Design and Construction
The Sun Way 21 is a monohull built predominantly of polyester fiberglass, with wood trim. She has a solid fiberglass hull and a balsa-cored deck. Injected foam throughout makes the boat unsinkable, a reassuring feature in a vessel with a displacement of just 1,874 pounds in the fin-keel version.
The hull has a raked stem and a walk-through reverse transom. An internally mounted spade rudder is controlled by a tiller.
Jeanneau offered two keel configurations: a fixed fin keel or an optional stub keel with a steel centerboard and folding rudder. The fin-keel model draws 2.46 feet and carries 507 pounds of cast-iron ballast. The centerboard version displaces 1,852 pounds and carries 441 pounds of external cast-iron ballast. Its draft ranges from 2.13 feet with the board raised to 4.27 feet with the board lowered.
Rig and Handling
The sail plan is a 7/8 fractional sloop rig with a deck-stepped, pivoting mast. The rig uses aluminum spars, continuous stainless steel wire rigging, and a single set of swept spreaders.
The foretriangle measures 22.96 feet high and 7.38 feet at the base. The mainsail has a 24.93-foot luff and an 8.86-foot foot. Upwind sail area totals 248 square feet, comprising a 129-square-foot mainsail and a 118-square-foot jib. Downwind, the boat may be equipped with a symmetrical spinnaker of 269 sq ft, increasing total sail area to 398 square feet.
With a hull speed of 5.67 knots, the Sun Way 21 is quick for her size. The centerboard configuration also extends her versatility into shallow water without sacrificing windward ability when the board is lowered.
Accommodations
Below, the Sun Way 21 provides four berths: a double V-berth forward and two settees arranged around a table in the main cabin. Headroom is 58 inches—an honest figure for a 21-footer and a sign that the cabin is intended for short coastal trips rather than liveaboard use.
The wood trim used in the boat’s construction continues into the interior. At the stern, the walk-through transom makes it easier to reach the water or board from a dinghy alongside.
The Verdict
The Sun Way 21 is a thoughtfully packaged small cruiser. Her unsinkable construction and choice of two keel arrangements broaden her appeal beyond that of a simple daysailer. She’s light, straightforward, and easy to trailer, yet still provides genuine overnight accommodation and a modern fractional rig.
The trade-offs are confined headroom and the inevitable compromises of a 21-foot hull. Even so, she makes a coherent case as a first cruiser or a pocket coastal wanderer.
Pros
- Unsinkable injected-foam construction with a solid fiberglass hull
- Choice of fixed fin keel or centerboard, with a 2.13–4.27-foot draft range
- Four berths and a walk-through transom in a 21-foot boat
- Modern 7/8 fractional rig with an optional symmetrical spinnaker
Cons
- 58-inch headroom limits comfort belowdecks
- Outboard power only
- Modest 5.67-knot hull speed
