Design and Construction
The 41 DS carries a high beam-to-length ratio, with a beam of 13 feet 1 inch on a 40-foot-5-inch hull, and the deck is marked by a gray stripe above the coachroof windows that reads a bit like an eyebrow features the idiosyncratic gray stripe. Large windows and a slightly elevated saloon fill the interior with light, though she is not a true deck saloon: seated in the saloon you cannot see out, which separates her conceptually from the pure deck-saloon breed. The folding transom is secure at sea yet opens to a large bathing platform at anchor, albeit a small one even with the fold-out ladder. Below, curved handholds forward of the wheel and a moulded cockpit table with grabrails on top give real security in a seaway, and the helm positions are contained by the wheel forward, coamings outboard, and the pushpit seating rail aft.
Rig and Handling
The boat offers a choice of headsails — a self-tacking jib or a 108-percent genoa — and test sailors found her very easy to sail short-handed or even singlehanded. Everything needed is immediately to hand at the twin wheels: mainsheet, jibsheet, backstay, instruments, plotter, and engine controls. The feel at the wheel was not sensational, but testers attributed that to the hydraulic autopilot ram, a useful cruising addition. Performance was respectable above a beam reach; below that angle, a Code Zero or cruising chute would help maintain passage speeds without starting the engine. The builder’s own description promises responsive sailing alongside relaxation, and the 25.89 ballast-displacement ratio with 5,005 pounds of iron ballast in a 19,335-pound hull gives her a sure footing.
Accommodations
This is a two-cabin, two-head layout sleeping four in comfort, with a huge owner’s cabin aft featuring a private head and shower plus plenty of stowage, and a comfortable VIP guest cabin forward with its own head compartment spacious owner’s cabin aft. The saloon is big and bathed in light from the huge coachroof windows, and the galley carries plenty of stowage. The manufacturer positions the boat as delivering the luxury of a 45-foot sailboat, and the elevated saloon, generous cockpit space, and two en suite cabins with very decent stowage make a convincing case for couples or two couples cruising without charter-style compromise.
The Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 41 DS is a thoughtfully executed deck-saloon-ish cruiser that trades true saloon sightlines for a lighter, more open interior and a proven hull. She is easy to handle, well appointed for four, and built on a successful platform — a sensible used-market target for couples who want volume without a crew.
Pros
- Sun Odyssey 409 hull with responsive sailing character
- Huge aft owner’s cabin and forward VIP cabin, both en suite
- Easy short-handed handling with all controls at the wheels
- Folding transom and light-filled elevated saloon
Cons
- Not a true deck saloon — no outward view from seated saloon
- Small bathing platform even with ladder deployed
- Wheel feel dulled by hydraulic autopilot ram per testers
