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Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 51

Brief details

Builder

Jeanneau

Designed by Bruce Farr, the Sun Odyssey 51 is a very capable long-distance cruiser. This example illustrated here is the 7 berth 'owners' version, with two double cabins and one twin cabin. The master suite is the very spacious forecabin. With a winged keel, the draught is kept to a moderate 6 feet. Most of these yachts, however, were built for the charter market, with a layout which provides 10 berths. Ex-charter boats will usually be much cheaper than privately owned examples.

LOA

50' 10"

Sail area

1,345 sq ft

LWL

42' 4"

Rig

sloop

Beam

16' 0"

Cabins

3

Draught

6' 0"

Berths

7 or 10 in charter version

Displacement

30,865 lbs

Engine

Perkins 80T turbodiesel

Ballast

9,920 lbs

BHP

80

Keel type

Winged fin keel with spade rudder

Built from 1989 to 1992, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 51 was a Bruce Farr design for Jeanneau, before the company's absorption by Bènèteau. The same hull, with minor alterations, was later used for the Sun Odyssey 52.2.

Most of the SO51s built were the 'charter' models, with ten berths packed in. The boat illustrated is one of the rarer 'owners' models, with a very spacious and bright saloon, plus three double cabins, each with its own WC, hot & cold pressurised shower and basin. Two of the cabins have large double berths, which can be split with leeboards, the third cabin has two large single bunks. The seventh berth is on the settee in the saloon.

In the 'owners' version the forecabin is the master cabin, with en-suite heads and a massive amount of stowage. An L-shaped galley occupies the forward part of the starboard side of the saloon, with chart table aft. Opposite this is the dining table. Two more two-berth cabins aft also each have their own heads

Right: Forward en-suite heads for master cabin

The galley is situated near midships, and with its L-shaped layout offers secure working space at sea

The port aft cabin is a double, with a twin-berth cabin opposite to starboard (photo below). Two mirror image heads compartments serve these two aft cabins

The companionway steps lift on twin gas struts to access the engine compartment

The layout plan of the 'charter' version with 10 berths