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 12.2-meter masthead sloop designed by Rodney S. Johnstone and built by J Boats Tillotson Pearson between 1984 and 1993. It features a fin keel with a spade rudder, a 3.7-meter beam, a 2.0-meter draft, and displaces 8164 kg. The J/40 is a 40-foot cruiser known for its balance and Harken deck hardware. It was tested by SEILmagasinet as a performance boat.0:15

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

On the water

The J/40 Classic on video

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
40' Beneteau Oceanis Full Sailboat Tour (Wonderful Turkish Couple)32:06from Adventureman Dan
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
Beneteau Oceanis 40012.19 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Groupe Finot-designed masthead sloop built for the charter trade and widely known as the Moorings 405
Women at Sea (Sailing Zatara Z-Log)3:21from Sailing Zatara
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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