The Odyssey 36.2 Offers Comfort and A Reasonable Value

Like other boats in her class, such as the Catalina 36, Beneteau 36s7 and Hunter 356, the Jeanneau 36.2 offers plenty of creature comfort and is well suited for coastal cruising or, with proper planning and caution, the occasional offshore passage.

The 36.2 was designed by Jeanneau's in-house team and led by French designer Jacques Fauroux. The model was introduced in 1996 and production ended in 1999 with well over 300 boats built. Fewer than 100 were imported to the United States, though more have found their way into the States via the Caribbean charter business.

I have not actually measured this model, but note that the model name does not actually represent the overall length of the boat. This may be due to the marketing staff's difficulty with converting meters to feet and inches. My 1997 brochure indicates the length overall to be 34 feet and 11 inches, though other literature specifies lengths at 36 feet, 36 feet and 1 inch, and 11 meters. Eleven meters translates to just a hair over 36 feet and 1 inch. Likewise, beam specifications range between 12 feet, 2 inches and 12 feet, 5 inches, and draft between 4 feet, 7 inches and 6 feet, 3 inches. Minutia yes, but if dimensions are important because of slip size or draft restrictions, measure once and then measure again because printed specifications are not always accurate.

Unlike her sister company, Beneteau, and most other production boat builders, Jeanneau does not use preformed grids and liners for structural support. Instead the company follows a more traditional and labor-intensive method of fiberglass encapsulated wood stringers, floors and frames built in place after the hull is molded. This construction method allows for bulkheads to be bonded to the hull sides, deck and cabin and is a robust construction method more often used by custom builders. Our office inspected a 36.2 several years ago after a severe grounding that damaged the keel and destroyed the rudder, yet the structural integrity remained sound.

The first layer of fiberglass is set in vinylester resin to help prevent blisters and the external iron bulb keel is epoxy coated at the factory but will require more maintenance than lead keels, which do not rust.

It is not typical to find significant structural concerns with these boats but systems, particularly those of boats not built specifically for import to the United States, are sometimes cause for concern. Anyone who has traveled in Europe and tried to plug in a hair dryer or electric razor knows U.S. and European systems are different. Boats that come to the U.S. through the Caribbean may still have the European system installed; even the boats intended for the U.S. market might not have systems installed in compliance with American Boat and Yacht Council standards.

The 36.2's most notable topside feature is its large cockpit with removable seat at the stern that opens to a scooped transom with swim step and stainless steel boarding ladder. Sheet winches are within easy reach of the helmsman although the mid-boom mainsheet is on the cabin top and out of reach. Other features include an aluminum toe rail along the deck edge, double lifelines, a double anchor roller and a smallish anchor locker at the bow.

A generous beam allows for a spacious cabin, but the large cockpit causes accommodations to be pushed forward. As a result, the V-berth is no larger than that of most modern 28-footers and is small for two adults. Headroom is at six feet, with a hanging locker to port and a washbasin to starboard. The main saloon features a U-shaped dinette to starboard on all models with several options for port side arrangements. Some have two chairs followed by a separate navigation station, others have a settee instead of the two chairs, and still a third option has the settee with an aft-facing navigation table at the end of the settee. The head and shower are aft to port, the galley is aft to starboard and there is a quarter berth cabin with a huge athwartship berth.

The standard auxiliary power is a 27 HP Yanmar diesel mounted below the bridge deck. This is suitable power for this 12,300-pound boat; service access is reasonably good and engine room insulation is excellent.

The Jeanneau 36.2 has a moderate displacement length ratio of 194 and by today's standards, a very conservative sail area/displacement ratio of 15.9. Still, performance is quite good in all but very light air conditions. A large rudder provides for a very responsive helm under power or sail.

Boats with dinghy-like hull forms, such the Jeanneau 36.2, sail better and faster with less heel. Even though the 36.2 is not over canvassed, ballast is a rather anemic 27 percent of displacement and she is more easily overpowered than boats with higher percentage of ballast or deeper bulb keels. Reefing will be in order in winds stronger than 15 knots. Conversely, when wind drops below five knots, cruising spinnaker or large light air Genoa will become an essential part of your sail inventory.

While it's great to daydream of sailing to faraway places, most often our sailing pleasures come closer to home and for shorter periods. Jeanneau's designers have paid greater attention to dockside and at-anchor comforts than to comfort at sea and, for most, that's just fine. The Jeanneau 36.2 offers reasonable value in today's used boat market.

And if you like the brand and the size, in 2007 Jeanneau came out with a new performance version, the Sun Odyssey 36i. It features a taller mast with more sail area, and adjustable backstay, a feathering propeller, and other high-performance components. The company's website says two below-deck layouts are available.

Jack Hornor, NA is the principal surveyor and senior designer for the Annapolis-based Marine Survey & Design Co. Hornor writes for BoatU.S. Magazine and other marine publications.

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