Design and Construction
The 34.2's proportions tell the story: a length-to-beam ratio of 3.05 and a displacement-to-length ratio of 178 place her firmly in the modern beamy-cruiser camp, with a weight of 4,650 kg and a standard keel draught of 1.7 m. Jeanneau presented the hull as both fast and well-equipped, crediting the sleek and balanced hull section and the strong comfortable deck for that character. The broad beam aft is not cosmetic — it lets the boat offer, in the builder's words, three genuine cabins within a hull of this size, a claim the company made as a first for the class. The French design lineage shows in how the volume is distributed: maximum beam carried aft rather than amidships, producing a hull that trades some traditional entry finesse for liveaboard space.
Rig and Handling
Above the deck, the rig is a masthead sloop with swept spreaders and forward lowers, a configuration that supports a manageable sail plan with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.02. Practical deck geometry was clearly a priority. The narrow side decks are kept clear by mounting the genoa track on the edge of the cabintrunk, so crew movement forward is not obstructed by sheet tracks. The backstay is split so it will not interfere with access to the swim step, a small but telling detail for a family boat meant to be swum and boarded from astern. A recessed anchor well in the foredeck continues the theme of flush, uncluttered surfaces.
Accommodations
Two interiors were offered, and both exploit the widened stern. One layout uses the beam aft for two double quarter berths; the other substitutes one huge double quarter berth for a larger head compartment. In the two-cabin version, the washroom is spacious with separate shower and toilet, and numerous storage compartments are scattered through the boat. The main cabin shows an elliptical dinette to starboard and a galley to port, with a small centerline seat at the dinette. Below, the interior is all teak veneer and solid teak trim finished with a glowing satin varnish, and the joinerwork details are genuinely beautiful — the builder's note about teak woodwork highlighting an exceptionally beautiful salon is borne out by the review's description of the craftsmanship. The galley itself is practical and includes a large-capacity icebox. A generous cockpit is laid out to organize sail handling around a protected companionway, linking the working deck to the living space without exposing the helm to weather.
The Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 34.2 is a focused family cruiser that uses an aggressively widened stern to deliver accommodation volume — including a genuine three-cabin option — that was unusual in a 34-foot hull when she appeared. The deck is laid out with clear side decks and a split backstay that respect the swim step, and the interior finish is a step above the merely functional. She is light on her lines for a cruiser of this displacement and carries a moderate sail plan suited to short-handed family sailing rather than all-out pace.
Pros
- First in class to offer three genuine cabins at this length
- Broad beam aft yields two double quarter berths or one huge berth plus larger head
- Teak veneer and solid trim with satin varnish; beautiful joinerwork
- Genoa tracks on cabintrunk keep narrow side decks clear
- Split backstay preserves swim-step access
Cons
- Two-cabin version sacrifices a quarter berth for head size
- Narrow side decks may feel tight compared with fuller bow sections
