RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
A specialized Research & Design facility at Jeanneau houses 130 engineering specialists. This facility is unique in the boat-building sector, providing R&D resources usually available only to large aeronautical and automobile companies.
THE JOYSTICK REVOLUTION
Jeanneau is among the early pioneers of the joystick, with the deployment on powerboats of this new technology developed with engine suppliers.
For over 10 years, Jeanneau has developed hulls specifically for inboard models that are perfectly compatible with joystick control systems, which continue revolutionise cruising by greatly facilitating docking. With just the touch of a finger, the boat can be pointed in any direction (forward, aft, laterally or diagonally), and docking becomes a child’s game.
First developed for the PRESTIGE brand for Pod transmissions systems (Volvo IPS or Cummins ZEUS), this technological breakthrough was very quickly adopted by Jeanneau for its Leader and NC lines, with the development of joystick solutions for Sterndrive.
Today, Jeanneau continues to advance these technologies in order to ease handling and simplify docking. In the future, outboard Jeanneau models will also benefit from the advantages of joystick steering capabilities. This is already the case for the Cap Camarat 10.5 WA , equipped with Helmaster technology developed by our partner, Yamaha. .
SUPERIOR COMPOSITE TECHNOLOGIES
For over 30 years, Jeanneau has developed the injection moulding procedure using enclosed moulds. The first and most obvious advantage of injection moulding is a perfect finish on both sides of each piece produced, no matter its size: from the smallest cockpit locker to the construction of certain hulls and decks. This technological advantage allows us to offer a superior quality product, while also reducing overall weight and reducing by 90% the release of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), or greenhouse gasses, when compared with traditional contact or open moulding techniques. This results in more ecologically sound boat construction.
Another technology, called infusion, is also used, notably for the hulls of our larger models. This procedure consists of laying up the dry fibreglass cloth in the mould, enclosed in a vacuum by a plastic film. The resin will then seep through to impregnate the cloth. The advantage of this technology is an overall weight reduction, while the quantity of resin is optimised for greater strength and resistance of each piece produced. Once again, the release of solvents is significantly reduced for a more ecologically sound construction method.
CATIA®
Each new Jeanneau is comprehensively designed via the powerful CATIA® design software. CATIA® allows Jeanneau to design a better boat with more attention to detail in a shorter timeframe.
AST – ASSISTED SAIL TRIM
Launched in 2015, this Jeanneau innovation, co-developed in partnership with Harken, allows the sailor to trim the sails and remotely operate the winches directly from a screen at the helm station.
Designed to ensure comfortable and easy sailing, the Assisted Sail Trim system is ideal for short-handed cruising.
100% user-friendly and intuitive, it brings numerous features to cruising in the same way as the autopilot does.
This technology is available on the Sun Odyssey 519.
360° DOCKING
In partnership with the industrial group, ZF Marine, a world leader in the supply of transmissions and propulsion systems, in 2010, Jeanneau created an entirely innovative system that made docking as simple as a child’s game for skippers of large sailboats.
The engine is coupled with a pivoting sail drive capable of rotating 360°, which also controls the bowthruster while holding the rudder steady. With a simple joystick, the boat can be directed by just the touch of a finger. It can turn 360°, hence the name, “360 Docking,” and in all directions: forward, aft, lateral or diagonally, at the desired speed for a simple and pleasant docking experience.
This system is available on the following sailboat models:
Sun Odyssey 479
Sun Odyssey 519
Jeanneau 54