# J/35 > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/J/35 > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/J/35.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%2F35 > Source revision: 1315646316 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) The **J/35** is an American [sailboat](/source/Sailboat) that was designed by [Rod Johnstone](/source/Rod_Johnstone) as a [racer](/source/Sailing_(sport)) and first built in 1983.[1][2][3] ## Production The design was built by [Tillotson Pearson](/source/Tillotson_Pearson) for [J/Boats](/source/J/Boats) in the [United States](/source/United_States) and also by [Sydney Yachts](/source/Sydney_Yachts)/[Bashford International](/source/Bashford_International) in [Australia](/source/Australia), between 1983 and 1992. A total of 330 boats were completed, with only a few built in Australia.[1][3][4][5] ## Design The J/35 is a recreational [keelboat](/source/Keelboat), built predominantly of [fiberglass](/source/Fiberglass) over a [balsa](/source/Balsa) core and with wooden trim. It has a [masthead sloop](/source/Masthead_sloop) rig with [aluminum](/source/Aluminum) spars, a [raked stem](/source/Raked_stem), a [reverse transom](/source/Reverse_transom) with a swim ladder, an internally mounted spade-type [rudder](/source/Rudder) controlled by a [tiller](/source/Tiller) and a fixed fin [keel](/source/Keel). It displaces 10,500 lb (4,763 kg) and carries 4,400 lb (1,996 kg) of ballast. It can be fitted with a [spinnaker](/source/Spinnaker) for downwind sailing.[1][3] The boat has a draft of 6.90 ft (2.10 m) with the standard keel and 6.00 ft (1.83 m) with the optional shoal draft keel.[1] The boat is fitted with a Japanese [Yanmar](/source/Yanmar) [diesel engine](/source/Diesel_engine) of 30 hp (22 kW) for docking and maneuvering. The fuel tank holds 20 US gallons (76 L) and the fresh water tank has a capacity of 35 US gallons (130 L).[1] As a racer, the below decks accommodations are spartan in nature. The boat has six berths, including a bow "V"-berth, two main cabin settee berths and two quarter berths extending under the cockpit. The [galley](/source/Galley_(kitchen)) is located on both sides of the boat, at the foot of the [companionway](/source/Companionway) steps and includes a two-burner, alcohol (or optional propane) fired stove and an [icebox](/source/Icebox). There is a sink with hand-pumped water. The [head](/source/Head_(watercraft)) is located forward, just aft of the "V"-berth.[3] Ventilation is provided by eight opening ports and two deck hatches.[3] The cockpit is self-bailing and features [teak](/source/Teak) footrests. For sailing there are two main, two-speed [genoa](/source/Genoa_(sail)) winches, two secondary winches and one [halyard](/source/Halyard) winch. The [mainsheet](/source/Mainsheet) has a 4:1 mechanical advantage, which a fine tuning system with 16:1. There is a [mainsheet traveler](/source/Mainsheet_traveler) with a 4:1 car. An 8:1 [boom vang](/source/Boom_vang) is also provided, along with [jib](/source/Jib) tracks. The [standing rigging](/source/Standing_rigging) is mostly of steel rod construction.[3] The design has a [PHRF](/source/Performance_Handicap_Racing_Fleet) racing average handicap around 70.[3][6] ## Operational history Keelboat sailing champion Andreas Josenhans wrote a review of the design in *Sailing World Magazine*, stating, "the J/35 has … become one of North America's most popular 35-footers … Not only is it one of the fastest boats in its size range, but a growing class organization has helped promote one design competition in the Great Lakes, Gulf Coast, and both the East and West coasts … The J/35 is a unique boat - it's half the price of a One Ton, but has the same speed in moderate conditions."[7] A review in *Practical Sailor* said, "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."[8] A review in Boats.com by engineer and marine surveyor Paul Grimes in 2010, noted some of the design's limitations, "A “displacement” boat - not a thrilling, planing boat downwind. Not the current look – no plumb bow, retractable sprit, etc. Has a racing cockpit, no raised coaming – when side decks get wet, butts get wet. Not a shoal draft boat – the fin keel draws 6'11". Has a tough rating - can be hard to sail to its 72-75 PHRF base rating – the boats have been raced well in the past."[9] ## See also - [List of sailing boat types](/source/List_of_sailing_boat_types) **Similar sailboats** - [Express 35](/source/Express_35) - [Mirage 35](/source/Mirage_35) ## References 1. McArthur, Bruce (2019). ["J/35 sailboat"](https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/j35). *sailboatdata.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200113224013/https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/j35) 13 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 January 2020. 1. McArthur, Bruce (2019). ["Rod Johnstone"](https://sailboatdata.com/designer/johnstone-rod). *sailboatdata.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200113224009/https://sailboatdata.com/designer/johnstone-rod) 13 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 January 2020. 1. Sherwood, Richard M.: *A Field Guide to Sailboats of North America, Second Edition*, pages 280-281. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994. ISBN 0-395-65239-1 1. McArthur, Bruce (2019). ["J Boats"](https://sailboatdata.com/builder/j-boats). *sailboatdata.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200113224009/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/j-boats) 13 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 January 2020. 1. McArthur, Bruce (2019). ["Sydney Yachts/Bashford Int."](https://sailboatdata.com/builder/sydney-yachtsbashford-int). *sailboatdata.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200113224012/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/sydney-yachtsbashford-int) 13 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 January 2020. 1. J/Boats. ["J/35 Review-Practical Sailors"](https://jboats.com/j35/j35-review-practical-sailor). *J Boats*. Retrieved 2025-10-07. 1. Josenhans, Andreas. ["J/35 – From the Experts"](https://www.jboats.com/89-j35/364-j35-review-sailingworld). *Sailing World Magazine*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150915091628/https://www.jboats.com/89-j35/364-j35-review-sailingworld) 15 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 January 2020. 1. ["J/35"](https://www.practical-sailor.com/reviews/boatreview/J_35-1201-1.html). *Practical Sailor*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200113222459/https://www.practical-sailor.com/reviews/boatreview/J_35-1201-1.html) 13 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 January 2020. 1. Grimes, Paul (15 April 2010). ["Used Boat Value: the J/35"](https://www.boats.com/reviews/used-boat-value-the-j35/). *Boats.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180627034442/http://www.boats.com/reviews/used-boat-value-the-j35/) 27 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 January 2020. ## External links - [Official website](https://www.jboats.com/31-j35/j35) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [J/35](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%2F35) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%2F35?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.