Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40 DS

A deck saloon cruiser Jeanneau no longer builds, designed by Daniel Andrieu, with twin wheels and roomy layouts for couples or families planning longer passages.

If you're looking at a used Sun Odyssey 40 DS, the thing you'll notice first is the cockpit. She has twin helm stations aft, which was an original idea on a 40 footer at the time, and it gives whoever is steering a comfortable seat with a clear view either side.

Daniel Andrieu drew her around a quick hull, so she was meant to sail well as well as carry a lot of volume below. Jeanneau no longer builds her, but the deck still has a modern look in the yard's usual style.

Down below, the joinery is teak with a satin varnish, and there's a generous amount of space for the length. Three layouts were built. Couples tend to like the 2 cabin version, with the owner's cabin forward and a big U-shaped galley. The 3 cabin 1 head boat has a large forward cabin and a head with its own separate shower area, and there's a 3 cabin 2 head arrangement for those who'd rather have a second heads. Each was planned with long-range cruising in mind.

For the numbers, she's 12.2 m overall on a hull length of 11.75 m, draws 1.5 m and is rated for up to 6 people. Tankage is 236 l of fresh water and 136 l of fuel, worth bearing in mind when you plan a longer trip.