Design and Construction
Lombard’s hull carries a reverse sheer and a hard chine that runs well forward of the 11ft 3in maximum beam, both moves that open up interior volume and add form stability without deepening the boat. The wide hull is hand-laid fiberglass with a bonded fiberglass grid carrying rig and keel loads, while the deck is injection-molded through Jeanneau’s Prisma process and cored with end-grain balsa. A low cabintop keeps the profile sleek for a short, beamy hull, and the cockpit is protected by a high coaming that stays comfortable and secure even when the boat is heeled. At the stern, a very large manual drop-down transom with gas-shock assist — bigger than the one on the 409 — forms a walk-through bathing platform that young families appreciate.
Keel, Rudder and Handling
The standard fin keel carries an elongated bulb and lifting wings and draws 6ft 6in; a winged shoal keel at 4ft 10in reaches shallower anchorages while still giving optimal lift and reduced drag. Twin rudders keep a grip on the water at every angle of heel, and writing in Yachting Monthly, the tester found that the control they deliver makes the wind feel a couple of forces lighter than it is anchor. The boat is responsive at the helm and easy to handle, tacks without hesitation, and under the fixed three-blade prop the 21hp Yanmar drives her at 6.1 knots on flat water at 2,900 rpm. A swing keel was only rumored during the launch period, and unlike her larger sisters she does not offer the 360 Docking joystick system.
Rig and Sail Plan
The Seldén fractional rig uses double aft-swept spreaders and needs no backstay, though one can be specified; the optional square-top main adds 11 percent to the 613ft² carried by the classic main and 110 percent jib. The headsail runs on a Facnor furler, and a furling main is available. Rather than genoa tracks, the boat uses friction rings carried over from the Sun Fast series, and the "Y" bridle mainsheet also relies on friction rings so no traveler is needed, leaving the rigid vang to govern leech twist. Four Harken winches and Spinlock jammers put the lines where the crew needs them, and the open aft corners of the cockpit become a pair of seats beside the twin wheels. A bowsprit sets a furling cruising chute. In testing, she liked to sail pinned in flat, scooting at 5.3 knots in 10 knots true at 40 degrees and 6.1 knots when cracked to 60 degrees in 11 knots.
Accommodations
Buyers choose two cabins with a large head and stall shower plus extra port lazarette, or three true double cabins with a single head. The saloon shows 6ft 3in of headroom, a drop-leaf table for four, and a dedicated aft-facing nav station that uses the port settee as its seat; big hullports and double forecabin doors keep it bright. The L-shaped galley to starboard has a single sink, two-burner stove, optional microwave and Frigoboat top-load fridge, with bottle lockers in the table and galley bulkhead, though counter space is limited for serious provisioning. The forward V-berth sits over the water tank, and the modular living spaces — including a removable seat and retractable chart table — adapt as the day goes on.
Known Issues
The twin-rudder layout drew one clear caveat from Yachting Monthly: the wheels lack feel, which the reviewer called the sole drawback of that configuration anchor. The same tester observed that reefing the jib degrades its leech control anchor.
The Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 349 is a thoughtfully packaged small cruiser that punches above its length. Lombard’s chined hull and twin rudders give real composure in punchy air — Yachting Monthly drove her upwind in 30-knot gusts with both reefs in and still found her bounding — while the open, trackless deck and no-backstay cockpit make short-handed sailing genuinely simple. Inside, the modular saloon and flexible two- or three-cabin layouts cover both couple and family use, though the galley is tight and the cabins are a compromise of the generous public spaces.
Pros
- Twin rudders hold control at all heel angles and make the wind feel lighter
- Hard chine forward and reverse sheer add stability and volume without deep draft
- No-backstay rig with friction-ring sheeting simplifies the deck
- Bright, adaptable saloon with genuine 6ft 3in headroom
- Shoal keel option opens shallow cruising grounds
Cons
- Twin wheels lack tactile feel
- Jib leech control suffers when the headsail is reefed
- Galley counter space limited for extended provisioning
- No joystick docking option offered
