Design and Construction
Lombard gave the 39i slightly more depth in the forefoot and a harder forefoot knuckle than some rivals. In plan view, she also carries more beam at the transom—arguably more than a traditionalist might expect.
The keel is unusual, with a long root footprint, elongated fillets on its leading and trailing edges, and a leading-edge sweep of 23 degrees. Its bulb extends well beyond the keel’s trailing edge. Buyers could choose either the standard 6-foot 6-inch draft or a shoaler 4-foot 11-inch draft.
The chainplates are bolted to the hull outboard, a straightforward structural arrangement that keeps the load paths short.
Compared with the Bavaria 39, the Jeanneau is 12 inches shorter on deck and 4 inches narrower. Her length-to-beam ratio is 3.07, versus 3.01 for the Bavaria, while her displacement-to-length ratio is 166 against 187. Those figures describe a slightly lighter, less beamy boat than her German competitor. However, Cruising World found that the Jeanneau’s generous beam carried well aft produces more interior volume than expected.
Rig and Handling
The 39i has a fractional rig with swept spreaders and an inboard, aft lower shroud. The bow is prepared for a retracting bowsprit for flying an asymmetric spinnaker.
A short mainsheet traveler, about 32 inches from end to end, sits in the cockpit. Halyards, reefing lines, furling lines, and the mainsheet lead aft to winches on either side of the companionway. The primary winches sit on the coamings just forward of the twin steering positions.
Test sailors found the helm light and the boat responsive to a flick of the fingers on the wheel. That easy response makes short-handed sailing far less taxing than the specifications alone might suggest.
Cockpit, Deck, and Equipment
The cockpit forms a large triangle with plenty of room for lounging. Its centerline table seats six alfresco. Twin wheels are paired with a broad swim platform and a hot-and-cold transom shower.
A dedicated life raft locker is built into the stern skirt. The boat’s CE Category A-9/B-10/C-12 rating confirms offshore-capable certification for limited crew numbers.
Accommodations
In the two-cabin arrangement, the boat has one aft stateroom to starboard and one head with a separate shower stall. The saloon has opposing settees, with the port settee extending beneath the chart table to ease pressure on the main living area.
Cruising World described a large, airy saloon. A wraparound dinette to starboard, just forward of the L-shaped galley, seats five or six. Opposite is a settee berth beside the navigation station. The forward cabin is roomy, with a large V-berth and ample storage in hanging lockers and on shelves.
Owners could instead choose twin aft cabins. In that three-cabin layout, the head is considerably smaller and loses its separate shower. Jeanneau deliberately chose not to squeeze a second head into the hull, preserving volume elsewhere. All staterooms have fore-and-aft double berths, and a large port lazarette provides gear stowage.
The Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 39i is a Lombard-styled coastal cruiser that offers more usable volume than its length might suggest, thanks to beam carried well aft. At the same time, it retains a light, responsive helm and a clean sail-handling layout built around the twin wheels.
The choice between the comfort of the two-cabin arrangement and the flexibility of the three-cabin version is meaningful. The shoal-draft option also broadens the boat’s potential cruising grounds.
Pros
- Light, obedient helm, with controls led aft to the companionway and primary winches near the twin wheels
- Generous interior volume for a 39-footer
- Separate-shower head in the two-cabin layout
- Distinctive keel-bulb and forefoot geometry by Marc Lombard
- Dedicated life raft locker and CE Category A certification
Cons
- Three-cabin layout sacrifices head size and the separate shower
- Short mainsheet traveler may limit the range of fine mainsail trim
- Shoal 4-foot 11-inch draft trades away the standard keel’s performance
