Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54 DS Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The hull is solid hand-laid fiberglass with Kevlar reinforcements, and the wooden structure is laminated, as is the lower structural decking on which the engine chassis and the keel rest, bolted on with 32 mm diameter bolts. Supporting this is a framework where the hull and keel structure are carried by fiberglass over wood floors and stringers, and individual floors, primary bulkheads, and furniture facings are laminated directly to the hull to produce a rigid structure. The cast-iron keel is externally fastened with stainless-steel keel bolts, well spaced to handle the loads on narrow-chord foils. A balanced fiberglass rudder is supported by a beefy stainless-steel stock, and a fiberglass rudder tube houses self-aligning bearings molded directly to the hull in lieu of a conventional stuffing box. The deck is balsa-cored for rigidity and sound insulation, and the hull/deck joint incorporates an inward hull flange, a small molded bulwark, and a handsome teak caprail bonded mechanically and chemically. Most heavy equipment, including the watermaker, generator, and tanks, is centered over the keel and positioned as low as possible.

Rig and Handling

The triple-spreader spar reaches 72 feet 2 inches above the design waterline, eliminating any thoughts of traversing the Intracoastal Waterway, and the standard sail area with furling mainsail and 135-percent genoa is 1,431 square feet, with an optional full-batten mainsail adding 139 square feet. The standing rigging is discontinuous wire with double backstays, and stainless-steel turnbuckle covers are standard. ProFurl roller-furling gear is standard, as is a Marechal roller-furling mast, with a nonfurling mast and quick-release inner forestay optional. The inboard shrouds allow for close sheeting angles, and the genoa leads are adjustable even under load, with Harken blocks used throughout. The twin-level cockpit features double wheels aft with Whitlock cable steering, the primary sheet winches well placed on the coamings just forward of the wheels, and foot switches between the wheels that activate the furling drum. The helm is light thanks to self-aligning rudder bearings and a 50 mm stainless-steel rudder shaft that is not likely to twist. Test sailors in Band of Boats found the boat responds instantly to the helmsman's actions and that she sails close-hauled with a swell at three-quarters ahead, never dropping below 8 knots. Cruising World noted the 54 DS can be handled by an experienced couple.

Accommodations

Jeanneau offers several different sleeping-cabin arrangements. The owner's-cabin version includes a centerline queen berth, a vanity to starboard, and a reading/dressing seat to port, while the tested layout had two aft cabins and a forward owner's cabin with a real bed on a 205 by 160 cm slatted base, dressing table, seat, storage, and shower room, plus a forepeak skipper's cabin with sink and toilet. The main saloon has full-length overhead handholds, a lounge with a bar to one side and a dining area for six with movable chairs, and tan leather upholstery. The C-shaped galley sits to port of the companionway with a Corian countertop, large 12-volt refrigeration/freezer accessible from top or front, stainless-steel microwave, and four-burner stove/oven with a crash bar. The nav station opposite has a curved seat that keeps the navigator on an even keel when heeled, a wraparound table with a laptop cutout, and a deep wet locker behind the seat. Ventilation is superb with 12 opening hatches, and grey water is centralised in a tank that automatically drains to the sea while black water is stored for two of four toilets.

Known Issues

Storage draws a caveat from Cruising World, which found that for a 54-foot boat, storage is only adequate, especially for the bulky items passagemaking requires. Cruising World also noted the stainless-steel turnbuckle covers look good but trap moisture and hinder routine observation of the rigging. When listing over at the mast foot, a crewmember has no tether point to reach the third reef, a minor but real safety gap for short-handed crews, as the Band of Boats tester observed.

Refits and Ownership

The 100-horsepower turbocharged Yanmar diesel gives a maximum range of around 500 miles under power, with engine access from behind the companionway and through removable panels in the aft cabin. A dripless stuffing box and fixed three-bladed prop are standard. The electrical system includes both 12- and 24-volt circuits and 115-volt shore power; most owners chose the 9-kilowatt Onan generator, and the 24-volt pack supplies winches, reel, electric windlass, and bow thruster. The drinking water system uses two pumps and a bladder tank, with 191 gallons of fuel in two stainless tanks and 930 litres of water in four stainless tanks, though the 45-litre water heater is modest. Teak decks are optional, as is the electric jib furling controlled by pedals at the cockpit table.

The Verdict

The Sun Odyssey 54 DS is a very accomplished boat with an unmistakable look, unfailing robustness, well thought-out luxurious fittings, and first-class handling at sea. She rewards the cruising couple who want volume and systems without surrendering sailing ability, though her near-20-tonne displacement means she takes a while to get going under sail before showing her pace.

Pros