Design and Construction
The Sun Odyssey 33 shows its lineage as a cruiser evolved from the earlier Sun Liberty 34, with a raked stem and a reverse transom fitted with steps and a swimming platform. The hull is a monohull with an internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled by a wheel, and the keel is a fixed fin. Construction is predominantly fiberglass with wood trim, and the boat was built by Jeanneau in France from 1992 until 1997. The 10,362-pound displacement and 33.24 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio place it firmly in the moderate-volume cruiser class, while the 6.46-foot draft suits mixed coastal and inland sailing without demanding extreme depth.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a fractional sloop rig of Bermuda type, with an I foretriangle height of 41.08 feet and a J base of 11.48 feet, a mainsail luff of 35.10 feet and foot of 11.15 feet. Total sail area is 431.48 square feet, split between a 195.68-square-foot mainsail and a 235.80-square-foot jib or genoa. A symmetrical spinnaker may be equipped for downwind work. The fractional rig and modest wetted surface support a hull speed of 6.88 knots, and the spade rudder gives predictable close-quarters control under the 17-horsepower diesel fitted for docking and maneuvering.
Accommodations
Two interior layouts were offered. The two-cabin version sleeps four, with a double V-berth forward, a U-shaped and a straight settee in the main cabin, and an aft double berth to starboard. Its L-shaped galley sits port side just aft of the companionway, with a three-burner stove, ice box, and sink; the navigation station is forward of the galley on port, and the head opposite to starboard. The three-cabin version sleeps six, adding two aft double berths, with a straight galley amidships on port, nav station aft of it, and head opposite. Both layouts use the 77-gallon fresh water capacity and 17-gallon fuel tank as practical cruising volumes for their size.
The Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 33 is a pragmatic Andrieu-designed cruiser that modernized the Sun Liberty 34 platform with a reverse transom and swim steps, a fractional Bermuda rig, and a choice of two- or three-cabin interiors. It is well suited to a small family or couple who want a simple, beamy 33-footer with European production pedigree and a manageable sail plan.
Pros
- Two- or three-cabin layouts accommodate four to six without oversized dimensions
- Fractional sloop rig with symmetrical spinnaker option for light downwind sailing
- Reverse transom with steps and swimming platform aids boarding and stern access
Cons
- 17-horsepower diesel is modest for a 10,362-pound hull in strong currents or winds
- 6.46-foot draft limits shallow anchorage access compared with shoal alternatives
