Design and Construction
The 49 DS was conceived as a stylish cruiser that recalls the elegance of grand seafaring yachts while benefiting from modern naval architecture. Briand's hull plan and Garroni's exterior styling were paired with an interior laid out by Jeanneau's own in-house team, a division of labor that shows in the coherent deck saloon and the purposeful belowdecks arrangement. The hull is hand-laid solid fiberglass, while the deck is balsa-cored — a construction split that keeps the topsides light without sacrificing the stiffness of a solid bottom. The deck-stepped Sparcraft mast is supported below by a polished pipe strut bolted to the hull, a direct load path that frees cabin volume but, as the same review noted, precludes mast-bend tuning through an active backstay. The split backstay that permits this layout also opens the transom, giving wide centerline gates to a swim platform.
Rig and Handling
The boat's rig reflects a shorthanded cruising brief more than a race course. An in-mast roller-furling main from Profurl pairs with a 9/10-fractional headstay and a factory sail set from Technique-Voile that includes a 135-percent genoa. The fractional headstay explains the absence of a traditional masthead overlap, and the roller-furling main, as the tester observed, does not allow for mast bend or active backstay adjustment — a trade of sail-shape nuance for simplicity. Twin helms with 35.4-inch wheels are set well outboard, and the steering positions remain comfortable at both sides across a range of heel angles. The low deckhouse profile does not block the sightlines from the cockpit, and the cockpit itself stays remarkably dry even in choppy going. Under power, a 75-horsepower Yanmar (or optional 100-horsepower unit) turns a fixed three-blade 20-by-12 prop or optional Max Prop; the test boat, fitted with the 100-horsepower turbo motor and Max Prop, made 7.5 knots into a 15-knot headwind without strain.
Accommodations
Below, the companionway lands you at a forward-facing navigation table immediately to port, its breaker panel outboard carrying labels in both French and English as a quiet reminder of the builder's homeland. The galley sits to starboard and a step down from the main cabin sole, equipped with a large gimbaled stove and oven, top- and side-opening refrigeration, a microwave, and twin sinks — described by the reviewer as more modern home kitchen than minimal cruising galley. A well-placed eight-inch Lexan barrier between the sinks and saloon guards against spills. To starboard in the saloon is a C-shaped settee with a table and two chairs; to port, a smaller settee and provision for an LCD television. The maximum stated capacity is six people, consistent with a three-cabin owner layout or charter-style arrangement.
Equipment and Ownership Notes
A 1,200-watt anchor windlass and generous chain locker permit substantial ground tackle, and a bow thruster was offered as a factory option. The test hull (number 14) carried an optional handsome teak table top in the cockpit, a small indication of how these boats left the factory with owner-directed upgrades already in place. Jeanneau indicated a plan to build 90 of the model in its introduction year, with 30 destined for the United States, a volume that placed a meaningful number in American waters early on.
The Verdict
The Sun Odyssey 49 DS is a thoughtfully resolved deck-saloon cruiser that pairs a Briand performance hull with Garroni styling and a genuinely modern interior. She trades racing flexibility for shorthanded ease, and her dry, visibility-friendly cockpit makes her a confident coastal and offshore companion.
Pros
- High-performance Briand hull with graceful Garroni lines and a solid hand-laid bottom
- Balsa-cored deck and split backstay enabling wide centerline swim-platform access
- Dry, visibility-open cockpit with twin comfortable helms and strong windward power under engine
- Modern, well-equipped galley and logical nav station with bilingual labeling
Cons
- In-mast furling main and fractional rig remove mast-bend and backstay tuning options
- Deck-stepped mast with below-deck strut limits rig adjustment versus a keel-stepped section
