Design and Construction
Though based in part on the Polish-built Delphia 31, the Sun Odyssey 319 incorporates an all-new hull design featuring a more rounded bow forward above the entry and some crisp hard chines aft. The hull is a solid fiberglass laminate set in polyester resin, while the deck is balsa-cored and both bonded and screwed down as part of the hull-deck joint. Ballast is cast iron, set either in a conventional fin keel with a bulb or in a stub wing keel from which a centerboard descends, and twin rudders are standard. The coachroof is quite tall for a modern boat, contributing to the interior light and headroom. The 319 is offered in fixed and swing keel versions, with deep and shoal-draft options; the shoal keel with centerboard up draws just 2ft 5in and 5ft 6in with it down.
Rig and Handling
The standard sailplan calls for a classic slab-reefed mainsail and an overlapping genoa on the headstay, sheeted to tracks on the sidedecks, all set on a Seldén mast with canvas by Technique Voile. A de-powered alternative pairs an in-mast furling mainsail with a small self-tacking jib, and a bowsprit option allows an asymmetric spinnaker or Code Zero-type headsail. The jib sheets lead to a pair of Harken 35 cockpit winches either side of the wheel, and an optional double-ended German mainsheet can route tails to those winches. Test sailors found the fixed-keel boat tacked easily and lost little way through the wind, and with her twin rudders she was one of the quickest turning sailboats the reviewer had handled, backing down in full control. Under the de-powered rig in 8–10 knots of wind the boat struggled to better 5 knots, yet in 12 knots she brushed 6 knots at 45 degrees apparent, and during sea trials in 15–20 knots with reefed main and self-tacking jib she knocked off a solid 6 knots hard on the wind with a buttery smooth yet precise helm.
Accommodations
Down below, the 319 is extremely bright and welcoming, with natural light through cabinhouse and hull-side portlights and serious standing headroom of 6ft 4in or better throughout, even in the forward stateroom. The layout is fixed: two double cabins at opposite ends, a large aft stateroom to port with great vertical clearance, and a particularly roomy berth aft to starboard. An impressively large head sits opposite the aft berth to port, while a good-size L-shaped galley and a real navigation desk flank the companionway, with long settees and a folding dining table forward. The swing-keel trunk integrates into the central table; the fixed-keel version opens the space slightly. The boat sleeps six for trips of two weeks or less and honestly accommodates four for extended cruises, with three or four good sea berths.
Known Issues
The engine space is where the small size tells most: it is cramped enough to make routine maintenance a challenge. Access to the oil filter is poor, and to reach the raw-water pump impeller housing fully the battery must first be removed. The only powerplant is a 21hp Yanmar diesel on saildrive, with a Flexofold folder optional.
The Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 319 packs genuine cruising accommodation and lively handling into a 32ft hull that punches above its length. Its twin rudders and thoughtful cockpit make it fun and precise to sail, while the bright, headroom-generous interior serves a family well. The tight engine bay is the price of the compact envelope.
Pros
- Twin rudders give quick, controlled turning and backing
- Full standing headroom including forward stateroom
- Bright, well-laid two-cabin interior with real sea berths
- Shoal swing-keel option for thin water
Cons
- Cramped engine access complicates routine service
- De-powered sailplan feels sluggish under 10 knots
- Single fixed interior layout only
