379 Lift keel performance

[Carbon]

Hi All.

I am relatively new here and very limited with sailing knowledge, coming over from many years on the dark side. So please forgive such a basic question.

I recently visited the London show to view the 349 and Legend 33 .  we spent the whole day on both boats, eventually got off the 349 at 6.15, as the show was closed !. Sorry Malcolm if you read this , didn't get the time to pop over and say high.

The upshot was that we didn't feel either boat was quite right for us, so have turned our attention to the 379.

My question is, will there be much sailing performance difference between the 3 keel versions, will I even notice, as a sailing novice. I do want to ideally be able to dry out.

We want a Yacht that will look after us as novices but will grow with us as we gain experience to go a little further offshore.

I have been following the other thread on options, and so far the factory option list has a lot of ticks on it

One final question, how do you find the ongoing build quality in use after a few years with the Jeanneau brand.

[Deleted]

Hello Carbon and welcome to the Group.

Evenstar (379 lift keel) was commissioned in March 2014.
We are very happy with the build, equipment and the ergonomics generally.

RE sailing performance - I don't have experience with the fixed keel versions, but most 379 l/k owners will tell you that the performance / handling is excellent. She's no racing yacht, but is certainly fast & well balanced; no noticeable leeway - in fact I rarely feel the need to drop the blade.

On the wind in a blow, she will heel to about 25deg (on her chine) and just sit there tracking hands off with no rounding up; the twin wheels make for rather 'heavy' steering (compared to the light touch we had on the SO36i; but you get a 'big boat' feel that your crew will appreciate.

RE your last question - after three years sailing a SO36i, we had no hesitation in staying with Jeanneau.
IMHO they are good honest boats.

Our lift keel was a great asset last year on a cruise through the Dutch Waterways and the Frisian Islands.
Go for it!

[Carbon]

Thank you for the feedback Gerry, much appreciated.

We are not looking for very fast yacht to race around the cans, more good sea keeping for the Irish sea and west coast of Scotland. Interesting that the 379 sails well with the Keel in the up position.

All the best

Steve

[jdl01]

hello carbon,
Build quality on jeanneau sailboats has diminished since 2008 and today's 'nine' series is passable but not great in terms of equipment choices and finishing.
The notable difference in shoal vs. deep keel performance will appear going upwind, where the latter will outpoint the shoal draft version. There will also be less heal going to weather with a deep keel [5%]. We sail out of deep water harbours, so draft is not an issue - I don't know about your case.
The boat does respond fairly well to sail tweaking so it will feel rewarding over time to play with the adjustments available in search of more speed.

[JEF]

Hello Carbon

We have a 2012 SO379 Shoal 1.5m Draft with twin rudders , 2 cabin version cruising the UK eastern coastal areas, to date we have been very happy with the build quality and general layout both above and below deck, no major problems to date worth reporting.

The performance has surpassed our sailing expectations as a reasonably fast cruising boat (Ref our past threads on 379 performance) one of the most pleasing aspects being its tracking ability of the twin rudder system with the help of the latest hard chine hull design. Therefore confirm in Shoal draft spec with standard sails she is a very good performer IMO only slightly less than the deep draft single rudder version  ( Mag reported -3% ) and moreover she feels very safe. 

We have been caught driving upwind in F7+ wind over tide situation and at no time did it frighten the crew or the skipper in fact we did learn a lot that day about the yachts ability to get us home safe & smiling , the shoal draft wing keel seemed to also act as damper in the rough sea state as well as giving some lift. 

If I now had to spec a new SO379 again I would still have the Shoal draft version I would also have the factory fitted Bow Thruster .. as with twin rudders and saildrive it can be rather a hand full in tight marina situations.

We love this yacht and more than happy that we stuck with the Jeanneau brand no regrets about the latest 9 series design, since we purchased this SO379 yacht mid 2012 our marina alone has seen 3 other 379s purchased up to end of 2014 season I am sure all the owners will say the same this yacht is a all round winner look up all the independent reports for confirmation.

Good luck ... please let us know what you decide.

[Carbon]

Thank you for the feedback guys.

Jim. Bow thruster is on my option list, after being used to two engines....I think I will need it in confined spaces

[bigred]

Jan 25, 2015 19:38:02 GMT jdl01 said:

hello carbon,
Build quality on jeanneau sailboats has diminished since 2008 and today's 'nine' series is passable but not great in terms of equipment choices and finishing.
The notable difference in shoal vs. deep keel performance will appear going upwind, where the latter will outpoint the shoal draft version. There will also be less heal going to weather with a deep keel [5%]. We sail out of deep water harbours, so draft is not an issue - I don't know about your case.
The boat does respond fairly well to sail tweaking so it will feel rewarding over time to play with the adjustments available in search of more speed.

Very interesting the considerations you all outline. My father is looking at the 379 as a short/single handed boat, and originally was getting the lifting keel, but the reality for cruising in NZ is it isn't necessary and in fact after many evenings scouring charts and cruising guides he's going to go deep. 

I'm getting a 439 in deep, crazy we're both getting boats at the same time (I doubt we'll get a discount... maybe a cap) and I've gone deep too.

I want to ask why you feel the build quality is diminished, I have spent many hours sailing various production cruisers and thought they were all much of a muchness, and that Jeanneau's price reflected its build quality and that they sailed better than Bene and Bavaria, and were much more a sailors boat... rather than a sailors caravan. 

Do you not think the build quality reflects the Jeanneau's place in the market?

[Carbon]

Feb 22, 2015 10:52:53 GMT bigred said:

Jan 25, 2015 19:38:02 GMT jdl01 said:

hello carbon,
Build quality on jeanneau sailboats has diminished since 2008 and today's 'nine' series is passable but not great in terms of equipment choices and finishing.
The notable difference in shoal vs. deep keel performance will appear going upwind, where the latter will outpoint the shoal draft version. There will also be less heal going to weather with a deep keel [5%]. We sail out of deep water harbours, so draft is not an issue - I don't know about your case.
The boat does respond fairly well to sail tweaking so it will feel rewarding over time to play with the adjustments available in search of more speed.

Very interesting the considerations you all outline. My father is looking at the 379 as a short/single handed boat, and originally was getting the lifting keel, but the reality for cruising in NZ is it isn't necessary and in fact after many evenings scouring charts and cruising guides he's going to go deep. 

I'm getting a 439 in deep, crazy we're both getting boats at the same time (I doubt we'll get a discount... maybe a cap) and I've gone deep too.

I want to ask why you feel the build quality is diminished, I have spent many hours sailing various production cruisers and thought they were all much of a muchness, and that Jeanneau's price reflected its build quality and that they sailed better than Bene and Bavaria, and were much more a sailors boat... rather than a sailors caravan. 

Do you not think the build quality reflects the Jeanneau's place in the market?

Hi bigred.

I viewed my first 379 yesterday, and I have to say that the build quality seemed better that the 349 at the LBS. A typical example was the fit and finish on the salon table and the mechanism for holding the leaves up. I don't think they are ever going to be the quality of some of the more exotic manufactures, but they are not that price either, for me they just seem good honest yachts that give good value for money.

Going deep is not an option for us as we want to be able to dry out.

Good luck with the 439 purchase.

[jdl01]

hello Carbon,
I have a friend and marina neighbour with a 2008 jeanneau 39i. The differences in deck gear quality is very evident. The jib fairleads, sheet traveler, block model and size, windlass, vang, pushpit, and rope clutches are all less robust on the 379.
I have had quality control issues with the deck and related parts - two significant voids, popped gelcoat bubbles,
and all hatches and covers being a different shade of white than the deck.
The original rudder was delaminated.
The teak inlay on the transom gate is lifting and I have seen the same on a sistership.
The fit and finish on the galley sinks and fridge lid have had to be reworked.
There is the well known issue with the poor quality of the seacocks which jeanneau has washed its hands of.
The boat is a good design - Lombard's firm has done a fine job and I enjoy her cockpit ergonomics and performance.
However, the accountants seem to be in control, and the cheesy cost cutting measures, while not individually large,in aggregate shows a product that is not respecting its lineage.