Sun Odyssey 35

[Col-it-is]

We've just finished our first season in a new SO35, having lived aboard since mid May, pottering South Coast and extended visit to CI and N Brittany. Seem to have had quite a few problems (surprise, surprise!) and interested in any other experiences with this model. Problems include engine exhaust water venting into bilge, 2nd jubilee clip which fastens fuel pipe to engine block "falling off", bending and splitting pipe, dodgy electrics on fresh water pump. Also boat is very keen to round up in any sort of wind; told too much sail up but with gusting winds faced with option of going very slowly, if at all, between gusts or all flapping in each gust.

Any comments?

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[Salty]

Your teething problems with the SO35 don't sound too bad to be honest (or maybe I'm too accepting of shoddy workmanship...) - I've seen and heard of far worse on new boats.

Obviously your comments about the under-sail performance are more fundamental. I don't know the SO35, but from sailing similar boats you either have to reef fairly early and accept that you'll go slower in between the gusty bits, or be prepared to play the traveller and/or mainsheet fairly energetically. This can be a pain the way a lot of boats are set up from stock (especially if you're short crewed) and it may well be worth upgrading your traveller system so you can do it properly.

Assume the sails are trimmed for windy weather? Move the genoa cars back a little - this tightens the foot of the sail, opens the leech and de-powers the sail without reducing its area. The mainsail controls should be as tight as possible, to reduce twist and again de-power the sail, so lots of pressure on the halyard, cunningham, outhaul and backstay. Sorry if you already know all this.

Obviously this all involves a bit of muscle power (especially dropping the traveller in the gusts and then pulling it back in again), so if you can't be bothered and the sails are set correctly you'll just have to reduce sail and accept going a bit slower...


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[Twister_Ken]

Re: Sun Odyssey 36.2

Bareboated an SO36.2 once in Greece. Among problems in heavy winds we found the track under the boom opened up allowing the slug holding the reefing line to pop out. Also when motorsailing on stbd tack, the engine cooling inlet spent too much time out of the water and we had an overheating alarm. Just what you want when your trying to pinch up to make a narrow fairway. And it slammed into a head sea like a steamhammer.

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[penfold]

Re: Sun Odyssey 36.2

The slamming is something you have to put up with on this kind of boat; the design's ability to go to windward or motor into a head sea is reduced in return for a relatively spacious interior. Try the same bit of sailing in the likes of a Nicolson 35 or a She 36 and you will go a lot faster and be more comfortable, but there's far less room in the cabin (about 50% less in the Nic 35) The decision about whether accomodation, sailing performance, or seaworthiness is the first priority, and how the other qualities figure in a yacht purchase is entirely down to personal choice, there is no right or wrong answer; provided you acknowledge that there are no perfect yachts and that some compromise is necessary, you'll have no trouble finding your 'ideal' voile.

cheers,
david

<hr width=100% size=1>This candidate has low personal standards, and continually fails to meet them.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by penfold on 19/10/2003 20:06 (server time).</FONT></P>