Design and Construction
The hull is solid hand-laid fiberglass reinforced with a one-piece structural grid, with additional reinforcement built into the keel area and chainplate mounts reinforced hull design. Jeanneau's Prisma closed-mold resin-injection process builds the deck, and the coachroof lines flow into the cockpit and deck rather than simply perching a house atop the hull to gain headroom. The curve of the hull and the inward slope of the coachroof give the boat a sleek, pleasing look, while wide side decks make moving forward easy. The standard keel draws 6 feet 11 inches and carries 5,628 pounds of cast-iron ballast; a shoal variant draws 5 feet 2 inches with 6,131 pounds of ballast. A 54-hp Yanmar with a three-blade fixed prop drives the boat through a direct connection.
Rig and Handling
A deck-stepped Selden spar carries an expertly designed sail plan, and the rig includes a separate groove to accommodate the luff of a storm trysail separate groove for the storm trysail. With the main and 135-percent genoa totaling 872 square feet, the boat shows good light-air performance. Test sailors found the balanced hull eager to stay in the groove, and in 8 to 10 knots of wind with a light chop the helm offered just enough feel; upwind they made 6.5 knots and tacked through 100 degrees, accelerating predictably. Hull number five of the production run close-reached at an effortless 8 knots under main and full genoa in breezes to 20 knots. Twin wheels give excellent visibility over the coachroof, and the helm seats are particularly comfortable with sufficient brace points and easy reach of the primary winches and electronics.
Accommodations
The deck-saloon layout floods the saloon with natural light and fresh air through large portholes and the cat's-eye windows, producing an open, airy feel that one reviewer found impressive. The forward cabin has a smaller berth, its own head, and a well-thought-out roomy hanging locker with generous shelves; tanks are stashed under the V-berth. Amidships sit the airy saloon, nav area, and galley, where counter space and food stowage are more than adequate and the nav station leaves room for a folded paper chart and a chartplotter. The saloon settee seats six and provides two seaberths, while port and starboard settees also work as excellent sea berths. A totally inviting owner's cabin aft feels like it belongs on a center-cockpit boat, with a 77-inch-wide bed, excellent headroom over the berth, lots of lockers and drawers, and easy access to a head that can also be reached from the companionway steps. The laminated-wood floor is handsome and durable, and an abundance of handholds runs through the interior, which is both comfortable and functional.
Known Issues
The cockpit seats are deep with comfortably tall coamings, but a step cut into the seat near the companionway keeps them from being as relaxing as a straight bench step near the companionway reduces seat comfort. Engine access is a bit tight, though the companionway-ladder module pulls free at its base for excellent service access, and the starter can be reached through a watertight hatch in the central head.
Ownership and Service
A Scheiber electrical panel graphically displays voltage and fuel and water levels, and there is space in the aft locker to port for a generator. The fit and finish of the joinery is good, and the structural grid and reinforced keel and chainplate areas speak to a hull built for extended cruising. Two large cockpit-seat lockers swallow fenders and a deflated tender, underscoring the boat's storage for cruising gear.
The Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 42 DS succeeds as a deck-saloon cruiser that brings center-cockpit-grade aft accommodations into an aft-cockpit 42-footer. Its reinforced solid-fiberglass hull, injection-molded deck, and thoughtful service access make it a practical platform, while the bright saloon and roomy owner's stateroom define the experience. Light-air and moderate-wind sailing are rewarding; the only real compromises are the stepped cockpit seat and tight base engine access.
Pros
- Aft cabin with 77-inch-wide berth and center-cockpit feel in an aft-cockpit hull
- Bright, airy deck-saloon interior with large windows and abundant light
- Reinforced solid hand-laid hull with structural grid and added keel/chainplate reinforcement
- Good light-air performance and predictable tacking and acceleration
- Companionway ladder removes and head hatch opens for engine service
Cons
- Cockpit seat step by companionway reduces lounging comfort
- Base engine access is tight
