Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 509 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Charter four-cabin configurations are the more common encounter on the used market, a reflection of how heavily Jeanneau sold this model into the charter trade — it was also marketed as the Sunsail 51. These layouts typically pair two large aft cabins with two forward cabins and two or more heads, prioritizing crew capacity over the owner's suite. The three-cabin private-owner layout, with its large forward master stateroom featuring an en suite head and separate shower, is available but less frequently seen and worth seeking out if the boat will be sailed as a family cruiser rather than a charter replacement. Five-cabin variants exist as well, though they represent a small fraction of available inventory. All layouts share the same generous saloon, the well-positioned aft galley with its "tea galley" extension, and a large chart table — the fundamental interior structure is consistent across configurations.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

A bimini, chartplotter, swim platform, and autopilot are commonly fitted across the fleet, along with furling headsails and, very frequently, an in-mast furling mainsail — the latter being a popular factory option despite ongoing debate among sailors about its effect on sail shape and drive efficiency. Electric winches are a widespread feature, easing sail handling for shorthanded crews on a boat of this scale. Teak deck overlay is often fitted, particularly on boats that came from charter service, where the aesthetic was considered a selling point to charter clients.

Air conditioning and heating appear on a large share of examples, particularly those from Mediterranean and Caribbean charter backgrounds where client comfort drove the specification. A bow thruster is often fitted, making sense given the beam and displacement of the 509 in tight marina situations. Cockpit shower, freezer, and solar panels round out the gear seen on many boats. Owner upgrades commonly include an inverter for shore-power independence, radar, a life raft installation, and hot water systems — these are worth confirming are present and in good working order rather than assumed.

What to Inspect

The solid hand-laid fiberglass hull is a construction positive, though the deck is injection-molded balsa coring, and any delamination or moisture ingress through deck fittings should be assessed carefully with a moisture meter, paying particular attention around chainplates, stanchion bases, and any areas where deck hardware has been added or repositioned. The iron ballast keel warrants close inspection for rust weeping at the keel-hull joint, a common concern on boats of this era and construction approach; have a surveyor probe that joint methodically.

The twin-helm deck layout, while elegant, means the jibsheets and mainsheet share the primary winches on each side of the cockpit — assess the clutch and winch condition carefully, as these components absorb heavy use. All lines from the mast are led to a pair of coachroof winches flanking the companionway, so inspect those winches and their clutch banks for wear.

The saildrive leg — standard fit across most of the production run — requires the same diligence any saildrive deserves: confirm the rubber bellows is current and undamaged, as a failed bellows is a flooding event. The 75hp Yanmar is a robust and well-supported engine, but service history documentation should be a non-negotiable requirement. The folding prop requires a pause when shifting from forward to reverse, so test that transition carefully during the sea trial.

On boats that carried the in-mast furling mainsail, inspect the sail itself for UV degradation and the furling mechanism for smooth, jam-free operation — the hollow leech characteristic of in-mast furling mains reduces drive efficiency and the sail is expensive to replace. If the boat spent time in charter, electrical systems, through-hulls, and all sea cocks deserve particular attention; high-cycle usage accelerates wear across the board. Confirm that any air conditioning compressors are functional and that the raw-water cooling circuits for both the A/C and the main engine are free of corrosion.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The 509 is widely available across the Mediterranean — Greece, Croatia, Italy, and Turkey are the primary hunting grounds — as well as in the Caribbean, particularly the British Virgin Islands, and across North American brokerages on both coasts. The concentration of former charter examples in Mediterranean brokerage keeps the supply reasonably healthy. Private-owner boats with documented maintenance histories turn up less frequently but are worth the patience to find.

When evaluating any Sun Odyssey 509, work through this checklist:

• Confirm charter versus private-owner history and obtain all maintenance records
• Moisture meter survey of the balsa-cored deck, with particular attention to hardware penetrations
• Keel-to-hull joint inspection for iron ballast corrosion and weeping
• Saildrive bellows condition and replacement date
• Yanmar service history: impeller, heat exchanger, zincs, injectors
• Winch, clutch, and clutch bank condition at both helm stations and coachroof
• In-mast furling mechanism and mainsail condition if fitted
• Full systems review: A/C compressors, electrical panel, through-hulls, and sea cocks
• Bow thruster operation (where fitted)
• Solar and battery bank capacity if long-range cruising is the plan