BoatsJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/22

J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/22

Fractional Sloop · Fin w/transom Hung Rudder · First built 1983

A high-performance fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio designed for competitive one-design racing

Designed by Rodney S. Johnstone & Rod Johnstone.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/transom Hung Rudder

See her sail

The J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/22, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from keeldragger

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 2.44 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 812 kg of hull, so roughly 1,400 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Shoal draftDraws 1.16 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a beamy beam gives 9 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 9
CoastalBluewater

At 2.64 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.64
LightHeavy

117 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 117
EasygoingPowered-up

24.6 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 24.6
TenderStiff

39% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 39%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Lighter than ~89% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1046 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/22, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/22 is a fractional sloop designed by Rodney S. Johnstone, built by J Boats Tillotson Pearson since 1983. It measures 6.9 meters LOA with a 2.4-meter beam, 1.2-meter draft, and displaces 811 kg. The J/22 features a fin keel with a transom-hung rudder. Aboard keeldragger, a J/22 is sailed through the inner channel of Newport Beach, California, demonstrating its use as a casual daysailer.0:29 The crew describes the boat as a "rocket ship" during this outing, which involves navigating around other boat traffic and local landmarks.0:39

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
39.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
24.6
Displacement / length
116.5
Comfort ratio
8.6
Capsize screening
2.64
Hull speed
5.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
543
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/transom hung rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 1983
Designer
Rodney S. Johnstone, Rod Johnstone
Builder
J Boats Tillotson Pearson

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Allegro (Westell)6.32 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA John Westell-designed fractional sloop with twin keels, built for performance and shoal water access since 1956
J Boats J/706.93 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance fractional sloop designed by Alan Johnstone, with over 1,100 units delivered for one-design racing
J J/77.04 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 2024 fractional sloop with a shallow 1.16m draft and a high 23.55 sail-area-to-displacement ratio for responsive daysailing
Pogo 26.50 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA 6.5-metre ultralight racer with a 37.87 sail-area-to-displacement ratio built for high-speed planing
Bavaria Yachts 6066.50 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA lightweight 6.5-meter fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited coastal sailing
Ranger Yachts 226.86 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn IOR mini-ton racer with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio, built for competitive performance in a compact hull

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/22, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

The newsletter

New boats, new stories, from everywhere.

One email from the fleet — boats newly added, videos newly analyzed. No noise.

Report an issue