Jan 11, 2018

Gracious living with strong performance

By John Armstrong and Andy Adams

Jeanneau’s newest NC model is the NC 33, and it’s an exciting and innovative inboard cruiser ideally suited to young families or couples.

Nick Harvey, President of Jeanneau America wanted to emphasize that their new NC 33 features a hull design by Michael Peters. Peters’ hand has been on many of the company’s recent designs and strong performance and excellent sea-keeping are to be expected.

At an overall length of 34.5” and equipped with twin engines, the NC 33 has been designed to fit in between Jeanneau’s NC 9(30’11” with a single engine) and the NC 11 at 36’6” and with twin engines. So they now offer basically a 30, 33 and 36 to suit the needs and aspirations for many buyers. For simplicity in North American marketing, they are now naming the boat in feet hence, the NC 33 is 33 feet long.

Understandably, buyers today are looking for maximum accommodation at whatever price point they're comfortable with, and the designers at Jeanneau in concert with Garoni, have certainly maximized the living areas aboard the NC 33.

Like some of their other recent designs, the thinking begins right out at the swim platform. This is very much a part of the living space and a clever sliding aft bench seat can increase the cockpit area by a foot or more, by sliding it outwards towards the swim platform. You can still use the swim platform, but if you're actually going swimming, slide the bench seat back in and maximize the area of the swim platform.

In addition to sliding forwards and aft, the very clever cockpit seat is L-shaped for more versatile accommodations. In preparation to reposition the seat, two small cushions come out allowing it to slide. You can use the L-shaped side as a sun lounge but better yet, fold the aft seat back down flat and you have a large sun bed. As Nick Harvey jokes, this yacht is “transformable”.There is also lots of storage underneath the bench seat for lines and fenders and so on.

That's important and useful when you're coming into port, but much more impressive is the recessed side deck on the starboard side. There is a door by the helm to bring in fresh air and it is also very handy for docking. The wide side deck also features a lateral door through the hull side allowing you to step up onto a fixed pier or a high dock. We certainly have those in Canada,and if you have to step up from a swim platform, it can be a big step! This is a really great arrangement.

The deck design is asymmetrical to maximize cabin space while accommodating the wide starboard deck yet, the boat still has a portside deck with rails so that you can go forward, or all the way around the cabin on the top sides.

Another important feature to make living in the cockpit more comfortable is the canvas shade that extends out over the space. The test boat was done in black to reduce glare and give the boat a handsome accent, and the shade even includes clear overhead window sections in case you want a little more light.

For many buyers, the best feature is that in any cockpit configuration, the floor is flush right to the forward cabin steps delivering one large and continuous living space.There is a three section folding glass bulkhead and you can move it out of the way either to port or to starboard depending on how you want to configure the living space, and it becomes one seamless living area from the helm all the way back to the transom.

Making the most of this living area, the galley is positioned on the aft starboard side of the cabin by the bulkhead so you can easily serve in the cockpit or in the saloon. The galley unit is concealed under a lid. In the closed position, you have a nice counter top where you can spread out charts for example, and when you want to use the galley, simply lift it up. Storage lockers above the galley unit are optional for somebody who plans to cruise and needs to take more provisions.

Under the top is the stainless steel sink, a two burner electric Kenyon stove with pop-up silicon potholders [a very clever idea],a Danby microwave oven, cutlery drawer and trash locker. The Waeco refrigerator is located beside, under the helm seat pedestal.

The NC 33 is a handsome express cruiser that is ideal for family cruising or for two couples. The builder has significantly increased the power of the air conditioning unit to ensure comfort in spite of all the glass area in the cabin.

By the settee in the saloon is a flatscreen TV that you can also see from the cockpit. Another clever feature is that the dining table slides on a track to make it more versatile and the table itself can even move into the cockpit to form an L-shaped dinette outdoors.

The pilot bench seat in the dinette lifts and turns to face forward as a companion seat, again making the most of the space.

The NC 33 has a starboard side helm and the side door we mentioned, is a feature that people who are coming from a trawler for example, really understand and appreciate, even though they looking for more performance and style when they are shopping for an NC 33.

We really applaud the huge one-piece windshield with massive wipers. The view out is excellent all around. The dark finished dashboard is a modular design and the seat has a bolster to accommodate standing or seated operation, plus there's a footrest and tilt steering wheel as well. The joystick control for docking is just ahead of the main controls. Joystick docking is a great feature to have in boat at this size and price.

Yet another interesting layout feature is that the designers were able to push the stairs back a bit to create a pantry area and it is a very accessible space. There are drawers for dry goods right under the windshield.

In the NC 33, the forward cabin is the main or master's cabin and the clever addition of a sliding pocket door saves a lot of room while offering the benefit of a private cabin. Here, the berth is a full rectangular bed; a feature the designers know people are looking for and this pushes in to save space and pulls out for sleeping. The master enjoys direct and indirect lighting the way you would see on larger boats.

The mid-cabin is also a double and has sitting headroom with hull side glazing for light and an opening porthole as well. This is fine for a guest couple and grand for the kids to share.

Jeanneau also realized that a lot of their owners have pets. It's an attractive feature to know that the carpets are removable if you need to have them cleaned.

The head is what we call a wet head but there is a glass partition and a drop-down cover over the toilet to keep that dry when you're showering. You also get an attractive vessel sink, makeup / shaving mirror and storage in the vanity.

There's more storage in the step, the battery switchesare there and also in the companionway, is a touch screen panel for all of your electrical systems and tank monitors as well as shore power connections and air-conditioning controls.

An important feature is that the sunroof is watertight and airtight. This is not your typical sliding glass or fiberglass panel. This is a special roof made by Webasto and it has both a shade and a bug screen to really deliver the biggest benefit.

A popular option is to order the bow mattress or chaise lounge seats and a shade that you can fly over the area. Jeanneau has recently gone to a new cushion material that is open cell foam that does not retain water. Although it's quite a bit more expensive it provides great performance for interior and exterior cushions.

For an express cruiser in this size and price range, the NC 33 is feature packed and delivers an impressive lifestyle experience!

SPECIFICATIONS
Engines: Twin Volvo Penta D3-220 hp diesel stern drives with Duoprops and available joystick docking.

ENGINE RPM MPH
Idle 3.7
1,000 6.1
1,500 7.6
2,000 10.0
2,400 10.9
2,800 13.2
3,000 15.5
3,200 19.3
3,400 24.3
3,800 30.6
4,130 35.0

Length overall:10.50 m / 34'5"
Beam:3.32 m / 10'10"
Light displacement: 5366 kg / 11830 Lbs
Fuel capacity:520 l / 137 US gal
Fresh water capacity:175 l / 46 US gal
Maximum power: twin 220 hp diesel
Price: (as tested in US $)

Test boat, performance data and pricing supplied by: Jeanneau America, www.jeanneauamerica.com