Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 36.2

An 11 m Jeanneau cruiser, no longer built, with two- or three-cabin layouts, suiting couples or families who want a quick, easy boat to live aboard.

Jeanneau stopped building the Sun Odyssey 36.2 some time ago, but she still makes a good case for herself as a cruiser you can actually live on. The hull and deck were planned with that in mind, and there's 1,90 m (6'4") of standing headroom right through the main saloon.

The layout you choose makes a real difference. Most owners went for the three-cabin version with a saloon, and it sold very well. Jeanneau later added a two-cabin owner's version, which some called the XXL. It swaps a cabin for two big seats opposite the saloon, a good place to read, listen to music or chat, and a conventional quarterberth could be fitted instead. That version also has a separate shower leading on from the heads, which at the time you'd only find on yachts over 13 meters (42 feet). The single aft cabin has a 4 square meters berth, so you can sleep across it or along it.

Jacques Fauroux drew her to be lively, and Jeanneau claimed she was the fastest boat of her size against her rivals. She keeps going in light airs and feels responsive at the helm. The wide stern takes pedestal steering and a cockpit table, the cockpit stays uncluttered, and there's a stern platform for getting on and off. Below, ventilation and moving about the boat were given proper thought.

She's 11 m overall, 10.65 m on the hull, draws 1.9 m and is rated for 6 people. Tankage is 150 l of fuel and 350 l of fresh water.

Inside, the teak joinery was made the traditional way, with solid mouldings that look good and hold up. Upholstery was thick velvet, with Alcantara offered as an option.