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.

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
Seafarer Yachts 309.13 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA masthead sloop available with a tall rig and keel centerboard, distinct from the earlier Tripp-designed model
Lancer 30-28.99 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA masthead sloop derived from the original C&C 30 moulds, offering a stable fin-keel platform for coastal cruising
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
San Juan 288.74 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1977 masthead sloop with a 50% ballast ratio and fin keel, designed for balanced performance in a compact 28-foot hull

The family

Boats like this

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

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

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

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