BoatsJ/40 Classic

J/40 Classic

Masthead Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1984–1993

A 12.19-metre masthead sloop with a 1.98m draft, balanced for offshore cruising and production stability

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

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

See her sail

The J/40 Classic, on the water

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

Footage from The Mariner

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 moderate beam gives 28 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 28
CoastalBluewater

1.86 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.86
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 204
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.9
TenderStiff

36% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 36%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

What the fleet has seen

The J/40 Classic, as the fleet has seen it

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

The J/40 CLASSIC is a Masthead Sloop designed by Rodney S. Johnstone and built by J Boats Tillotson Pearson between 1984 and 1993. It measures 12.2 meters LOA, with a 3.7-meter beam, a 2.0-meter draft, and displaces 8164 kg. The design features a fin keel with a spade rudder, with options for a draft-wing keel at 1.65 meters or a shallow draft fin at 1.52 meters. The J/40 CLASSIC was among the diverse fleet of production cruiser-racers and performance one-designs gathered at Mandal for the Race to the Arctic, as seen by SEILmagasinet.watch

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

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
36.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.9
Displacement / length
204.4
Comfort ratio
27.9
Capsize screening
1.86
Hull speed
7.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1478
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1984–1993
Units built
85
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.

Beneteau Oceanis 4012.15 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA spacious fractional sloop from Berret-Racoupeau featuring a versatile optional shallow draft keel
He almost went home alone… nothing went as planned… Vlog 1220:49from Vagabond Voyages
Beneteau First 3812.25 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Jean Berret-designed masthead sloop built for performance, offered with multiple keel and rig configurations
Boat Tour: Is This CHEAP 38ft Sailboat my next 10-year boat? ft Adventureman Dan0:21from Huub Vlogs
Beneteau 4012.14 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 2007 Berret-Racoupeau design with a 1.9m draft, also marketed internationally as the Oceanis 40 and Moorings 41.3
EASY 40 Foot Sailboats Selling CHEAP - Ep 326 - Lady K Sailing0:47from Lady K Sailing
Hunter Marine 40.5 Legend12.24 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA B&R rigged cruiser featuring a shoal-draft wing keel designed for stable, comfortable coastal passage making
Back on the Water in Texas! Buc-ee’s, Broken Brakes & Baby’s First Sail VLOG 280 4K16:23from Sailing Sunday
Dufour Yachts 405 Grand Large12.17 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12-metre cruiser featuring a 2.03m fin keel and a balanced displacement-to-ballast ratio for stable coastal passages
Dufour 405from SVN solovelanet
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40.312.20 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.2-metre masthead sloop featuring a 1.95-metre fin-and-bulb keel designed for stable, mid-2000s cruising
Krait sailboat. Around the world in 2 yearsfrom Velero Regina

The family

Boats like this

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

J/36 ClassicA high-performance fractional sloop with a 22.07 SA/displacement ratio, built for speed between 1981 and 1984J J/40A 2024 Alan Johnstone fractional sloop featuring a high-performance fin keel and spade rudder configurationJ/41 FRA 12.44-metre IOR 1-ton level racer featuring a high 23.24 SA/displacement ratio for competitive speedJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/44A 13.69-metre masthead sloop designed for offshore performance with a 2.44m draft and a powerful 21.26 SA/displacement ratioJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/41A 12.47-metre IOR 1-ton level racer available in both masthead and fractional rig configurationsJ Boats Tillotson Pearson J/39A masthead-rigged 12-metre performance cruiser with a 2.21m fin keel, built for speed and offshore stability

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