BoatsJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/24

J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/24

Fractional Sloop · Fin w/transom Hung Rudder · First built 1977

The world's most popular one-design keelboat, featuring a light 1406kg displacement for responsive, agile handling

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/24, on the water

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

Footage from The Sailing Doodles Podcast

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelyComfort 12Sea-kindly
CoastalCapsize 2.44Bluewater
LightD/L 173Heavy
EasygoingSA/D 19.7Powered-up
TenderBallast 31%Stiff

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

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 3 times across 2 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/24 on video

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
30.6%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
19.7
Displacement / length
173.0
Comfort ratio
12.3
Capsize screening
2.44
Hull speed
6.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
636
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/transom hung rudder
Construction
FG balsa cored hull & deck
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 1977
Units built
5400
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.

Halcyon 236.93 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA triple-keeled masthead sloop by Alan H. Buchanan, offering shallow-draft versatility based on the earlier Crystal 23
Dehler Yachts 25CR7.50 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Van de Stadt-designed fractional sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio built for spirited performance
Maxi Yachts 777.70 mSame hull family0.4 m longerThe most popular model in the builder's history, offering both inboard and outboard engine options for versatile cruising
J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/808.00 mSame hull family0.7 m longerA 1992 fractional sloop with a high 26.59 sail area-to-displacement ratio, engineered for rapid, agile performance
Martinique 257.70 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA Brazilian-built masthead sloop with a 44% ballast ratio, offering a stiff and stable platform for coastal cruising
Bavaria Yachts 6066.50 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterA lightweight 6.5-meter fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited coastal sailing

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.

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