Design and Construction
Lombard, a French naval architect who made his name with sleek and powerful offshore raceboats, conceived the 36 I with a fractional rig, gentle sheer, and low-slung coach roof that reads as a classic example of a contemporary performance cruiser anchor. The hull itself is hand-laid fiberglass utilizing two layers of vinylester resin, to which an internal fiberglass grid—Jeanneau calls this its “3rd Generation Hull Structure”—is glued and laminated for strength and rigidity anchor. Above that, the “i” stands for injection molding, the process in which resin is injected under pressure through closed molds that the company employs for the deck and other components anchor. That method makes for lighter, stronger structures and cleaner, more environmentally friendly factories, while the unique injection-molded deck enables the builder to create very high quality work that is finely finished both inside and out anchor. At 35 feet 11 inches overall, with a 32 foot 3 inch waterline and 11 foot 9 inch beam, she carries 12,566 pounds of displacement and a standard draft of 6 feet 4 inches per the review text, with a deep draft of 6 feet 11 inches also offered anchor, figures that place her firmly in the roomy, moderate-displacement cruiser class.
Rig and Handling
The boat’s simple but powerful rig pairs with a standard sail area of 686 square feet to give a sail-area-to-displacement ratio around 20.3, enough to keep her lively across a range of conditions. Testers found that upwind she trucked along without bother, and once cracked off she really kicked up her heels anchor. The most impressive part of the trial was the bite on the rudder, a high-aspect blade unit that let the crew never come close to spinning out, which isn’t always the case when high-volume hulls are coupled with such rudders anchor. A single large destroyer wheel allows you to easily sit to windward or leeward to steer, and the cockpit provides a comfortable area for up to six adults. Jeanneau also offers the boat with a “performance” package that increases sail area and stiffness for even better sailing qualities anchor.
Accommodations
Below, the interior is finished in warm traditional teak with a teak and holly sole, while the overhead is molded white accented with varnished teak strips. The layout comes in two versions, one with two aft cabins and the other with only one; the single aft-cabin version gains a much larger head with a separate shower and a ton of storage space in the port quarter. There are two sleeping cabins, one forward and one aft, with generous double bunks, and the forward cabin has a good-sized V-berth with a hatch above for ventilation. The central saloon is a bit unusual in that the wraparound settee and table are to starboard, the single settee to port, while a U-shaped dinette will seat four comfortably. The galley to starboard is compact but has plenty of counter space, twin sinks, and a large refer box, and the nav station has been integrated into the port settee so it can double as a table for games or projects; a movable navigation table slides forward and over the settee when needed and aft when not.
Known Issues
The standard wheel drew a mixed reaction in practice. One reviewer felt the diameter of the standard wheel seemed too small, and whether steering from the windward or leeward side, grasping the helm called for a long unnatural reach that made it impossible to get locked in comfortably anchor. An optional larger wheel is available, and the advice from that same trial was to go for it. Separately, with the mainsheet led to a coach-roof winch, the helmsman alone can’t dump the main in a gust, a handling detail worth weighing for short-handed sailing.
Refits and Ownership
Owners choosing the boat can spec a traditional mainsail or an optional furling main, and the performance package remains a factory route to more stiffness and canvas. The injection-molded deck and finished interior suggest a boat that wears well cosmetically, and the two-cabin or single-aft-cabin choice lets a buyer tailor storage and head size to cruising style without altering the core hull.
The Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 36 I is a thoughtfully modern compact cruiser: Lombard’s hull and fractional rig give genuine performance, the injection-molded deck and internal grid speak to a rigid, well-finished structure, and the two interior versions make good use of the beam. The small standard wheel is the one ergonomic caveat, easily addressed with the option.
Pros
- Sleek Lombard hull with fractional rig sails well upwind and off the wind
- Injection-molded deck and “3rd Generation” grid add stiffness and finish quality
- Two interior versions tailor head size and storage to owner needs
- Roomy cockpit and smart nav-settee integration below
Cons
- Standard wheel too small for comfortable locked-in steering from either side
- Mainsheet to coach-roof winch limits solo gust response
