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Dear Readers

• Sailboat Reviews

She's fast and she's fun--sailing is what this boat is all about. We like the J/35 a lot.

The “J” stands for Johnstone and the “35” stands for 35 feet. Straightforward—a characteristic of both the boat and the company that sells them.

The Johnstones were originally two: Rod Johnstone started things in 1976 when he designed a 24-footer and built it in his garage. He convinced his brother, Bob Johnstone, that the boat could be a success, and Bob became chief salesman, in charge of the business.

The relationship continues to this day, but the family owned company is now run by children of both Johnstones, all serious sailors like their parents. Rod’s sons Jeff, Alan, and Phil are president, vicepresident, and legal counsel respectively. Bob’s son Stuart is chairman of the board and marketing manager, while second son Drake oversees the dealer network and is sales manager of the company.

The original J/24 was sold as a “fast” boat that ignored the existing racing rules. At the time, there was a large group of serious racers who felt that the handicap rules, particularly the International Offshore Rule (IOR) and the Midget Ocean Racing Club (MORC), were encouraging unhealthy extremes in design—not necessarily good, fast sailboats, but rather boats that would sail marginally faster than their low handicap ratings said they should sail, boats that required huge crews to go fast.

At the time, the word on the J/24 was that it spit in the eye of the rules; Rod Johnstone had designed a boat that went fast and was fun to sail, and if it didn’t do well in the handicap rating game, then it was the game that was at fault. Except for a couple of aberrations—a 34 and a 41 designed to beat the IOR rule—the J/Boats have remained faithful to that idea. And it is significant that the rating rules have come around to the J/Boats, rather than vice versa. There are more J/Boats than any other brand, by far, racing under the current PHRF and IMS handicap rules.

Unlike most sailboat companies, J/Boats decided from the beginning to stay out of the boatbuilding end of the business. Rather than a J/Boat factory, the completed boats come from Tillotson-Pearson, an independent company whose president, Everett Pearson, was one of the pioneers of fiberglass boatbuilding.

The arrangement has been mutually satisfactory over the years, with J/Boats having relatively little invested in manufacturing overhead, concentrating on the design and marketing; and Tillotson-Pearson has another steady and successful customer to complement the other lines of boats that they build—Alden and Garry Hoyt’s new Manta 32—along with some high-tech endeavors, such as fabricating giant carbon-fiber propellers for wind generators.

Over the years, Tillotson-Pearson has established a reputation for high-quality production work, often at the leading edge of fiberglass technology, that has helped J/Boats maintain an image of quality near the top-end of the production spectrum.

The J/35 was a successful racer from its introduction in 1983, and with more than 300 built so far, it has had a successful production run for the company. The 35 is still available as a new boat and will continue to be. A new design, the 35C, is unrelated to the 35, a different design, slower, aimed more at cruising than the original 35.

In design, the 35 looks like a typical Rod Johnstone boat, with short overhangs for a long waterline, relatively low and flat sheerline, a low cabin house, and a moderate well-balanced rig. Obviously, Johnstone knows something about the harmony between a boat’s underbody and the water, but a large part of the boat’s speed is also dependent on the light weight—10,500 pounds on a 30-foot waterline—as well as a good distribution of that weight.

Traditionalists may think the J/35 is a little plain, but its proportions are pleasing, and many people consider it the most attractive grand prix racer around. If you didn’t know the boat’s record, you probably wouldn’t pick it out of a crowd as a speedster, or know that it’s one of the most successful racing boats its size of the 1980s.

The boat has primarily been known as a racer, but the company touts it as a shorthanded cruiser as well. The boat’s big cockpit, while principally designed for a racing crew, does make the boat good for day sailing, ideal for taking out guests and for dock partying. The boat has frequently been involved in singlehanded racing (both Tony Lush and Francis Stokes raced J/35s across the Atlantic), and we would agree with the company that it is easily handled by a couple, and could make for good cruising for two people or a family with small children.

Though the hull is a bit more beamy and saucer shaped than would be ideal in an offshore boat, it is one of the few modern racers under 40 feet in which we would consider doing an ocean crossing. In storm or hurricane conditions, it has a greater chance of achieving inverse stability than a narrower, heavier boat, but its speed makes it more likely that the prudent sailor will be able to sail away from such extreme conditions.

Construction

As is necessary to make a strong but lightweight boat, the J/35 uses some sophisticated construction techniques. Both the hull and deck are balsa-cored, with the end-grain balsa inside layers of biaxial and unidirectional fiberglass. As with any cloth, there is less stretch and more strength parallel to the glass fibers than across them, and the biaxial and unidirectional cloth used by Tillotson-Pearson lets the builder arrange the cloth throughout the hull so its strength is in line with the forces that occur under sail.

Unlike most boats, the main structural bulkhead which takes the forces of the rig is a molded fiberglass piece, and the floors are made up of glass beams to which both the mast step and the external lead keel are fastened.

The hull and deck are strong and, perhaps more importantly, stiff, so that there is a minimum of flexing when the boat is being pushed. The quality of the construction is evident in the six- and seven year-old boats that are still able to handle the rig forces of a pumped-up backstay on a hard beat.

We have a lingering concern about the longevity of balsa-cored boats, since we have seen many 10- to 20-year-old boats with deck delaminations and a few with substantial delamination in the hull. Tillotson-Pearson obviously disagrees with us and continues to be committed to balsa cores.

With other builders, a major part of our concern is that balsa cored laminates seem to be more demanding of good engineering and high-quality workmanship than solid fiberglass laminates. Tillotson- Pearson is one of the few companies that we would trust to consistently do a good job in laying up a balsa-cored hull.

An unusual feature of hulls built after 1988 is that the company provides a 10-year warranty against blistering. In molding the boat, they use a vinylester resin on the first layer inside the gelcoat, and—along with a clean shop and careful workmen—they think this is enough to warrant the guarantee. The guarantee is transferable to later owners.

New J/35s can also be purchased with an American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) certificate. ABS is similar to the better known English Lloyd’s certification, in that an independent surveyor periodically checks the shop and the boat during construction to make sure it meets minimum standards. While relatively new to cruising sailors, ABS certification is important to racers in the top echelons. International offshore regattas require it. It seems worthwhile because it is about the only way buyers can get an independent evaluation of the boat without overseeing the entire construction process themselves.

The boat comes with a thorough list of standard equipment. The company lists only 18 options for a new boat, and most of these are aesthetic preferences or cruising options, such as a dark-colored hull, two-tone deck, V-berth, swim ladder, and propane locker.

The rig is excellent, with a Hall Spars mast, rod rigging, and complete state-of-the-art running rigging. All winches are adequate, but if we were planning shorthanded cruising in addition to racing, we would consider larger, self-tailing primaries.

Tiller steering is standard on the boat. In its latest brochures, the company doesn’t even list wheel steering as an option, but many earlier models had wheels, and some owners may still want it installed. We sailed both a tiller model and a wheel and believe the tiller is far superior, especially for racing. However, wheels seem to be sufficiently in vogue that there are a preponderance of them on the used 35s for sale.

The J/35 is primarily a racing boat, and its interior is spartan compared to similarly sized cruising boats. But the interior is decent, and well-finished given the plainness of the boat. The company advertises the high-quality of the interior woodwork, but we would describe it as so-so—better than the cheapest production boats on the market but definitely not “yacht” quality.

The arrangement is conventional. Forward you will find either sail bins or an optional V-berth, decently sized, with a head just aft of that, and a hanging locker and bureau opposite. Two comfortable settee berths are aft of the main bulkhead in the saloon, with an optional fold-up table between them.

The galley is minimal, with a two-burner alcohol stove and sink on the port side and an ice-box with chart-table top opposite. There are two big quarter berths underneath the bridgedeck and cockpit.

Ventilation is good, with eight opening ports and two hatches in addition to the companionway, but there is no provision at all for pushing air through the cabin when underway.

Storage is minimal, adequate for a racing crew or for a couple on a short cruise, but every 35 we looked at had sails and crew gear spread all over the settees and berths.

We would be quite comfortable weekending or cruising on this boat, but it does lack the amenities which most people demand nowadays, like hot-and-cold pressure water, propane stove and oven, and refrigeration. All these things could be added, of course, but they rarely are because they represent weight which is anathema to the high-performance sailor.

For us, the main shortcoming of the interior is the lack of headroom forward, in the head and V-berth, and a tall person will be uncomfortable even in the main cabin.

While this interior may not sound like much to the cruising sailor who looks at other boats with VCR stations and queen-size after berths, it is far superior to the one-off custom racers and almost all other racing boats that are in the same speed class as the J/35. Though the “cruiser” part is minimal, this boat is a true racer-cruiser. Where compromises are made, the racer is clearly favored, but the owner won’t feel compelled to check into a motel at the end of a long passage as is the case with most racing machines.

Under Power

The Yanmar 3GM engine has become almost a standard in this size boat. It is a good engine, dependable, relatively quiet, and its 28 horsepower is plenty big for the J/35. A 20-gallon fuel tank gives about 150 miles of range, adequate since this boat will still be sailing in light airs when most others have cranked up the diesel. The boat comes standard with a Martec folding prop, and the boat powers easily to hull speed. The J/35 turns sharply and handles well under power, and it will back up more or less where you want it. Access to the engine is decent, behind the companionway steps underneath the cockpit. Installation of the engine and the other mechanical systems is workmanlike—good but nothing spectacular.

Sailing is what this boat is all about. We sailed twice on a 35 during their first two years of production, and again last fall, in two heavy-air triangular races.

The boat is obviously quick. With a PHRF rating around 70, it is significantly faster than almost all boats its size. It is 50 seconds-per-mile faster than our own 16-year-old Carter 36 and most other IOR racers between 34 and 37 feet. In the class we raced in last fall, only a Schock 35, and a C&C 37 were comparable in speed. Like most good sailing boats, the J/35 has an “effortless” quality about its motion through the water. To us, it seems that most boats make quite a fuss as you push them up toward hull speed, especially on a beat. Often, you can “hear” how fast you’re going by the amount of noise the boat makes. But a J/35 moves easily up to speed, and you have to look at the knotmeter to know whether you’re moving five knots or seven.

It’s a well-balanced boat, with excellent feel (if you have a tiller model) on all points of sail.

The boat can be wet working to weather in waves, especially given the lack of cockpit coamings, but otherwise it has few faults in sailing. Unlike many high-performance boats, it’s also quite forgiving, so an inexperienced helmsman and crew can achieve good speed and at least finish a race or a passage ahead of other boats, even if losing on handicap.

Conclusions

The J/35 is a pricey boat. A new basic boat will run over $100,000 ready to race, and if you add premium electronics and get into the high-tech sail game, you can up the ante considerably.

However, unlike most boats these days, the J/35 will likely hold its value quite well. The boat will continue to appeal to the die-hard racer and thus maintain its value better than most other boats.

It is obviously not a boat for everybody. If you’re looking for a weekend cottage or a floating condominium, go elsewhere. But if you are in the group of sailors who want a boat between 30 and 40 feet, whose time afloat is spent more than 50 percent in racing, you might want to consider the J/35. And if we were rolling in dough, we’d have to have one to park out in front of our condo, just for the fun of sailing it.

For the used boat shopper, the main consideration after price will be the quality of equipment, especially sails. Unlike some boats, it is quite probable that a J/35 has been raced, and usually raced hard, so in many instances a total refit of the basic boat may be in order.

Given that the latest models have several advantages—an ABS certificate and a 10-year anti-blister warranty—most used boat shoppers will probably want to also go the extra distance to get a new boat.

We like the J/35.

It gets down to basics—if sailing is what sailing is all about, you won’t find a much better boat anywhere.

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Anyone familiar with the J/28?

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I think one of the guys that's a regular on this forum owns one... maybe Jeff H??? not sure though.  

This is similar in concept to the J-32 - It was part of JBoat's early foray into the cruiser market. I really like the 32, but they are rather pricey as a rule. I expect this would be much like that.. somewhat overpriced but a nice, solid cruiser with a good turn of speed. Don't be so hasty to dismiss the larger wheel.. sitting outboard with the wheel easy to reach makes a lot of sense for visibility and steering in waves, and it also provides an extra bit of leverage with things load up.. If you buy it and want to swap I've got a 32" wheel we can talk about..  

Faster said: This is similar in concept to the J-32 - It was part of JBoat's early foray into the cruiser market. I really like the 32, but they are rather pricey as a rule. I expect this would be much like that.. somewhat overpriced but a nice, solid cruiser with a good turn of speed. Don't be so hasty to dismiss the larger wheel.. sitting outboard with the wheel easy to reach makes a lot of sense for visibility and steering in waves, and it also provides an extra bit of leverage with things load up.. If you buy it and want to swap I've got a 32" wheel we can talk about.. Click to expand...

A 20 year old balsa core hull would concern me also.  

I was just looking at the pricing of the J28 on yacht world. I agree with you kind of pricey. If you are looking for a 20 year old boat that you can use on the lake, i can think of few in that price range that i think would serve you better as weekender. A 28ft'er can get small for 2 or more people on weekends when the weather keeps you in the cabin. I justed picked one out on yacht world as an example. 1987 Pearson 31-2 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com =  

Cored hull These were done for strength and lightness I believe. Cored hull is fine so long as the core is dry and hull not delaminated. I believe a survey with boat out of the water could easily detect these problems. J boats tend to have areas of hull not cored near centerline for thru hulls, etc... which makes water intrusion into core less of an issue. J boats usually have cored deck..Deck and coachroof have a LOT of holes for fittings, etc... which are great paths for water to follow to soak into core. While deck recoring is not nearly the work of hull recoring and not nearly the issue it is where I suspect you would have more problems in this 20 year old boat. If you like the boat make the offer subject to survey and have the surveyor check for wet deck and hull. If these areas check out as fine then you will have a great boat that sails very well. Mike  

Mike I agree with every thing you said. I will say I am a belt and suspenders sort of guy. Neither gel coat or fiberglass is imperious to water intrusion. I know all about barrier coats. But one good bang against a dock during a storm when you are not there, can spider crack the gel coat and start a path way to the core. If I was not a racer, it is one less thing to worry about. A boat is a major investment for most people. I feel a balsa cored hull is an investment risk. For a weekend cruiser that is left in the water all season long the J28 would not be my boat of choice. But if I want to go fast and could dry sail it I might be looking at the J28.  

It has been my experance with Jboats that when they are HIT in a race the core is so STIFF it punches a nice allmost round hole with very local dammage Compared to other styles of glass that may spread the dammage out over a much bigger area  

Is that a good thing? Isn't the intention of long fibers in the matrix to spread the stress/strain and prevent a hull failure? I'd rather smack a submerged piling and limp back with $2,000 in future glass work waiting at the yard than be submerged beside the piling with $200 in glass work and $12,000 in ruined equipment and gear.  

Delirious said: Is that a good thing? Isn't the intention of long fibers in the matrix to spread the stress/strain and prevent a hull failure? I'd rather smack a submerged piling and limp back with $2,000 in future glass work waiting at the yard than be submerged beside the piling with $200 in glass work and $12,000 in ruined equipment and gear. Click to expand...

Is it good well It does not JUST POP a hole from a minor wack The racing holes i have seen took took a hit in the beam from the pointy SS forestay bracket and resulted in no boat dammage other than the area of the inpact  

eMKay said: They only made 71 of them ('86 to '88) Nice sailplan, not ideal interior but the V-berth looks usable, cool cockpit, is the 40" wheel really necessary? Could it be swapped out for say a 28" wheel? Should I add this boat to my list? Cored hull worries me... J/28's are great boats! The V-berth is massive for a 28 footer, and since they dont try to fit sleeping for 7 into 28', the rest of the boat is well laid out. There is a pull-out berth under the settee that makes a nice double for the occasional guest, a decent galley, and the folding table opens the salon up very nicely. Keep the 40" wheel until you decide you dont like it, and yes other wheels fit. It is a 1" straight bore wheel. Steering from the lifelines comfortably is really nice. I have had a J/37 and now a J/34c and they both have the same cockpit layout the 28 has, and they are really nice for short-handed sailing. We have one sailing in our fleet and he always finishes well on the race course. I am not going to say dont worry about cored hulls, but with a good survey and moisture check, you should be able to abvoid problems. If you would like to hook up with a 28 owner, PM me and I will try to get you an email address so you can swap notes. Later........... DD Click to expand...

j34035 said: eMKay said: They only made 71 of them ('86 to '88) Nice sailplan, not ideal interior but the V-berth looks usable, cool cockpit, is the 40" wheel really necessary? Could it be swapped out for say a 28" wheel? Should I add this boat to my list? Cored hull worries me... J/28's are great boats! The V-berth is massive for a 28 footer, and since they dont try to fit sleeping for 7 into 28', the rest of the boat is well laid out. There is a pull-out berth under the settee that makes a nice double for the occasional guest, a decent galley, and the folding table opens the salon up very nicely. Keep the 40" wheel until you decide you dont like it, and yes other wheels fit. It is a 1" straight bore wheel. Steering from the lifelines comfortably is really nice. I have had a J/37 and now a J/34c and they both have the same cockpit layout the 28 has, and they are really nice for short-handed sailing. We have one sailing in our fleet and he always finishes well on the race course. I am not going to say dont worry about cored hulls, but with a good survey and moisture check, you should be able to abvoid problems. If you would like to hook up with a 28 owner, PM me and I will try to get you an email address so you can swap notes. Later........... DD Click to expand...

Tillitson-Pearson did not bother sealing the core where cutting through for fittings. This means that only meticulously maintained boats can be expected to have dry core as they get wet from the outside and severe leaks does not happen after the core is quite wet around the fitting. I check all fittings that show moisture immediately, even when it only looks like condensation on my '86 Freedom 21 (same builder). That is the only way to be sure. A racing outfitted boat of the same age as mine may needs 10-15 items re-seated each season.  

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I agree with you. People get their panties in a great big-o wad (I like that measurement!) over stuff that while is not baseless, is overblown. All boats have potential problems, that is why you get GOOD surveyors to evaluate before you buy. Personnaly, I'm pretty impressed with the long-term durability of both the J/boats I have owned. The only real problem I have had is leaking chainplates, but that is not that big of a project to fix, especially if you have the mast out for transport. I do also agree you should check and fix fasteners and penetrations to the deck anytime you are suspicious of a leak. DD BTW, those are great articles about Pearson!!  

A good choice.... As with any 20 year cored hull, you'd benefit from a thorough survey to rule out any problems. Remember, cored = light weight, which may be important to you depending where you do your boating and the wind conditions. In the Chespeake, the summer winds can be light and a lighter boat is more easily driven. YMMV. You didn't tell us what your sailing requirements or what other boats are on your shopping list. As the owner of J/28 #69, I can tell you that it is one of the best layouts and one of the roomiest 28 footers I have been on. I particularly enjoy the aft head location and the galley is adequate for most. The forward V-berth is 6ft+ and the space includes room for dressing, a hanging locker and storage cabinents on opposite sides. Modeled after the J/40, the best interior feature is the bulkhead mounted table, which folds down and expands with a hinged leaf. The port settee pulls out to a double. Interior storage is adequate, but not huge. Two cockpit lockers do provide plently of room and access. Sailing performance is excellent, with a large main and fractional rig. I typicall can sail at a little more than 1/2 the apparent wind with <10 knts true. My boat has the 5' std draft fin keel. I single hand 80% of the time and with the primary sail controls in the cockpit....life is good...easy to depower in the puffs. Pricing for the J/28s on the market are fairly stable. With only 71 hulls and the "J/ Premium", I think 35-45k is reasonable for a well cared example. There are alot of less expensive options, but would not hesitate to buy my 28 again at that price. Let me know if you want more info, or a few other pics.  

jason3317 said: As with any 20 year cored hull, you'd benefit from a thorough survey to rule out any problems. Remember, cored = light weight, which may be important to you depending where you do your boating and the wind conditions. In the Chespeake, the summer winds can be light and a lighter boat is more easily driven. YMMV. You didn't tell us what your sailing requirements or what other boats are on your shopping list. As the owner of J/28 #69, I can tell you that it is one of the best layouts and one of the roomiest 28 footers I have been on. I particularly enjoy the aft head location and the galley is adequate for most. The forward V-berth is 6ft+ and the space includes room for dressing, a hanging locker and storage cabinents on opposite sides. Modeled after the J/40, the best interior feature is the bulkhead mounted table, which folds down and expands with a hinged leaf. The port settee pulls out to a double. Interior storage is adequate, but not huge. Two cockpit lockers do provide plently of room and access. Sailing performance is excellent, with a large main and fractional rig. I typicall can sail at a little more than 1/2 the apparent wind with <10 knts true. My boat has the 5' std draft fin keel. I single hand 80% of the time and with the primary sail controls in the cockpit....life is good...easy to depower in the puffs. Pricing for the J/28s on the market are fairly stable. With only 71 hulls and the "J/ Premium", I think 35-45k is reasonable for a well cared example. There are alot of less expensive options, but would not hesitate to buy my 28 again at that price. Let me know if you want more info, or a few other pics. Click to expand...

There's a lot to like about this design and Jason, as an owner, has given a nice review of the boat. I've always admired the J-28 package as a whole. I have often wondered why it didn't get the "C" designation, as it seemed geared more toward cruiser/racer than racer/cruiser. A couple aspects about the design that I don't especially care for: - Yes, it is relatively roomy, but the absence of any quarter berth is a disappointment. Compare this boat to the Beneteau 285, which has an enclosed aft double quarter berth. For family sailing, you'll miss the extra bunk. For singles/couples, maybe not. - The signature J-cockpit. I have never warmed up to the standard J-boats cockpit design, which leaves the helmsman sitting on the coaming outside the cockpit. In other words, there is no dedicated cockpit seating aft the helm, just deck. Love it or hate it, I guess. Aside from these quibbles, though, the J-28 represents a good alternative to the pricier J-32.  

Best Stability ...The J/28 is designed to perform with two people sitting in the cockpit, sailing to windward in 20 knots of wind. In fact, J/28 may be the fastest 28-footer in the world in those conditions. How? Well, if you don't have 6 gorillas on the rail (which you don't when cruising), you'd better have a HEAVY KEEL. J/28's 3,000-lb keel is lead, not iron. Click to expand...

The list of prospectives.... I agree with Dog that the quality of the Pearsons mentioned and the J/28 are probably similar. Reading through the other thread, there seems to be a healthy mix of both entry level production boats (Hunter, Bene, Catalina) and models that were production, but produced in lower numbers (Js and Sabre and Tartan). It's my opinion, that there is a significant difference in quality of these two segments in terms of how they were designed, built and, more importantly, equipped. The age of the boats you're considering probably exacerbates those points. I make this point since your put quality/appearance/comfort above performance. But, I encourage you not to discount performance too much...a boat that is an underacheiver under sail....is just that. If the Hunter 27 is the top candidate at $40k, you were absolutely on the right track asking for opinions on the older Js and Sabres of equivalent sizes. With your timeframe....plently of time to continue the discovery and evaluation process.  

Most J's have balsa cored hull, are the decks also balsa core on the J/28? I am assuming they are.  

Yes, the hull and deck are cored. JS  

I think all J/28 were sold with alcohol stoves, has any one out there with a J/28 converted to LPG? My preference is for LPG (propane) and wonder how difficult is it to put in the required locker that vents outside. Garry  

Anyone familiar with a J/28, I have a few questions... What are the sailing characteristics of the J/28? What does it sail like in light,medium and strong winds? What is it like in open water with large waves? How do you like the interior layout / deck layout? I am considering a boat in the 28 to 30 foot range and the J/28 is at the top of my list. But as far at 28 footers go, they are also at the top end of the price category in the $30-$40 K range (and used J/28's are 20 years old). When I look at prices of boats on Yachtworld.com I can see a good range of boats in the $30-$40 K range that are 30-33 feet LOA. This makes me wonder if a J/28 is the best choice - do I continue to think about a nice 28 footer at the top of the price/size range, or should I look at something 2-4 foot bigger? Garry  

The Jboats sail well IF you like that kind of boat (race/cruise) compared to the other end of the spectrum of a full keel bluewater boat They cost more now because they cost more then compared to some other boats and there are other boats in this size that cost even more if you keep going up in quality  

Kinda late getting here but, I have hull #11 J28 and love it. I agree with jason, This is a sweet and easy boat to sail and race. My usual set-up is a basic main and 135% jib and the boat handle up to 20 knots with out a reef. Late last year I put up a 105% jib and the boat sailed even better. Cockpit layout is great and I single hand most of the time. (my wife likes to sit on the boat but doesn't want to sail.) All my lines come back to the cockpit. I do miss the quarterberth sometimes but the lazertte storage is un beatable. The v berth is plenty big for two and the with the table up in the main salon theres a good amount of space. I'll cruised/raced many a three day weekends with two other guys and not been uncomfortable. (I Get the v-berth.) I keep saying I want a bigger boat,, that's frequently followed by why? John W.  

jfdubu said: Kinda late getting here but, I have hull #11 J28 and love it. I agree with jason, This is a sweet and easy boat to sail and race. My usual set-up is a basic main and 135% jib and the boat handle up to 20 knots with out a reef. Late last year I put up a 105% jib and the boat sailed even better. Cockpit layout is great and I single hand most of the time. (my wife likes to sit on the boat but doesn't want to sail.) All my lines come back to the cockpit. I do miss the quarterberth sometimes but the lazertte storage is un beatable. The v berth is plenty big for two and the with the table up in the main salon theres a good amount of space. I'll cruised/raced many a three day weekends with two other guys and not been uncomfortable. (I Get the v-berth.) I keep saying I want a bigger boat,, that's frequently followed by why? John W. Click to expand...

Another J/28 owner I'm even later to the party, as the owner of J/28 hull #29. I bought my boat at the end of last season and have not yet sailed it, so I can't contribute too much. I do know that the build quality is quite good. My boat, at least, has held up extremely well. The interior seems quite workable for a cruising couple. There IS decent seating behind the wheel. In fact, there's a cushion-shaped indentation there, and the boats were delivered with a special firm cushion intended to give the helmsman a bit of a perch -- at least the other J/28 I looked at (before buying mine) had a cushion like that. The cushion for my boat has been lost, and I'm going to get one made. Can't wait for the season to give "Ruffian" a good go. We'll sail out of Rockland, on the Maine coast.  

LennyR said: I'm even later to the party, as the owner of J/28 hull #29. I bought my boat at the end of last season and have not yet sailed it, so I can't contribute too much. I do know that the build quality is quite good. My boat, at least, has held up extremely well. The interior seems quite workable for a cruising couple. There IS decent seating behind the wheel. In fact, there's a cushion-shaped indentation there, and the boats were delivered with a special firm cushion intended to give the helmsman a bit of a perch -- at least the other J/28 I looked at (before buying mine) had a cushion like that. The cushion for my boat has been lost, and I'm going to get one made. Can't wait for the season to give "Ruffian" a good go. We'll sail out of Rockland, on the Maine coast. Click to expand...

If you haven't already purchased your boat then let me tell my opinions about the J-28. I own hull 71 and have so for 12 years. It is a great boat and plenty big enough even for extended cruises so long as you aren't sailing with more than 2 other people. I have comfortably gone for 3 week cruises with 3 of us aboard and while we may have been more comfortable on a larger boat I don't think the difference would be enough to offset the additional maintenance time/costs required. There is quite a bit of storage for a 28 foot boat. The cockpit lockers are cavernous and can benefit from some dividers/removable/sliding shelves to prevent things from just piling up in them. There is a fair bit of storage behind the setees and in the galley. The head is quite large for a 28 footer and since it is at the bottom of the companionway it is also very convinient to get to from the cockpit and keeps the rest of the cabin dry if you are sailing in the rain and go below to use it. The boat sails like a dream. It handles heavy weather well, as an example I have flown the spinnaker for an extended period in 25 knots of wind and 8.5 knots of boat speed with out ever feeling like I was on the edge of a wipe out. It also keeps moving well in light weather, although once the apparent wind is between 150-180 degrees and below 8 knots or so you really need the spinnaker to keep moving well. The 40" wheel is great, I wouldn't go smaller. It allows you to brace your foot against the binnacle, comfortably reach the wheel and sit well out to weather while going upwind. The cockpit layout is fantastic for short handed or even single handed sailing with the main and jib sheets within easy reach of the wheel. Another boon for shorthanded sailing on this boat is the fact that the standard primary winches are self tailing. The only problem area I have had with the core has been were the chainplates go through the deck. These move enough that it is very hard to seal and the core is exposed. It is a problem area on all J-boats of that era. The damage to the core in this location has been very localized to this location since, contrary to popular belief, water will not move horizontally across a balsa core UNLESS the core is delaminated from the fiberglass. A good survey should tell you what the problems are. To sum up, I think the J-28 is as close to the perfect boat for me. I highly recommend it.  

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An armada of racing sailboats is a common enough sight on a Seattle summer evening, but the boats heading out from Shilshole Bay Marina in Ballard from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5 aren’t just part of a run-of-the-mill casual race. For the first time, Seattle will host the J/24 World Championship , drawing 56 teams from 11 countries who will test their mettle against the shifty winds and tricky currents of Puget Sound.

Just as crucially, the sailing teams will also test their mettle against each other as they sail north from Shilshole Bay. The 24-foot-long boat is known worldwide for creating a level playing field because boats must be identical to compete. No team has an advantage because of a souped-up sailboat, which means some of the world’s most skilled sailors — former Olympians are known to frequent the J/24 racing circuit — are heading for our local saltwater.

Since 1979, the world championships have cycled through many of the world’s great sailing venues — Annapolis, Md.; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Malmö, Sweden; Sardinia, Italy — except the Emerald City.

And yet, “we have a fleet that is the envy of many other racing communities around the U.S. and the world,” said defending J/24 World champion Keith Whittemore.

Whittemore is a member of the Corinthian Yacht Club, which will host the regatta with support from the Port of Seattle. The club is no stranger to competition, with sailboats crossing the starting line over 1,000 times annually under the club’s auspices. While our region’s 30-odd J/24 owners race most Tuesday nights on Lake Washington, this event is of a different caliber.

“In terms of international prestige, this is definitely the pinnacle — the biggest event this club has ever hosted,” said regatta chair Jonathan Anderson from the clubhouse inside Shilshole Bay Marina as sailors prepared for the Western Regionals , a regatta that served as a warm-up for the world championship.

The upcoming championship is part of a growing portfolio of international sailing competitions lured to the Port of Seattle. The latest to drop anchor in town: the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race , which pulled into Elliott Bay for a multiday stopover in May.

If you missed that spectator event, then grab some binoculars and a beach blanket for the J/24 World Championship. After a few days of boat measurements, orientation and practice, the action heats up with up to a dozen races daily from Oct. 1-5. Expect sailboats running neck-and-neck at full tilt with billowing sails. If the weather gods cooperate, this sporting tableau will be set against the brilliant backdrop of the Olympic Mountains, which should prove plenty impressive to skippers hailing from five continents.

NASCAR of sailboats  

Newport, R.I.-based sailboat-maker Rod Johnstone invented the J/24 in the 1970s. It became popular in the “one-design” racing world, in which every boat must be the same down to the weight and the shape of the keel and rudder. That way, the only potential difference between boats are the sails themselves, whereby a newer sail not yet battered by the elements may capture wind more efficiently. There’s also an 882-pound maximum weight for race crews, a rule that results in gender parity — a crew could consist of three heavier men, or five lighter women, with more hands on deck creating a competitive advantage.

The result is something like a NASCAR race, in which the car bodies are identical and modifications are not allowed. That equalizer makes J/24 racing attractive for sailors who can keep up, even into their later years.

“I would sail a piece of plywood if everybody had the same piece of plywood,” said Whittemore, 68, via phone from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, where he was competing in the J/70 World Championship. “You go different speeds not because the boats are different but because the sailors are different. It really tests the sailors’ skills.”

Whittemore won last year’s J/24 World Championship in Thessaloniki, Greece and the 2019 edition in Miami, as well as most other national J/24 titles at least once since his first world championship competition in 1982. He will not be competing in his home city’s race so he can assist the club with organization and logistics drawn from his decades of international competition.

“The boat can be handled on a world-class level with five friends,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be five guys who spend every morning in the gym.”

The J/24’s accessibility is not just age-related. With about 6,000 boats in circulation, they can be purchased for as little as $5,000, though $10,000-$15,000 is more typical for used ones in good condition. If split between a crew of five people, that is relatively affordable for a racing sailboat. (A coveted early 20th-century J Class yacht , by comparison, can be priced in the millions.) Crucially, J/24s are small enough for owners to tow them by trailer to different regattas around the country.

That portability is part of the appeal for Montana retail operations manager Ginjer Yachechak, 39, who races J/24s on Flathead Lake and brings them to larger competitions, like the Western Regionals tuneup in early September. Yachechak was quite literally raised on J/24s — as an infant, her sailing-obsessed parents would strap her into a bouncy chair aboard their sailboat while they raced.

She grew into the hobby and by her teenage years was already coming to Washington to face stiffer competition since the Seattle J/24 fleet is the closest one to Montana. In her 20s, she spent four winters working in a sail loft in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, so she could sail year-round, and later worked for a yacht delivery company to keep burnishing her sailing chops.

Yachechak will be skippering an all-women crew for the World Championship that has been racing together for the last year and a half. Four of them hold day jobs in fields like nursing, realty and environmental consulting, but they spend their weekends during sailing season pursuing their hobby — even if it means driving nine hours from Montana to Seattle towing a sailboat.

“It’s one of those bucket list things with my crew,” she said after her boat, Queen’s Gambit, was lowered by crane into the water ahead of race day at the pre-World Championship tuneup. “We’re not trying to win. It’s all about competing with the best people out there. Every time we race against someone better we learn something and we get better ourselves.”

Shifty course

The top-notch facilities at Shilshole Bay Marina like cranes for raising and lowering boats, ample moorage to accommodate a large visiting fleet, and the Corinthian clubhouse as a race headquarters are not Seattle’s only draw. The 3-mile round-trip course will entice sailors who must contend with Puget Sound’s quirks.

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“It’s a challenge for the teams, because you could be in a river of current going with you, and you’ve got a speed advantage on somebody just 100 yards to your left,” explained Anderson, the regatta chair.

Winds switch direction, pick up or die down on a whim. Tidal shifts create intense currents. Landforms from the Olympic Mountains far to the west to Discovery Park just to the south can influence how wind behaves in ways that have taken local sailors years to master.

Those hard-to-predict subtleties motivated some sailors to show up early and familiarize themselves with the course, like Graham Kirby, of West Vancouver, B.C.

“I’ve done races here where I’ve come in second and second-to-last,” he said, pausing from last-minute maintenance on his boat, the Blurrrr, along with his team of two sons and one grandson. “It’s all over the map.”

Kirby and his family visiting from just over the border to scope out the course are the closest international competitors, but there will be others in town for the championship from as far as Argentina, Greece and Japan who will have a chance to see what defending world champion Whittemore has been telling competitors as he travels the globe.

“Seattle is a marvelous sailing venue,” he said. “It is time to show that off.”

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