Jeanneau has always stayed at the front of technology, whether it is to incorporate resin infusion in its hull construction or to find better ways to create stronger, safer products that are fun, comfortable, and fast. Many of these construction advances also positively improve the environmental impact of fiberglass boat construction, so Jeanneau continues to build on its reduced environmental footprint as a commitment to future generations.
Today the company is known for its performance-oriented sailboats that reflect contemporary design, blending modern materials with time-honored traditions of building honest cruising boats. Today Jeanneau manufactures its lines in one of the largest production facilities in the world.
Jeanneau offers two distinct lines of cruising sailboats through its MidAtlantic dealer, Crusader Yachts: the popular Sun Odyssey line of cruising boats, and the luxury sailing yachts of Jeanneau Yachts. The Sun Odyssey fleet consists of five models that range from the 35-foot Sun Odyssey 350 to the spacious and capable 47-foot Sun Odyssey 490. All build on a basic theme of modern design, lasting value, and sailing pleasure. The boats are fun and easy to sail, comfortable, and innovative.
The upscale sailing yachts of Jeanneau Yachts include the sophisticated, three-cabin Jeanneau 55 and the larger Jeanneau 60 that can be built with up to five cabins. They represent sailing at its most refined level of yachting, with exceptional accommodations and comfort in sailing yachts that can cruise to and fit right in with the world’s most desirable destinations.
Jeanneau’s Sun Odyssey models are particularly well suited for inland and coastal cruising in Chesapeake Bay, the U.S. East Coast, and the islands of the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Performance, comfortable layouts, and contemporary fit and finish are what motivates today’s sailors, and Jeanneau handily embraces these trends.
Each model in the Sun Odyssey line shares similar DNA, and models step up in size to offer a bit more room or space among its features. All have wide sterns, twin spade rudders, and a hard chine running the length of the hull for initial stability. The signature walk-around side decks are one of their most popular features for good reason. There is no need to climb over coamings and winches to move from cockpit to side deck, especially appreciated by older sailors who want to go sailing but without the physical obstacles.
Each of the models can be ordered from a variety of available layouts, and the equipment and trim options are numerous. Jeanneau has thought of all the choices.
There are three keels available for each model, and accommodations vary in the number and location of cabins, number of heads, and the sailing gear to match the desired level of performance. Choice of engines, bow thrusters, generators, air conditioning, navigation and communication electronics, even watermakers are among the list of options available for each Sun Odyssey model.
Such overwhelming choices is why Jeanneau relies on a strong dealer network to help buyers navigate the boat buying process.
Serving Chesapeake Bay and the MidAtlantic region of the U.S. East Coast, Crusader Yachts is the go-to dealer for Jeanneau sailboats. Its experienced brokers and support staff have end-to-end product knowledge, sailing experience, and local understanding to assist new buyers in choosing a boat and outfitting it properly. “How will you use the boat?” is one of the core questions a seasoned broker must understand to suggest the right combination of features, options, even which Sun Odyssey model, best fits buyers’ plans.
If the boat is primarily going to be used for weekend trips to St. Michaels and Oxford after a sail across the Bay, it does not need to be quite as equipped (for the time being at least) as a boat that will head to New England for the summer or spend winters in the Florida Keys. Your Crusader broker is a huge asset in defining what is required to complete the boat for successful cruising. Dodger and bimini, davits for dinghy, quality anchoring gear, more extensive electronics, increased battery and charging capacity, and extra water tankage are just some of the enhancements your broker will help source and install on your new boat.
With Crusader’s Annapolis office set up to showcase Sun Odyssey models side by side, the prospective buyer can step from one model to the next while discussing the similarities and differences with one’s broker. It is a far more productive and successful process than comparing boat spec sheets on one’s laptop. Given the many similarities across the Sun Odyssey line, in terms of hull design, deck layout, and interior furnishings, it is a very satisfying way to evaluate and compare each model at one time. A couple usually finds one model ticks all the boxes in accommodations, layout and “feel.” While one model might appear to be faster, more stable, and offer more room, size is not the only measure. Placement of winches and lines, engine and other controls, and the proximity from the helms may simply feel better on one model. Inspecting a furling mainsail and its handling gear may prove itself an important benefit to some sailors or unnecessary complexity that detracts from ultimate sailing performance.
People will very often find the sweet spot of what they seek after a short time aboard the boats.
And when it is time to reach for the higher level of luxury sailing yacht embodied in the Jeanneau Yachts 55 and 60, there is no better resource than Crusader Yachts to introduce you to the world of yacht cruising aboard Jeanneau Yachts. The innovation, sophistication, yet practical elegance of these yachts will bring new levels of exhilaration to one’s yachting lifestyle.
Whether a couple is new to sailing, a small family stepping up in size as their family grows, or experienced sailors ready for a new cruising sailboat that is more performance oriented, Crusader Yachts is there to make sure it is a winner. With its in-house commissioning team and a select group of specialized contractors, Crusader Yachts handles all projects in full control of the outfitting process.
The expertise of the Crusader team is the perfect partner for a Jeanneau sailboat for anyone interested in a quality boat for sailing and boating pleasure on the Chesapeake Bay and beyond for years to come.
When you are ready to invest in a performance-oriented cruising boat and want to explore the quality boats from Jeanneau’s Sun Odyssey and Jeanneau Yachts lines, contact the team at Crusader Yachts in Annapolis.
