Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 439

A previous-model Jeanneau cruiser drawn by Philippe Briand, built to sail well with a simple deck plan, offered with 2, 3 or 4 cabins for couples or bigger crews.

Jeanneau no longer builds the Sun Odyssey 439, but she's worth a look on the used market if you want a boat that was designed around sailing first. Three ideas shaped her: a fast and seaworthy hull, deck and sail plans that are simple to use, and an interior finished to a high standard.

The deck layout is where you notice it most. It was thought through to make handling easy, which helps whether you're short-handed or out with friends.

Philippe Briand drew her lines, carrying on the look that started with the Sun Odyssey 409. There's a hard chine along the hull, bevelled edges on the deck and lots of hatches and windows, so she reads as a Sun Odyssey from the pontoon.

She measures 13.34 m overall on a 12.99 m hull, with 4.24 m of beam and 2.2 m of draught. Tanks hold 200 l of fuel and 330 l of fresh water. Boats were built with 2, 3 or 4 cabins, so it's worth deciding how many berths you need before you start looking.