robinwr
Well-Known Member
Anyone any views or experience of living with a SO40 - three cabin version.
Jeanneau SO 40 - any opinions
- Thread starter robinwr
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Resolution
Well-Known Member
Had some in a charter fleet 5 to 10 years ago. Nice size of boat for a couple and sailed reasonably well. We had few warranty problems with the boats, (except the one that had The Owner From Hell....)
robinwr
Well-Known Member
What sort of issues - anything serious. What are the main things to watch out for.
haydude
Well-Known Member
Considered recently for purchase. Turned elsewhere.
Also, it is the kind of boat a woman does not like, hence financial perspective (re-sale value) was considered too.
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
A female pal here bought one in the BVI's a few years ago - this was an ex charter boat, 9 years old, with 5,000 hours on the tachometer and had obviously been well used, but also well maintained over the years.
We sailed the boat down to Barbados from Tortola via a pit stop in St Maarten first to go shopping for goodies first (like a tri-colour masthead light, charter boats are not allowed out at night in the BVIs) and we were very pleasantly surprised by how well she sailed, despite having a shallow (about 4' 10") bulb keel instead of the standard deep (about 6') keel.
We had no autopilot, but found that when we were sailing to windward (and this was most of the time - Aeolus and Sod were ganging up on us....) she would steer herself beautifully for literally hours on end with the helm lashed, even in biggish seas.
My pal and her partner have been living on board here ever since, and are very happy with the boat.
There is a comprehensive catalogue and specifications re the SO 40 on the Jeanneau website, I think in the 'ancien' models section.
Oh, and I know two female owners who have recently bought Sunfast 37s (rather like a smaller, racier version of the SO 40) and are very happy with them.
We sailed the boat down to Barbados from Tortola via a pit stop in St Maarten first to go shopping for goodies first (like a tri-colour masthead light, charter boats are not allowed out at night in the BVIs) and we were very pleasantly surprised by how well she sailed, despite having a shallow (about 4' 10") bulb keel instead of the standard deep (about 6') keel.
We had no autopilot, but found that when we were sailing to windward (and this was most of the time - Aeolus and Sod were ganging up on us....) she would steer herself beautifully for literally hours on end with the helm lashed, even in biggish seas.
My pal and her partner have been living on board here ever since, and are very happy with the boat.
There is a comprehensive catalogue and specifications re the SO 40 on the Jeanneau website, I think in the 'ancien' models section.
Oh, and I know two female owners who have recently bought Sunfast 37s (rather like a smaller, racier version of the SO 40) and are very happy with them.
truscott
Well-Known Member
I have one, and am very happy with the way she handles, both under sail and power. She spins on a dime and backs down beautifully, so med mooring and stern too in a marina are a breeze. She doesn't have a huge arse on her like a lot of more modern boats, but definitely has a bigger bum than a lot of older boats. Under sail she doesn't spin out as she heals, unlike a Bav 38 we were sailing with. Tracks along straight and true with hardly any pressure on the wheel (you can put the wheel brake on and go look at dolphins off the bow and come back and she's still on the same course). We've certainly managed to get close to her polars on a broad reach. Saw boat speeds of 9.5knots in 20to25knots (with the occasional gust topping 30) in flattish water. That was with a single reef in and a few rolls on the foresail. Upwind she's no slouch either.
In terms of comfort below, the aft cabins are actually quite small in comparison to many newer boats, but are positively palatial in comparison to our small Limbo 6.6. We always bags the forward cabin though, and being vertically challenged, headroom throughout is not an issue. We certainly don't find her hard to move around on when at sea, and there is always something to brace yourself against, or hold on to both below and topside.
Rigwise, she will happily move along with a smaller Genoa than many of the charter boats have. Our new one is 130%. I'm even considering a blade jib, but the tracks are not ideal, so we may be looking at fitting a self tacker (yes, we prefer to sail rather than stick the engine on). Speaking of which, she is quite efficient under power sucking about 2Ltrs per hour at about 2000RPM and jogging along at 6knots. The engine is relatively quiet at this speed too, but that could be due to the soundproofing in the engine bay.
Ditch the single line reefing though. It's just a major PITA. At the age most of them are now, you're probably looking at replacing the teak trim on the cockpit seats, and sugarscoop. Ouch! Also, tankage whilst huge in comparison to many of the boats we've had and sailed on, is not that vast for going far. 145 Ltr's for the diesel tank. Water is ok, but the original forward tanks bulge when filled, allowing the inspection port to leak. Was quite a shock to find that in the bilge! The anchor well drain can also end up draining into the bilge too if the seal between the liner and hull doesn't remain water tight. Bit of epoxy here is a good idea anyway. The anchor well drain is also to high, so you'll always have a bit of water in the bottom of it.
Other than that, most of the other stuff is cosmetic, which is fine if you're not planning on putting her into charter. We have put ours into charter again, and have helped turn Turkey into economic powerhouse it is slowly becoming. Ouch Again!
More info over at http://www.jeanneau-owners2.com/
To my eye, she's just about right for what we wanted. IE. A boat that sails well, comfortable to live on, and capable of getting us through the med and up to the Baltic. Will I be taking her back across the Atlantic? Hmmm......the Jury is still out on that one for the time being.
Hope this helps.
Cheers, PT.
In terms of comfort below, the aft cabins are actually quite small in comparison to many newer boats, but are positively palatial in comparison to our small Limbo 6.6. We always bags the forward cabin though, and being vertically challenged, headroom throughout is not an issue. We certainly don't find her hard to move around on when at sea, and there is always something to brace yourself against, or hold on to both below and topside.
Rigwise, she will happily move along with a smaller Genoa than many of the charter boats have. Our new one is 130%. I'm even considering a blade jib, but the tracks are not ideal, so we may be looking at fitting a self tacker (yes, we prefer to sail rather than stick the engine on). Speaking of which, she is quite efficient under power sucking about 2Ltrs per hour at about 2000RPM and jogging along at 6knots. The engine is relatively quiet at this speed too, but that could be due to the soundproofing in the engine bay.
Ditch the single line reefing though. It's just a major PITA. At the age most of them are now, you're probably looking at replacing the teak trim on the cockpit seats, and sugarscoop. Ouch! Also, tankage whilst huge in comparison to many of the boats we've had and sailed on, is not that vast for going far. 145 Ltr's for the diesel tank. Water is ok, but the original forward tanks bulge when filled, allowing the inspection port to leak. Was quite a shock to find that in the bilge! The anchor well drain can also end up draining into the bilge too if the seal between the liner and hull doesn't remain water tight. Bit of epoxy here is a good idea anyway. The anchor well drain is also to high, so you'll always have a bit of water in the bottom of it.
Other than that, most of the other stuff is cosmetic, which is fine if you're not planning on putting her into charter. We have put ours into charter again, and have helped turn Turkey into economic powerhouse it is slowly becoming. Ouch Again!
More info over at http://www.jeanneau-owners2.com/
To my eye, she's just about right for what we wanted. IE. A boat that sails well, comfortable to live on, and capable of getting us through the med and up to the Baltic. Will I be taking her back across the Atlantic? Hmmm......the Jury is still out on that one for the time being.
Hope this helps.
Cheers, PT.
robinwr
Well-Known Member
Cheers guys - got the chance to use one on occasion over the last year or so with a week in on the west of Scotland - weather didn't allow for a good sail so wondered how it performed in a blow. Good spacious boat but the open cockpit and twin helm seemed a bit exposed. Thanks for the feedback - probably a great boat in the Med but not convinced about its ability in UK climes?? Did read a good article about a SA chap bringing one from La Rochelle home to SA - 8000nm - he rated it quite well.
Like you say PT jury's out.......
Like you say PT jury's out.......
Sailfree
Well-Known Member
If you are looking at a SO 40 also look at the DS version. In comparison tests published in YM on both the SO40 & SO 43 range the Sunfast with taller rig and deeper keel sailed best (no surprise there) but the DS, even with in mast reefing (no battens!) and slightly smaller sail area, always out performed the SO. IMHO it the raised floor of the DS that enables some 700Kg of water and diesel to be right over the keel bolts that is a deciding factor.
For this reason we bought the DS but with fully battened main and stack pack so we have the best of both boats.
With secondhand boats though I would consider condition to have the overiding priority.
For this reason we bought the DS but with fully battened main and stack pack so we have the best of both boats.
With secondhand boats though I would consider condition to have the overiding priority.
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