In the marque’s own words, Fauroux and the Jeanneau design team carried out the Sun Odyssey philosophy of circulation, ventilation, a clean cockpit, and a stern platform in exemplary fashion.
Design and Construction
The 36.2’s hull is solid fiberglass. The first layer of chopped-strand mat is wetted with vinylester, followed by a second mat layer and three alternating layers of roving, laid up by hand in polyester resin. High-load areas around the keel and mast step are reinforced with Kevlar and two layers of mat.
Inside, two laminated plywood stringers, each about 4-1/2 inches thick, run the length of the hull. Five perpendicular frames complete a monocoque stiffening structure. The bulkheads are bonded to the hull and deck around their entire perimeter, while a removable fabric headliner provides access to deck fittings.
The hull-deck flange is bonded with Sikaflex and bolted on roughly 4-inch centers. An aluminum toerail and PVC rubrail conceal the joint. The deck is cored with end-grain balsa. Practical Sailor praised these construction choices, especially the full-perimeter bulkhead tabbing, which is rarely seen on boats with fiberglass headliners.
Rig, Deck, and Sailing Characteristics
The aluminum Z-Diffusion mast has two sets of swept spreaders, wire standing rigging, and a split-backstay bridle that leaves the swim platform clear. The upper and aft lower shrouds terminate at one chainplate, with the load carried aft to the structure by an exposed tie rod.
Halyards run inside the mast, while the reefing lines and outhaul run inside the boom. The boom also carries a soft vang. Mainsheet travel is located above the companionway. Jib sheets lead aft through Amiot cars to Harken #44 self-tailing winches, with a #40 on the coachroof. The boom is short and sits high above the cockpit.
The 36.2 is comparatively flat-bottomed and prefers to be sailed level. Test sailors found that she tacks and sails well off the breeze until the apparent wind reaches 140 degrees, after which speed drops. A displacement/length ratio of 193 and sail-area/displacement ratio near 15.9 identify her as a spacious family boat rather than an out-and-out racer.
Standard equipment includes Profurl headsail furling, with the drum mounted about 6 inches above the deck. There are three Goiot hatches, four stanchions per side with double lifelines, and a heavy stainless-steel bow roller. The pulpit carries running lights.
At the stern, the teak swim platform has a stainless-steel ladder and freshwater shower. The swim-platform ladder, however, is secured only by a piece of shock cord—a weak arrangement compared with the quality of the surrounding construction, according to Practical Sailor’s survey.
Accommodations
The saloon offers 6-foot-4 standing headroom throughout. The classic three-cabin-and-saloon layout was an uncontested success. Jeanneau later introduced a two-cabin owner’s version with two large settees facing the saloon, arranged for reading, music, or conversation. It also has an aft-cabin berth measuring four square meters and a separate shower off the head—a layout that, according to the builder, hadn’t previously existed on a boat under 42 feet.
In the American interior, the port settee converts to a full berth and the navigation station faces aft. A U-shaped settee seats six. To starboard, the L-shaped galley includes a double sink, mixer tap, Eno two-burner stove, and 30-gallon icebox.
A teak sole, 5-inch cushions, and traditional hand-finished teak woodwork give the cabin a premium feel. The aft starboard berth measures 6-foot-10 by 6-foot-4. The forward double measures 4-foot-11 by 6-foot-6 and has just over 6 feet of headroom.
Stowage and Machinery Access
The anchor locker is small and suited to a short length of chain and line. The starboard lazarette can hold dock lines and fenders. Jeanneau claims that the port lazarette can accommodate a life raft and is large enough for a six-foot adult to descend into it.
The engine compartment is double-soundproofed. Access comes through removable companionway steps and a starboard-side panel, which exposes the 27-horsepower Yanmar’s fuel filter and dipstick.
For owners inspecting the boat, the removable headliner and full-perimeter bulkhead tabbing make structural inspection straightforward, while the headliner also provides access to deck fittings.
Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 36.2 is a thoughtfully engineered Fauroux cruiser. It combines a genuinely fast hull with a refined, roomy interior and a structural approach—perimeter-tabbed bulkheads, plywood stringers, and Kevlar reinforcement in high-load areas—that ages well.
She’s less a featherweight racer than a balanced family boat. A couple of hardware details warrant an owner’s attention, but the overall design is coherent and livable for a 36-footer.
Pros
- Lively, fast hull described by the builder as far quicker than same-size rivals
- Full-perimeter bulkhead tabbing and monocoque framing provide lasting stiffness
- 6-foot-4 saloon headroom
- Owner’s version offers a separate shower in a boat under 42 feet
- Clean deck-led rig, with halyards inside the mast and reefing lines inside the boom
Cons
- Swim ladder is secured only by shock cord from the factory
- Small anchor locker limits ground-tackle stowage
- Flat-bottomed hull prefers level sailing and loses offwind speed beyond 140 degrees of apparent wind
