With a modern light-displacement hull, fractional rig, and a choice of fixed or swing keel, the 30i was intended to combine manageable sailing with comfortable weekends aboard. It also sat in the higher-spec Sun Odyssey range rather than Jeanneau’s bare-bones tier.
Design and Construction
The Sun Odyssey 30i measures 8.99 m overall, with an 8.79 m hull, a 27.1 ft waterline, and a 10.43 ft beam. Displacement is 8,697 lb, including 2,086 lb of iron ballast, for a ballast-displacement ratio of 23.99. Those figures place it firmly in the modern light-displacement cruiser class.
Jeanneau, a high-volume builder that achieved its scale through mass production, built the boat in fiberglass with a solid hull and deck, and placed it in the higher-spec Sun Odyssey range rather than the bare-bones tier. The manufacturer called Lombard’s design seaworthy and said it consistently delivered exceptional performance. The specification block records a capsize ratio of 2.03 and a comfort ratio of 21.27.
Two keel and rudder arrangements were offered. The fixed-keel version draws 1.75 m, or 5.74 ft, and has a single rudder. A beachable swing-keel variant uses twin rudders—a rare choice of configurations for a 30-foot cruiser.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
Lombard specified a fractional sloop rig carrying 462 sq ft of sail, giving a sail-area-displacement ratio of 17.48. The rig is paired with a bulb keel and spade rudder, reflecting Lombard’s hand in the design. With its modest wetted surface and 27.1 ft waterline, the boat has a recorded hull speed of 6.98 kn.
Steering was by tiller as standard, with an optional wheel. Owners could therefore choose between the direct feel of a tiller and the seated comfort of wheel steering. The fixed keel’s 5.74 ft draft keeps the boat manageable in shallow cruising grounds, while the swing-keel version adds beachable access.
Yachting Monthly found this higher-spec model easy to sail in most conditions, comfortable below, and great value.
A single Yanmar diesel provides auxiliary power. Available data doesn’t specify its horsepower. Tankage is 13 gal of fuel and 42 gal of water.
Accommodations
Below deck, the 30i was laid out with standing headroom in every cabin. The builder also highlighted numerous comfort details intended to provide excellent liveability, whether in port or at anchor.
The 10.43 ft beam gives the interior the volume needed for that full standing room. Jeanneau’s emphasis on liveability at anchor also points to a boat intended for weekends aboard as much as daysailing. Yachting Monthly’s testers supported that assessment, describing the 30i as comfortable below deck.
The Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 30i is a modern Marc Lombard cruiser built in volume by Jeanneau, with a clear emphasis on liveability and easy handling. Its two keel-and-rudder configurations broaden its appeal, from coastal cruising with the fixed keel to beachable exploring with the swing keel. Standing headroom throughout the cabins is a notable advantage in the 30-foot segment.
The builder claims exceptional performance from the light-displacement hull and fractional rig, while the press found the boat easy to sail in most conditions. It doesn’t demand an expert crew.
Pros
- Seaworthy Marc Lombard design, with exceptional performance according to the builder
- Standing headroom in every cabin and excellent liveability in port or at anchor
- Easy to sail in most conditions, comfortable below, and great value, according to Yachting Monthly
- Choice of a fixed keel with one rudder or a beachable swing keel with twin rudders
- Standard tiller or optional wheel
- Higher-spec Sun Odyssey construction
Cons
- Engine horsepower isn’t specified in the available data
- The sources don’t detail the swing keel’s added complexity compared with the fixed keel’s simplicity
