BoatsJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/28

J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/28

Fractional Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1986–1988

A 1986-1988 fractional sloop with a 38% ballast ratio, designed by Rod Johnstone for balanced cruising performance

Designed by Rodney S. Johnstone & Rod Johnstone.

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

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a beamy beam gives 22 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 22
CoastalBluewater

2.01 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.01
LightHeavy

255 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 255
EasygoingPowered-up

16.7 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.7
TenderStiff

38% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 38%

A balanced, easily-driven cruiser — comfortable and forgiving for coastal work.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
38.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.7
Displacement / length
255.1
Comfort ratio
22.4
Capsize screening
2.01
Hull speed
6.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
858
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1986–1988
Units built
71
Designer
Rodney S. Johnstone, Rod Johnstone
Builder
J Boats Tillotson Pearson

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

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.

Cal 2-298.84 mSame hull family0.2 m longerAn upgraded cruising variant of the standard 29, featuring enhanced equipment and a masthead rig
Islander Yachts 288.51 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Robert Perry-designed masthead sloop with over 400 built, favored by the designer himself for her balanced performance
Ranger Yachts 29 (Mull)8.71 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1970s masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, offering a balanced 1.98 capsize screening for coastal cruising
C&C Yachts 30-29.12 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA performance-oriented masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, designed by C&C for balanced club racing
Newport 30-19.14 mSame hull family0.5 m longerThe original 1968 production run of this masthead sloop, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for coastal sailing
Dufour Arpege 309.14 mSame hull family0.5 m longerA record-breaking production of over 1500 units, this MORC-compliant racer-cruiser defined a new standard for the 30-foot class

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 looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

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