BoatsJ/29 MH

J/29 MH

Masthead Sloop · Fin w/transom Hung Rudder · 1982–1987

A Rod Johnstone-designed masthead sloop built for speed, featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio.

Designed by Rodney S. Johnstone & Rod Johnstone, built by J Boats Tillotson Pearson.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/transom Hung 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 light displacement on a beamy beam gives 14 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 14
CoastalBluewater

At 2.43 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.43
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 171
EasygoingPowered-up

21.9 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 21.9
TenderStiff

35% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 35%

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

  • Beamier than ~76% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2384 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
35.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
21.9
Displacement / length
171.4
Comfort ratio
14.4
Capsize screening
2.43
Hull speed
6.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
983
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/transom hung rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1982–1987
Units built
298
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.

Jeanneau Rush 319.13 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Ron Holland-designed IOR half-tonner that served as the official boat for the Tour de France à la Voile
Maestro Boats 319.30 mSame hull family0.3 m longerAn E.G. van de Stadt-designed IOR 1/2 ton racer with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performance
Jeanneau Aquila 278.70 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Philippe H. Harle-designed masthead sloop offered in both standard and deep-keel Regatta configurations
First 30 E (Beneteau - Berret)9.30 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA 1981 International 1/2 Ton Cup winner based on the King One design, built as a masthead sloop for competitive racing
San Juan 288.74 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA 1977 masthead sloop with a 50% ballast ratio and fin keel, designed for balanced performance in a compact 28-foot hull
Spirit Yachts 30 (McMILLAN)9.15 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA lightweight, narrow-beam fractional sloop from Sean McMillan, designed for modern performance and classic aesthetics

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

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

The newsletter

New boats, new stories, from everywhere.

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

Report an issue