J/28
J Boats (Tillotson Pearson) · designed by Rod Johnstone · 1986
fin keelFractional rigUnited States
The J/28 is a 29-foot fractional rig sailboat designed by Rod Johnstone and built by J Boats (Tillotson Pearson), first launched in 1986.
General
| Builder | J Boats (Tillotson Pearson) |
|---|---|
| Designer | Rod Johnstone |
| Years built | 1986 |
| Hull type | fin keel |
| Rig type | Fractional rig |
| Construction | fiberglass |
| Origin | United States |
Dimensions
| LOA | 28.50 ft8.69 m |
|---|---|
| LWL | 24.00 ft7.32 m |
| Beam | 10.00 ft3.05 m |
| Draft (max) | 5.00 ft1.52 m |
| Displacement | 7,900 lb3,583 kg |
| Ballast | 3,000 lb1,361 kg |
| Sail Area | 413 ft²38.4 m² |
Design ratios
Computed from the specs above using the standard formulas. Try the sailboat calculators with your own numbers.
SA / Displacement 16.66 Cruiser — good all-round performance
Ballast / Displacement 38.0 % Higher = stiffer / more sail-carrying power
Displacement / Length 255 Moderate
Comfort Ratio 22.4 Coastal cruiser
Capsize Screening 2.01 Better suited to coastal use (> 2.0)
Hull Speed 6.6 kn Theoretical max displacement speed
How these numbers are calculated
- SA / Displacement
SA ÷ (Disp ÷ 64)^(2/3)— Power-to-weight. < 16 under-canvassed, 16–20 cruiser, > 20 racer.- Ballast / Displacement
Ballast ÷ Disp × 100— Stability/stiffness. Higher carries sail better.- Displacement / Length
Disp(lt) ÷ (0.01 · LWL)³— < 100 ultralight, 100–200 light, 200–300 moderate, > 300 heavy.- Comfort Ratio (Brewer)
Disp ÷ (0.65 · (0.7·LWL + 0.3·LOA) · Beam^1.33)— Motion in a seaway. Higher = more comfortable offshore.- Capsize Screening
Beam ÷ (Disp ÷ 64)^(1/3)— ≤ 2.0 favored for offshore; > 2.0 better for coastal use.- Hull Speed
1.34 · √LWL— Theoretical max displacement speed in knots.
Estimated price
$24,000 typical range $19,000 – $29,000
⚠ Rough estimate only — not market data. Derived from a simple model based on length and hull age; actual asking prices vary widely with condition, equipment, engine hours and location.
