The Jeanneau Prestige 500S 2011 vs Jeanneau Sun 2000 1999 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Jeanneau Prestige 500S 2011 measures 50,0 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 28,9 additional feet of deck space compared to the Jeanneau Sun 2000 1999 at 21,1 feet (1999). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Jeanneau Prestige 500S 2011 tips the scales at 29 762 lbs — 27 006 lbs more than the Jeanneau Sun 2000 1999 at 2 756 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 435 hp, the Jeanneau Prestige 500S 2011 has a 427-hp advantage over the Jeanneau Sun 2000 1999's 8-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Jeanneau Prestige 500S 2011 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Jeanneau Sun 2000 1999 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Jeanneau Prestige 500S 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Jeanneau Prestige 500S 2011 displaces 29 762 lbs — a 27 006-lb difference over the Jeanneau Sun 2000 1999 at 2 756 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 4,5 ft and 5,2 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
For auxiliary power the Jeanneau Prestige 500S 2011 carries a 435-hp engine against 8 hp on the Jeanneau Sun 2000 1999. Motoring range and ability to punch through a foul current or enter a tight marina under power will favour the more powerful installation.
Bottom line: The Jeanneau Prestige 500S 2011 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 29 762 lbs displacement and 50 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Jeanneau Sun 2000 1999 at 2 756 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.