At roughly 38 feet on deck, the 39 DS is probably near the minimum length at which a raised-saloon layout works well. Even so, it was designed to offer the features of its larger sisterships in a smaller package. Its curving deck-saloon profile is attractive, and the styling disguises rather than fights the high freeboard required by the configuration.
Design and Construction
The hull isn't a shortened version of the earlier 40 DS. It comes from a completely new mold shared with the aft-cockpit 39i and is built from solid, hand-laid fiberglass with ISO gelcoat and a protective barrier coat to resist osmosis. A fiberglass grid, reinforced in high-load areas, strengthens the bottom. The hull is sturdy enough for offshore-minded cruising.
Jeanneau built the deck using its resin-injection “Prisma process,” with an end-grain balsa core and ISO gelcoat. The deck is cambered so that water getting beneath the dodger runs off to the sides rather than pooling. Limber holes direct all bilge water to the sump, while the electrical and plumbing lines are neatly bundled and secured. Like all Jeanneau boats of the era, the 39 DS was built at the factory in Les Herbiers, France.
Rig, Sailing, and Handling
The test boat carried an in-mast furling mainsail, which eased sailhandling. Its fractional sloop rig places the lower shrouds inboard and leads the upper shrouds outside the rail, making it easier to move along the wide side decks.
The cabintop mainsheet is several steps forward of the twin wheels and jibsheet winches. The primary winches sit immediately ahead of the wheels, allowing the driver to trim the jib from the helm. Sight lines are excellent, and the twin wheels let the helmsman sit well outboard with a good view of the sails.
Writing in Cruising World, one reviewer called the boat a pleasure to steer, with a nice, tight helm feel. Even with in-mast furling, the 39 DS performed well in a light-air test sail. In 15 knots of breeze, the boat produced plenty of heel to windward, showed noticeable weather helm in puffs, and tacked through 90 degrees. At about 8 knots, she delivered a lively, fast ride.
Under power, 2,500 rpm produced 7.4 knots, with moderate noise in the saloon. At full throttle, the boat reached a theoretical displacement hull speed near 8 knots. Her turning circle was just over one boatlength, and close-quarters handling was excellent.
Accommodations
The raised coachroof gives the interior a spacious feel, while large ports bring plenty of light into the airy accommodations. The saloon offers fine visibility, a large dinette, and wraparound seating for six to starboard. Opposite is a straight settee well suited to lounging, with warm teak woodwork throughout.
Rather than squeeze in a second head, Jeanneau fitted one head amidships and used the saved space to enlarge the forward and aft cabins. The forward cabin has a comfortable berth. Aft, there’s a large athwartships double berth, made roomier by a cockpit sole 2 inches higher than the one on the 39i.
Tankage is carried low beneath the cabin sole to aid stability. The interior combines satin-varnished teak, off-white fiberglass, and leatherlike upholstery, with plentiful ports and hatches. Headroom is 6 feet 5 inches in the saloon and aft cabin and 6 feet 1 inch forward.
Known Issues
Two quirks in the interior geometry can catch people out. The forward bulkhead cutout leaves a small threshold in the passage to the forward cabin, while a small step leads down to the aft cabin. Both can trip the unwary when moving around at night.
Period assessments also identified sound levels below under power as a drawback, consistent with the moderate saloon noise recorded at 2,500 rpm.
The Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 39 DS Perf. is a well-made midsize cruiser that complements Jeanneau’s deck-saloon range. It offers the volume and light of a raised saloon at a length where the layout still feels intentional rather than compromised. A couple should find her convenient to manage, and the helm is a genuine pleasure.
Pros
- Deck-saloon volume and light in a 38-foot hull
- New hull mold shared with the 39i
- Sturdy, solid-fiberglass construction with an osmosis barrier
- Excellent close-quarters handling and a tight, pleasing helm
- Good engine access from all directions
Cons
- Forward bulkhead threshold and aft-cabin step present trip hazards
- Notable saloon sound levels under power
- Noticeable weather helm in puffs when sailed hard
