Little sister to the Sun Odyssey 509, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 469 is a solid performer that is both attractive and comfortable at a very competitive price.
As another Philippe Briand design, the Sun Odyssey 469 is a “big” boat for its size, with a wealth of interior volume and deck space enclosed within its 14ft 9in beam. The hull is all fiberglass, hand-laid in a two-part mold, and the injection-molded deck is attached with a combination of adhesives, bolts and screws on an inward-turning flange. The “Prisma Process” Jeanneau uses to create its molded decks allows the com- pany to carefully regulate the amount of resin in the mix in the interest of minimizing weight. It also creates a finished surface on the deckhead that doesn’t have to be hidden from view.
The keel is an iron fin with a bulb, the double- spreader mast is aluminum, and there is a glassed-in structural grid inside the hull to absorb the loads generated when the boat is under sail. Overall, the build quality and trim is attractive and well executed. Jeanneau continues to up its game with every passing year!
On deck just a smart practical layout that works well, looks good, and serves as further testament to the fact that Jeanneau knows how boats are used out on the water.
The boat has wide unobstructed sidedecks, which run well aft outboard of the cockpit coaming, making it easy to scurry toward the stern cleat in tricky docking situations. Beefy toerails provide extra security, and no gymnastics are needed to get around the in- board shroud bases when making your way forward. Twin helm stations provide comfortable seating well outboard for playing the shifts to windward, and there are well-placed foot cleats for use sitting inboard or steering downwind.
While the cockpit is not as massive, the benches are plenty big enough to accom- modate a crowd, and the sturdy centerline table provides a good place to brace your feet. There’s also a wealth of space aboard the Sun Odyssey’s 469 drop-down swim platform, which is huge. The 469 is a good- looking boat, with its nearly plumb bow, aggressively sculpted cabintrunk, cleverly integrated hull windows, composite helms and hard chine aft.
The look is fresh and modern, and the saloon cabins are flooded with light, thanks to the large saloon ports, multiple overhead hatches and the previously mentioned hull windows. There are nice touches, including track lighting along the cabin sole and a nav table that slides down to create an uninterrupted settee and sea berth along the starboard side of the saloon. The Sun Odyssey is available in a variety of layouts to accommodate any sailor ’s wish list.
There are not a lot of things to complain about under sail. Upwind the Sun Odyssey
469 powers into the swells on a close reach as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The boat easily tacks through the chop, and maintains a light, sensitive helm sailing at a 40-degree apparent wind angle. Downwind the boat is equally easy to handle. Overall motion is easy and comfortable.
Under power the nice big rudder and the boat’s 54hp Yanmar saildrive also make the Sun Odyssey 469 easy to maneuver under power. Motoring in the 7 to 9 knot range at 2,000 to 2,500 rpm’s is a reasonable expectation depending on the winds and currents of the day. Jeanneau’s 360 docking system is an option, but hardly a necessity aboard the Sun Odyssey 469.
Whether you are entertaining at the dock or racing in next year ’s Harvest Moon Regatta the Sun Odyssey 469 is a racer cruiser which won’t disappoint. Plenty of room and style for those with refined tastes and a powerful, fast sailboat which holds its line in any weather and eagerly powers its way to the finish line to capture the cup.
For more information on the Sun Odyssey 469, please contact Texas Coast Yachts in Clear Lake Shores by phone at 281-957-9046, via email at sales@texascoastyachts.com or visit their website Texas Coast Yachts
* Reference source : Sail Magazine article by Adam Cort (Posted: Sep 20, 2013) and Jeanneau America
