chainplates? I know most things are a tradeoff?
I'm in the market.....
Toss up between Jeanneau 350 & Beneteau 34.1
Think the slopping decks just sold me on the 350😊
I have a SO 410 and sail in different weather here in the Mediterranean and going upwind in 35kt true is common so those side decks are regularly filled with water which for some reason empty themselves faster than they filled in so no issue at all here and not wetter than with any other boats in my experience.
The bridle is not strong enough and I have seen that most of the owners have changed for a stronger one. I did it before it broke but talked to a guy who had his bridle loose in high winds, really bad experience.
Otherwise the control of the main is easy and I am not sure it makes that of a difference with a track on most of the times.
The German system is ok, just make sure you use both winches to make sure the sheet remains even on both sides, you don’t want to have 30 inches one side and 30 foot the other.
The friction rings and their 3D settings are super easy to operate. If you don’t know nothing, an average position will make your boat move fast enough, the SO410 is indeed a great performer, just look at its hull. If you are a fine tuner, you have a lot of options to trim your headsail.
You also can use the inner stay with a storm sail on a track in front of the mast with only one sheet to one of the roof winch, you trim it once and forget about it.
The vang and back stay are adjustable on the 410, I am happy I have a back stay which I trim while going upwind on choppy seas.
In conclusion I see a trend with those new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey’s, either you do the absolute minimum and you have a lot of fun but you still have the choice to fine tune everything and you have a blast.
You know here in the med, a lot of boats are going upwind (westerly winds) from St Tropez to Marseille and it’s always an unofficial race, well, catch me if you can …
Do sail drives require less maintenance than shaft drive...Just seems like the SD would be less prone to leaking.
Ask Tim about crab pots in the Delaware, changing zinks, and that big rubber seal.
Shaft drive is simpler and more dependable long term. Sail drive is great until its not.
Do you know if they have an option to have normal job tracks??
I don’t think they’re steel. I think they’re more likely aluminum tracks.
Good morning 😅 these feutures came out many years ago!
How about a video here or on Lady K on 'tweaker's. I'm intrigued as an owner of a boat with no jib tracks.
I think they should make them a little wider. Make more room when at the dock. Make the capsize ratio go from 4.3 to 7.
Excellent pour l’apéro le dimanche midi sur la tamise 😊
Saw the Jeanneau 401 at the boat show and loved the side decks and high lifelines for safety. I am not a fan of the boats finish interior.
Built to a price point.
No job track means no leaks. I like it.
I wonder if anyone can answer ...
1. Shaft drive - isn't it crazy loud or do they have a "soft" coupling?
2. It has a very racy hull - anyone knows if it can plane and if yes at what speed?
Shaft Drives are not inherently more noisy than sail drives. It all depends on the quality and skill of thew install. Shaft drives are simpler and lower maintenance over time.
@@CarlDamm My boat has a shaft drive but compared to sail drives it's like a truck diesel vs latest Mercedes petrol engine. As I understood the engine has no "soft bumpers" but is "very directly" mounted to the hull. Must be the same for the Janneau's ... or they are mounted differently. Anyone >heard< the engine ?
Chartered a sun odyssey last year. Perfectly nice to sail - easy (even the jib control)Hard to manoeuvre in reverse. Creaked more than any other boat I’ve sailed. Won’t take one again
I love, LOVE my older Sun Legend, but this new Jeanneau has all of the things I personally wouldn't accept. That said, I'm sure they will sell a bunch of them.
To Gimmicky for me. Classic is classic because it has stood the test of time and works. Give me classic. I would take a Maine boat over a French boat any day of hte week.
I like the side decks, chainplates, shower. Outside those things I think my 50 yr old I36 is a better boat at a tiny fraction of the cost!
I dislike lack of backstays. ☹️
You can rig up a "Running" backstay, as needed.
Me too. It's the spreaders, swept so far back that you can't use the main downwind, or you'll be constantly repairing/replacing it. Give me a backstay and straight spreaders any day.
Cheap tricks it’s produced to increase profits. So store your stuff in the bilge ? This is a glorified weekender or charter queen . It is Not even a coastal cruiser . Daysailor at best . Not worth it .
I don't trust any of the rigs with no backstay. I know it's an option, but I didn't like it when Hunter did it either.
I like it, but more importantly, my wife loves it.
This will sound sacrilegious, but monohull interiors need to start resembling the beach apartment kind of accommodation that cats offer. This will require some radical rethinking of design and space use, but it's overdue.I love the look of a monohull, but I hate the cave-like interiors.
If you are moving you jib car to the second last track when pointing high into the wind, your tracks are either in the wrong spot or you have no idea what you are doing.
As why would you open up the leech of your sail almost all the way when pointing?
Also, if you think a main sheet bridal limits how you can adjust your main, you have failed to understand what a vang is for.
The walk around decks and low friction rings are nothing new. They have been used on other Jeanneau models for many years now. You won't see them on any other boats though as Jeanneau have a patent out on the walk around deck.
My wife and I are 66 years old and already have replacement hip and knees. We love them on our 410 and hope to sail for many years to come.
That is good in one area, but terrible in another. NO STORAGE.
Thanks Tim...
Not for me. I like the sloping side decks though.
Starting price?
$204K base price, $281K fairly well equipped.
If there is anything you said that could make Jeaneau cringe, it's the remark that the boat falls short of being a full-on coastal cruiser. They won't like that.
It certainly isn't. It's a floating dock residence to visit occasionally.
Then they should make a more capable boat right?
That house deck is a danger; trip city. The "chain plates" are undersized and by placing the so far outboard you are limiting your sheeting angle on the headsail. Finally, how do you design a boat to prevent getting caught out in a blow? It can't be done. A proper sailing yacht will be built and designed to handle all weather conditions; because we as sailors can't control the weather. If the past is prologue, this is another example of a Jeanneau built not for the sea but for dock parties.
Looks like someone tried to put sails on a party pontoon boat.
Agree 100%. I'm just a recreational sailor and boat owner and I'd probably turn down a ride on that boat. I immediately imagined my years and miles of experience on similar size boats and I see only failure.
Hi there, all the things you mentioned only serve 1 purpose: cutting costs. Imagine all the money they save on gear and labour to install them! Next, do you know one Jeanneau that has no propshaft? I don’t. And that’s a good thing. In my opinion, the arrowed spreaders are hell when you are travelling backstay wind on the ocean. But offcourse, this boat is not designed for this because it has no backstay. 😢
I did not like the build quality on the 350. It felt very cheap, and lightly made. The 410 felt like a better made boat.
I do not like low friction rings setup. They are not very low friction. The rings and the line gets salty and dirty, and they find themselves at the wrong angle.
While I like those walk up ramps on the sides, they do represent a reduction of interior space. Everything is a tradeoff.
These are for the PNW sailors cruising inside the Salish Sea.
Maybe they tried to build a Hunter
Not for me. Give me a Bristol 41.1 and I will be a super happy sailor. Happy Sailing ⛵
Must have been watching Catalina's lead
Actually I'm a bit disappointed with the direction that Jeanneau has been going. I feel that many of these newer European boats are starting to feel like Ikea boats.
Don't fool yourself the sail controls are not "Easy of Use versus Sail Control" oriented. That's just marketing spin. It's purely about Cost and a greater profit margin. The jib fairlead are only useful for a jib, but not a genoa. For that they'd have to put a track in but I'd guess that it's now an extra you have to pay for.
The side deck is unique, but it does rob space from the interior and lowers headroom down below. I also suspect that sailing in inclement weather (or just anchored in bad weather) results in a very watery cockpit. In our country we often will have entire cockpit enclosures for cold and buggy days, the enclosure helps make the cockpit a useful space, but if it wet not so much.
The lack of storage inside does seem to limit this boat to short cruises, and not longer off shore sailing. So definitely it's targeting a specific market.
I just can't get around the IKEA production boats. Call me old school, but give me teak and mahogany over the 1950s formica look any day.
I see the luddites have taken up their hammers.
GUESS I'm stuck with my Catalina 380
Jenneau 350 is too wide to go on a trailer. I don't understand no benches behind the steerind wheels. It's like they want you to get tired and fall off the back. I miss a plain old sugar scoop.
Bigger Jeanneau's has had these side-decks for several years. Not exactly news.
wow
Inside plastic surfaces all around. As cheap as possible.
You are saying it like it’s a bad thing. Not everybody is a millionaire. Also, plastic is super easy to keep clean.
Fine for Coastal, Chesapeake, and Island hopping Caribbean, not for seas.
Lack of stowage means the boat is unsuitable for extended coastal cruising. That makes it less attractive for PNW buyers.
Having owned sailboat dealerships and done in depth factory tours my Strong advice is put in your contract a requirement that before cash trades hands a full survey has been done at buyers expense. What. Bob it’s a new boat , why ? Trust me it’s the best few hundred dollars you’ll ever spend . Spend extra to have the surveyor check the commissioning . AC installation is done in US . Without that storage area, not sure where they’re going to put the vents for AC. . Remember European boats have no concept of air-conditioning. However, they should all be at least vented at the factory. Whether they are used or not, that’s another story, but in today’s world, how many people buy a car without air conditioning . Same goes for boats. Actually, the fact is the Europeans don’t really understand the American market. . No backstay no tracks. Those are all cost-cutting things. . Just look for small things check the bilge pump. See what kind they installed? This company has actually used a shower pump model as a bilge pump . They cut corners like I did as. Teenager driving my mother s 1957 Ford Thunderbird lol
Trip lines everywhere..mmm
So the gunnels drain into the back of the cockpit instead of overboard??? More modern features over safety nonsense.
What we have here is a very flimsy, dangerous and cheaply made day sailor.
no backstay = no sale to me
Imagine trying to sail downwind with those spreaders. You couldn't get the boom to 45⁰ out. More risk of an uncontrolled gybe and more risk of it bringing the rig down.
It's not reall a mystery why Jeanneau have complex headsail controls and simple mainsail controls. Both of the setups are the cheapest way to go.
More a daysailer then a cruiser.
Sloping side decks are not a new concept… see them years and years ago!
I have always hated jib tracks.