56 C a n a d i a n Y a c h t i n g JUNE 2017By Andy Adams
Jeanneau’s new Leader 33 is an amazing express cruiser with
great accommodations for two couples or a young family.
Superior design skill packs in a ton of features and amenities,
yet still keeps that French design elegance.
The Leader 33 is the latest in Jeanneau’s Leader line and
it is the collaborative work of Garoni Design, Mickael Peters
Yacht Design, and Jeanneau’s in-house design team, who
were able to bring many features from the larger Leader
models into the 33. Apart from the obvious price advantage,
it’s a lot easier to get a transient mooring for a 33 than it is to
find a marina that can accommodate a 53, for example. The
33 will also be easier to handle in the tight quarters of the
locks on some canals or rivers.
On top of that, with the test boat’s twin Volvo Penta D3
220 diesel engines (or any of the gasoline engine choices),
this is a quick and fairly economical yacht to operate. More
about the on-the-water performance in a minute, but a
design feature many owners appreciate is the great forward
view from the comfortable helm seat and the two-passenger
companion seat that also faces forward at helm height.
To get so much accommodation in 33 feet, the designers
have integrated the various living spaces with some amazing
convertible furniture and features.
Starting at the swim platform, there is abundant space for
swimming, mooring, or simply stepping onboard, and
Jeanneau has built a space in the transom large enough to
handle several big fenders and lines. Shore power connec-
tions come in on the port side while the starboard side has
the transom gate, walk-through, and a shower as well.
The test boat had an optional mount for a barbeque,
which would be a great addition. The barbeque and its
mounting post store under the floor of the cockpit.POWER REVIEW | JEANNEAU LEADER 33
Big Yacht Features
without the Big Yacht Price Tag
Story by Andy Adams and John Armstrong,
Photos by Jeanneau