Design and Construction
Fauroux's hull is a solid fiberglass shell carrying an iron ballast, and the yachtdatabase review notes the interior is finished in teak like most production boats of the era. At a displacement of roughly 6,283 pounds with 2,227 pounds of ballast, the 29.2 shows a ballast ratio near 39 percent and a length-to-beam ratio of 2.95, while the displacement-length ratio of 174 places her among what reviewers categorize as light racers built with different keel alternatives. The wetted surface is about 279 square feet, and the immersion rate of 860 pounds per inch speaks to a modestly proportioned hull that responds to load without dramatic sinkage.
Keel and Draft Options
Jeanneau offered the 29.2 with several keel configurations rather than a single fixed profile. One alternative is a stub or centreboard keel of iron that draws only about 2.3 to 2.6 feet depending on load, letting the boat settle into shallow marinas built with different keel alternatives. The other common choice is a fin keel with bulb, also iron, whose draft runs about 4.6 to 4.9 feet by load. Sources differ on the standard keel draft figure, with the builder citing 0.75 meters and reviews listing both shallow and deep alternatives, so no single draft should be assumed without confirming the specific hull.
Rig and Sail Handling
The boat was offered with more than one rig, including a fractional sloop and an alternative fractional setup. On the fractional rig the working sheets — jib, genoa, and mainsheet — are all 10 mm diameter, with the mainsheet running 72 feet and the headsail sheets about 29 feet, while halyards are 8 mm and the spinnaker gear extends to a 63-foot sheet and 88-foot halyard. A cockpit described by the builder as protected and spacious supports this handling, and an optional steering wheel was available alongside the standard tiller. Under Yanmar power the calculated maximum speed is about 4.5 knots against a theoretical displacement-hull speed of 6.7 knots.
Accommodations and Layout
The 29.2 was conceived for family cruising, and the protected cockpit pairs with a teak interior to deliver a practical weekender. The builder's own description emphasizes the spaciousness of that cockpit as a social and helm space rather than a cramped quarter. The 9.78-foot beam frames a boat built to carry people comfortably at anchor and under way.
Performance Envelope
Writing in yachtdatabase, reviewers calculated a capsize screening value of 2.12, a figure they use to indicate the boat would not qualify for ocean races, and the Motion Comfort Ratio is 17.6. Together with the light-racer DL classification the same review draws and the 39 percent ballast ratio, the picture is of a moderately stiff coastal cruiser rather than a bluewater contender. The shallow-keel version in particular trades ultimate windward bite for marina access.
The Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 29.2 is a sensible small-family cruiser with Fauroux hull logic, real keel flexibility, and a teak-lined interior that punches above its 29-foot length for sheltered-water cruising. The multiple keel and rig options mean a buyer must identify the exact configuration, and the disputed draft figures demand verification.
Pros
- Choice of shallow stub/centreboard or deeper fin-bulb iron keel for different cruising grounds
- Protected and spacious cockpit with optional wheel steering
- Light-racer displacement profile with family-cruising intent
Cons
- Capsize screening of 2.12 excludes ocean-racing acceptance
- Conflicting published draft numbers require hull-specific confirmation
- Limited to about 4.5 knots under the Yanmar engine
