BoatsJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/24

J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/24

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

A legendary Rodney Johnstone design that defined the modern one-design racer with its high sail-area-to-displacement ratio

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.

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a beamy beam gives 12 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 12
CoastalBluewater

At 2.44 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.44
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 173
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 19.7
TenderStiff

31% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 31%

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

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Sirius 7277.27 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA development of the Sirius 24, this fractional sloop features a fin keel with skeg-mounted rudder for balanced handling
Two Different Ways Sailing Changes Lives | #SAL #2510:15from Hashtag Sal
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
Zero Dollar Cruising Dream | Halcyon 23from Practical Sailor
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
Don't Make The Same MISTAKE We Did [Ep.28]9:27from Sailing Oceanaire | Wik & Rox
Catalina Yachts 22 MKII7.26 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn upgraded 1995 iteration of the classic trailerable cruiser, featuring a fin keel and transom-hung rudder
Why TODAY Is the Best Time to Buy a 22-Foot Sailboat2:24from Lady K Sailing
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 24.27.30 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Jacques Fauroux-designed fractional sloop built for coastal cruising with a stable fin-and-bulb keel
Sailing under asymmetric spinnaker with a Sun Odyssey1:24from VOILIER ODIN
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
From Helsesista to Adventure Tale: How she found joy on the "high seas" in the Inner Oslo Fjordfrom SEILmagasinet

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/27A high-performance fractional sloop from Rod Johnstone with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited racingJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/22A high-performance fractional sloop designed by Rod Johnstone, built for competitive one-design racing and day sailingJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/30A 1979-1986 production racer-cruiser featuring a fin keel and transom-hung rudder for responsive handlingJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/80A 1992 fractional sloop with a high 26.59 sail area-to-displacement ratio, engineered for rapid, agile performanceJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/28A 1986-1988 fractional sloop with a 38% ballast ratio, designed by Rod Johnstone for balanced cruising performanceJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/33A high-performance masthead sloop from Rod Johnstone, featuring a light displacement and a powerful sail area ratio

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