BoatsJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/35

J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/35

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1983–1992

A masthead sloop with a 2.1-metre draft and a 42% ballast ratio, available in a shoal-draft configuration

Designed by Rodney S. Johnstone & Rod Johnstone.

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

See her sail

The J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/35, on the water

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

Footage from Sailing Sea Dream of Clyde

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 moderate beam gives 19 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 19
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 2.16
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 174
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 21.3
TenderStiff

42% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 42%

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

  • Draws more than ~86% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2963 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/35, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/35 is a Masthead Sloop designed by Rodney S. Johnstone and built by J Boats Tillotson Pearson from 1983 to 1992. It measures 10.8 meters LOA with a 3.6-meter beam and a 2.1-meter draft, displacing 4762 kg.14:25 A shoal draft version was also available, and a small number were built under license in Australia.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
41.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
21.3
Displacement / length
173.6
Comfort ratio
19.2
Capsize screening
2.16
Hull speed
7.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1265
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1983–1992
Units built
330
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.

X-362 Sport10.70 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA performance-oriented fractional sloop with a 2.03-metre draft and a high 21.06 sail area-to-displacement ratio
Sailing under a low bridge2:24from SEILmagasinet
J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/10910.74 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 10.74-metre fractional sloop offering a shoal draft keel option and powered by a reliable Volvo D1-30 diesel engine
GGR 2026 - SITraN Challenge Prologue — 2026-08-17 12:00-18:004:08:10from Golden Globe Race Official
Beneteau First 36s710.90 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA performance-oriented fractional sloop by Berret-Racoupeau, featuring a bulb keel and an optional taller IMS rig
Sailing for Beginners | Top 10 Questions Everyone Asks9:21from Practical Sailor
Waarschip 36 LD10.80 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance fractional sloop featuring optional water ballast and a deep-draft keel for serious speed
The Man's (and Boat's) Fight Against Osmosis and Rain | #SAILING #367from Hashtag Sal
Beneteau First 3510.72 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn IOR 3/4 ton racer with a masthead rig, built for offshore speed and later marketed in the US as the R/C 35
Øyvind and Morten Knudsen on the Doublehanded European Championship in Finland3:12from SEILmagasinet
Beneteau Oceanis 34.110.77 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Marc Lombard-designed cruiser featuring a hull with dual rudders and multiple keel options for versatile performance
A Liveaboard That Sails Like a Race Boatfrom Practical Sailor

The family

Boats like this

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

J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/35cA performance-oriented masthead sloop derived from the J/34C, featuring an extended stern and a standard fin keelJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/33A high-performance masthead sloop from Rod Johnstone, featuring a light displacement and a powerful sail area ratioJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/34A dedicated IOR 3/4 ton level racer built for competitive speed with a 20.11 sail-area-to-displacement ratioJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/37A masthead sloop with a 2.21-metre draft and a 42% ballast ratio, built for performance-minded sailorsJ 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/39A masthead-rigged 12-metre performance cruiser with a 2.21m fin keel, built for speed and offshore stability

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/35, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/35

The newsletter

New boats, new stories. Every week, everywhere.

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

Report an issue