Jeanneau 9.0 CC Review

The remarkable Jeanneau 9.0 CC is a center console boat that incorporates some remarkable engineering to give this boat unbelievable versatility.

It was 1957 when a Frenchman named Henri Jeanneau got his first taste of how much fun it is to ride around in a motorboat, after someone took him for a ride one day near his home in Les Herbiers, France. Immediately and thoroughly bitten by the boating bug, Jeanneau promptly constructed a boat of his own – a wooden-hulled vessel of his own design, which went on to win the six-hour Paris Race that year. Driven by his initial success, the following year the enterprising Jeanneau built his first boat from fiberglass. It was a technological breakthrough at the time, but the company that Henri Jeanneau founded has been doing it ever since.

Today, Jeanneau outboard-powered boats are built in Cadillac, Michigan and Ostroda, Poland. Henri Jeanneau’s company had grown to have more than 400 dealerships worldwide in nearly 70 countries – a massive achievement in such a highly competitive industry.

No question about it, the success of Jeanneau Boats still rides on the foundation of innovation that Henri Jeanneau established over 60 years ago. That’s still very much the case today, as evidenced by the all-new Jeanneau 9.0 CC center console. If your first thought is whoopee, another me-too center console boat, then you’re in for a real eye-opener.

The cockpit seating is super-versatile: side seats fold up into the gunnels when not needed, and stowing the cushion from the central sun pad reveals a table beneath it with adjustable-height telescopic legs. Note the available ski tow pylon.

Stretching 29 feet, 11 inches in length and riding on a roomy 9-foot, 9-inch beam, the Jeanneau 9.0 CC is more than just a spacious and versatile offshore fishing boat. It’s also a terrific weekender that can easily handle overnight getaways with the family, and that becomes apparent as soon as you step on board.

Bow seating is surprisingly roomy and incredibly comfortable. Note the tremendous size of the double-wide forward-facing seat ahead of the console.

The amount of interior space on the Jeanneau 9.0 CC is absolutely incredible, and that reflects some remarkable engineering on Jeanneau’s part. A full wrap-around seat in the aft cockpit mostly folds away when not being used, opening up the stern for fishing. The seating along each side simply lifts and folds flush into the gunnel when not required, while a filler cushion in the aft port corner also lifts out of the way to leave only the transom seat remaining. By providing full access to the gunnels this way, there’s plenty of room to cast, drift or set downriggers.

The double-wide front seat lifts to provide direct access to the cabin below, allowing seat cushions to be easily stowed out of the way when not needed.

If your weekend plans include more relaxing than fishing, then you’ll want to bring along one of the two available aft cockpit tables – a standard version with removable legs, or a more upscale retractable table with telescopic legs which collapse to form a large aft sun deck. A huge in-floor storage locker beneath it stows bulky gear.

Popping the cushions in place and stowing the table converts the bow into still more sunning space.

Up in the bow a large central sofa forward of the console is an ideal place to stretch out, while an aft-facing wrap-around bow seat creates a delightful, private area for conversations. Generous storage lockers under each of the seat bases provide an amazing amount of extra storage space for even large or bulky gear. Adding a filler cushion turns the entire space into a huge sun pad where a whole gang of people can hang out and enjoy the day in glorious comfort.

The attractive helm console has plenty of space for electronics – and a sliding door on the left side that leads to below-decks accommodations.

It’s the driver who really gets spoiled in the Jeanneau 9.0 CC, however, with a neatly designed helm console, standard tilt steering, and plenty of space for available Garmin 9-inch or 12-inch screens. There’s also a VHF, full engine instrumentation, a grab handle, a couple of cup holders and storage for small items like cell phones.

What the heck – this is a center console, not a cruiser! Yet the 9.0 CC’s remarkably spacious cabin sleeps two adults and two kids in comfort – while still having space for a separate washroom on the right.

The port side of the helm console has something you don’t see on a lot of center consoles, in the form of a sliding door that leads below to the surprisingly spacious cabin. Did we mention this boat can double as a weekender? In spite of all the space up on the main deck, there’s a huge amount of room below too, with a large double berth with all sorts of storage space beneath. Of course there’s also a separate head compartment complete with a marine toilet, sink and even a shower. Need more space? There’s even a compartment aft of the access stairs that’s big enough to sleep a couple of kids. That’s really unusual for a center console, and a big reason why the Jeanneau 9.0 CC is going to appeal to a whole lot of families.

The 9.0 CC is plenty fast with a single 350 horsepower outboard, but most buyers will likely opt for twin engines for their much better control when docking. Push one throttle forward while pulling the other in reverse and the boat will spin in place. Who needs a pricey joystick?

Available with a single 350 horsepower engine or up to twin 250s, the 9.0 CC offers thrilling performance with its deep V hull while keeping retail prices from getting into heart attack territory. Most buyers will opt for twin engines just to take advantage of the vastly superior control they provide when docking or operating at low speeds. Twin 200s make an almost ideal package with the 9.0 CC.

The Jeanneau 9.0 CC is far more than just another me-too center console – this boat is a true stunner with some absolutely remarkable engineering throughout. Henri Jeanneau would be rightly proud to go for a ride in this rig, and really, who wouldn’t?