Jeanneau 34.2

[mcanderson]

Any owners of a Jeanneau 34.2 who would like to make comment on the practicality/userability of the rig? Of interest is only having two winches on the coach roof. How easy is tuning etc?

Interested as we have one short listed as a strong potential for our first yacht.

Many thanks,

 

[shaunksb]

Rig is fine for masthead and well supported with twin backstays and front lowers. Make sure shrouds are tensioned properly. Plenty of sail for size of boat (55m/4650kg) so reef early to keep her on here feet in a blow. Deeper fin and bulb keel and battened main (not in-mast) best for performance.

We find twin winches work very well in practice as you are secure and sheltered in centre of boat. One person can then handle all the sheets and control lines comfortably. Don't forget everyone usually does one job at a time. When have you ever been on a cruiser with three or more winches operating at once?

 

[dombuckley]

On more general matters, I've surveyed three 34.2s in the last year or so. Look under the sole board aft of the saloon table: if she's been run aground hard, you'll often see a crack in the stringer under the forward inboard corner of the chart table. Also, look out for corrosion on the port rigging tie-rod attachment, which is under the galley sink. All those I saw had been fitted with hot air heating, but the duct ran under the head sink, where it interfered with the sink drain valve, preventing it from shutting. Aside from that, a nice design and well constructed.

 

[mcanderson]

Sean, you sound like you obviously own a Jeanneau. Can you give me any hints or tips as to what I should look out for.

So far have my eye on a 2 cabin with slab reefing not too far away, but waiting to finish a course to bring the dreaded insurance costs down.

We are looking at sailing with just myself and my wife and feel these should be about the right size, based on previous charters.

How easy is the 34.2 to live with? Any vices worth thinking of?

McA

 

[30boat]

A friend of mine owns one.He says they don't sail all that well but are generally well put together and very roomy.

 

[cmedsailor]

http://jeanneau.tripod.com/

Check that link. Lots of information.
Regarding the two winches, it was the main reason I didn't buy this boat last year. But I cannot comment how easy in practise is to use only two of them (however I can say it is very useful when having four - two for the genoa and two for everything else).

 

[shaunksb]

This boat is very easy to live with especially for a couple. Lots of reasons but with 2 cabins there is excellent stowage all round. Aft cabin huge but forepeak cosy (ideal for teenagers or those who have just found love - not so good for a pair of 6 footers) It has an really good chart table and large heads for this size of boat.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the way she sails. We were a bit ham fisted with her when we first had her and it is easy to overpower the main which will result in excessive healing and lots of luffing up. You need to trim the genoa first for drive then trim the main to balance the boat. She will then go like a train. I race dinghys (laser stratos) every week and when I go sailing with my racing partner she doesn't dissapoint (the boat that is!). A final point about this two winch issue everyone seems to mention. If you are sailing two up I honestly think this setup works best - one on the helm and one on the sheets. you decide who does what - we take it in turns. My only concession was to have a rigid seldon rod kicker fitted so we don't have to mess about with a topping lift then reefing is a cinch.