Purchase maybe ? Jeanneau Yachts 51 questions

[kaz]

Hi,

we are looking for something in the 46-51' range for cruising EU coastline and Med.

We currently own a Cap Camarat 8.5CC - but want to get back to sailboating. 

So first question:

Jeanneau Yacht 51 - yes/no? vs fx. Beneteau Sense 50/51? Both seem to go for the same "end user group" with slight differences. 


And 2nd set of questions related to my ownership of another Jeanneau and sailing in general: I know Jeanneau and customer service is not always "compatible" (I've been waiting 9 months for cheap plastic parts for my 8.5CC)....

1. Are the wires in the boat labeled (in both ends)  and documented (not so in 8.5CC - ONE manual issued covering roughly all available options  - no wires carry labels - it is just rats nest of cables everywhere)

2. Is the quality in Yacht better than general Jeanneau? 

3. Does someone have a full Yacht 51 manual I could "borrow"? or in PDF form?

4. Any window/deck hatch leak issues?

5. Any issues from the deck stepped mast?

6. When we go and look at them - what is most important to check? (common faults/issues?) 

7. If a Generator is installed - is it the 8kW Onan?

8. Are the stringers glassed in - or glued in like some Jeanneau boats?


I have read the threads I could find here with some of the issues with swim-platform and davits etc.  But feel free to pitch in.

Thank you for all the help so far !

[MalcolmP]

You should be able to request the owners manual by emailing Jeanneau Customer support at: [e-mail]

They normally ask for the Hull HIN number and year of build, but think if you explain why you want it they should send it anyway.

Also ask for the electrical schematics as these are in a separate pdf.

Good luck. Malcolm

[kaz]

Oct 30, 2023 16:45:01 GMT MalcolmP said:

You should be able to request the owners manual by emailing Jeanneau Customer support at: [e-mail]

They normally ask for the Hull HIN number and year of build, but think if you explain why you want it they should send it anyway.

Also ask for the electrical schematics as these are in a separate pdf.

Good luck. Malcolm

Thanks - I have asked politely

/k

[jy51]

Oct 30, 2023 15:20:21 GMT kaz said:

Hi,

we are looking for something in the 46-51' range for cruising EU coastline and Med.

We currently own a Cap Camarat 8.5CC - but want to get back to sailboating. 

So first question:

Jeanneau Yacht 51 - yes/no? vs fx. Beneteau Sense 50/51? Both seem to go for the same "end user group" with slight differences. 


And 2nd set of questions related to my ownership of another Jeanneau and sailing in general: I know Jeanneau and customer service is not always "compatible" (I've been waiting 9 months for cheap plastic parts for my 8.5CC)....

1. Are the wires in the boat labeled (in both ends)  and documented (not so in 8.5CC - ONE manual issued covering roughly all available options  - no wires carry labels - it is just rats nest of cables everywhere)

2. Is the quality in Yacht better than general Jeanneau? 

3. Does someone have a full Yacht 51 manual I could "borrow"? or in PDF form?

4. Any window/deck hatch leak issues?

5. Any issues from the deck stepped mast?

6. When we go and look at them - what is most important to check? (common faults/issues?) 

7. If a Generator is installed - is it the 8kW Onan?

8. Are the stringers glassed in - or glued in like some Jeanneau boats?


I have read the threads I could find here with some of the issues with swim-platform and davits etc.  But feel free to pitch in.

Thank you for all the help so far !

Hi Kaz,

I can only comment on my own Jeanneau yachts 51, bought from new, and my personal experience and opinion.

The Jeanneau Yachts range was always marketed as a notch higher than the Average White Boat with the intention of bridging the gap between the low volume boats like the Oyster, Hallberg Rassy and Amel brands to name just a few.

But like all high volume mass produced boats you get what you pay for!

Did they achieve their aim, considering the level of sales and the new models coming out I would have thought the answer is yes.

Yet, it is unfair to compare these boats with other larger boats build by the low volume builders, as at the time of purchase a similar Hallberg Rassey would have cost at least 3 times the price.

I must be quite unusal as I upgraded from a Hallberg Rassey 37, also purchased new, do I regret the move, defiantly not, we all know, there is no such thing as the perfect boat and that each is a compromise, even though the Hallberg was a much better built boat the design and style of the Jeanneau Yachts 51 is more suitable for my current needs, Mediterranean summer cruising.

The 51 was the smallest of the range which enabled me to enter this class of boat, unfortunately they have now stopped making the 51 and are concentrating on the larger boats in the range.

As a husband and wife crew, comprising of a single handed captain firmly under the control of a catering admiral, the 51 is easy and rewarding to sail. At anchor she is the perfect summer home.

It is too early to answer your questions on mast stepping as the range is not that old yet, however, common faults on my boat can be placed into two categories, design issues and quality control.

Design issues:
Firstly, the expanding davit problem is one of water ingress around the tubes, fixed with a small drain hole in the rear deck lockers, that allow any water to drain down to the bilge while extended.  I found copious amounts of vaseline around the bottom of the tubes solves the problem. Secondly the ceiling panels are held up in most places with velcro and eventually they start to fall down, I believe this is due to the ply boards not being sealed and the humidity start to warp them, just sufficient for the velcro to part. An easy solution is screws with plastic covers. Neither of these design issues are a deal breaker.

Quality control issues;
This is where I find most of the Yachts 51 problems, which over the last 4 years I have had to address and put right. Each boat build will have its own teething issues and it would be silly to list each one as it would only be appropriate to one boat.

But the question is knowing what I know now, would I purchase another, and the answer is yes.

p.s. My boat was fitted with an 11Kw Onan generator from new.

[kaz]

Nov 5, 2023 11:55:27 GMT jy51 said:

Hi Kaz,

I can only comment on my own Jeanneau yachts 51, bought from new, and my personal experience and opinion.

The Jeanneau Yachts range was always marketed as a notch higher than the Average White Boat with the intention of bridging the gap between the low volume boats like the Oyster, Hallberg Rassy and Amel brands to name just a few.

But like all high volume mass produced boats you get what you pay for!

Did they achieve their aim, considering the level of sales and the new models coming out I would have thought the answer is yes.

Yet, it is unfair to compare these boats with other larger boats build by the low volume builders, as at the time of purchase a similar Hallberg Rassey would have cost at least 3 times the price.

I must be quite unusal as I upgraded from a Hallberg Rassey 37, also purchased new, do I regret the move, defiantly not, we all know, there is no such thing as the perfect boat and that each is a compromise, even though the Hallberg was a much better built boat the design and style of the Jeanneau Yachts 51 is more suitable for my current needs, Mediterranean summer cruising.

The 51 was the smallest of the range which enabled me to enter this class of boat, unfortunately they have now stopped making the 51 and are concentrating on the larger boats in the range.

As a husband and wife crew, comprising of a single handed captain firmly under the control of a catering admiral, the 51 is easy and rewarding to sail. At anchor she is the perfect summer home.

It is too early to answer your questions on mast stepping as the range is not that old yet, however, common faults on my boat can be placed into two categories, design issues and quality control.

Design issues:
Firstly, the expanding davit problem is one of water ingress around the tubes, fixed with a small drain whole in the rear deck lockers, that allow any water to drain down to the bilge, while extended, I found copious amounts of vaseline around the bottom of the tubes solves the problem. Secondly the ceiling panels are held up in most places with velcro and eventually they start to fall down, I believe this is due to the ply boards not being sealed and the humidity start to warp them, just sufficient for the velcro to part. An easy solution is screws with plastic covers. Neither of these design issues are a deal breaker.

Quality control issues;
This is where I find most of the Yachts 51 problems, which over the last 4 years I have had to address and put right. Each boat build will have its own teething issues and it would be silly to list each one as it would only be appropriate to one boat.

But the question is knowing what I know now, would I purchase another, and the answer is yes.

p.s. My boat was fitted with an 11Kw Onan generator from new.

Thank you for the comprehensive reply ! 

As a Swedish Boat maker fan - I do understand. It is the equation of price vs relative enjoyment. 

Our sailing will be up/down the EU/UK coast + Med. We have a 15x5.4m berth in Spain with 15.8m LOA permission  

 More questions:
 have anyone refitted AC on a non AC boat?  Do you use the AC?
 
 what factory option to you regret not getting? 
 
 kind regards

 /k

[jy51]

Kaz,

You seem to have chosen two very different cruising regions, if I was to have stayed in Northern Europe, I would have probably not sold my Hallberg Rassy. As I have said before there is no such thing as the perfect boat.

The Jeanneau Yachts 51 is an ideal boat for the fickle winds in the Mediterranean and although she copes quite admirably in the rough stuff, she is better suited to sun, sea and sangrias at sun set. Being a belt and braces man, if I had wanted to sail the world and money was not an issue, my first choice of mono hull would have been a Garcia exploration 60.

To answer your question on AC is not that simple, it has its advantages and disadvantage, to work efficiently the space needs to be closed and frankly sitting down below with all the hatches locked can feel claustrophobic, however, having it was a good choice for the Mediterranean, at the hight of summer while in a marina it is essential. We don’t run it all the time and tend to use it to cool down the sleeping cabin for a hour or two before retiring for the night or spending evenings below decks.

I always though that AC was obsolete while at anchor as there was always sufficient breeze to keep a good airflow through the boat, I was proven wrong last year, as even at anchor, occasionally the heat was so overbearing that we ran the air-con from time to time.

Regarding the factory options I regret not getting, that’s a difficult one, as having ticked almost all the boxes, we have a water-maker, generator, reversable air conditioning, lithium batteries, upgraded leather interior, ocean navigation pack as well as the telescopic davits and electric drop down bathing platform, hydraulic passerelle, larger engine with shaft drive and extra fuel tanks and almost forgot all the matching cushions from deck lounger to cockpit and swim platform seats, along with the spray hood and bimini, yet it was my wife who unticked the washing machine, she said that in the home they are always going wrong and considering the lack of clothing we wear in the summer, a bucket along with the occasional visit to a marina laundrette with the bed lining would be sufficient.

The hydraulic passerelle which seemed a luxury at the time, (my wife came out in a cold sweet when I told her the price), turned out to be an essential for our stern too med mooring, believe me cheap home made passerelles from aluminium ladders are death traps, I having seen so many accidents, even my wife has no regrets.

My only regret is not ordering a code zero on a furler, I could have bluffed my way out of the price but now when I suggest purchasing one the wife says haven’t you spent enough already!  But I'm still working on that one.