J-Boats J/109 Buyer's Guide
The J/109 is a 35-foot racer/cruiser from J Boats Tillotson Pearson, with nearly 400 built between 2001 and 2012 before the model was discontinued. On the used market she appeals to sailors who want a light, fast hull that still sleeps two cabins comfortably. Rod Johnstone drew her as a fractional sloop on a 53.5-foot mast, and the standard boat carries a non-overlapping furling headsail, self-tailing winches, and a retractable bowsprit for the asymmetrical spinnaker — a package that suits a couple or a small crew.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every J/109 has two cabins, with the forward V-berth also serving as the stowage space for the retracted bowsprit when the spinnaker is not flying. The standard keel draws seven feet, but buyers will encounter a reduced-draft model featuring a 5.75-foot keel on some examples, and should confirm which is on the boat in front of them. Below, the factory delivered an 18.5-gallon fuel tank under the aft cabin berth and 21 gallons of water — both small for long cruises — paired with an 80 amp-hour house battery bank on a 12-volt system. The Yanmar 3GM30 diesel, rated 27 horsepower with sail drive and folding prop, is the auxiliary on all examples.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats on the market carry an asymmetric spinnaker and often a code zero or conventional spinnaker for offwind range, with a chartplotter, autopilot, AIS, and life raft commonly fitted for shorthanded or coastal work. Heating and a dodger are often seen, and electric winches turn up frequently as an upgrade for easier sail handling. Less common but worth noting as owner additions are a hot-water system, bimini, and EPIRB. A buyer cross-shopping a Beneteau First 36.7 or Dehler 36 SQ will find the J/109's factory tankage the leanest of the group.
What to Inspect
The hull uses balsa composite and vinylester outer skin, molded through a SCRIMP resin infusion process for strength, with GRP bulkheads bonded to hull and deck. Keel ballast is 3,900 pounds of lead cast and bolted to a deep molded stub — check the keel-to-stub bond for any separation or weepage. Factory fuel is 18.5 gallons and water 21 gallons with an 80 amp-hour battery, smaller than many cruisers want, so verify any owner upgrades to these systems. Confirm the retractable bowsprit mechanism stows cleanly into the V-berth and the furling headsail system operates without binding.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
J/109s are typically found in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, Germany, and Netherlands. For a buyer, the takeaway is straightforward:
- Confirm keel version (7 ft standard vs 5.75 ft shoal)
- Verify fuel, water, and battery upgrades if cruising is planned
- Exercise the bowsprit retraction and headsail furler
- Check keel-stub bond and bonded bulkheads during survey
- Expect to add heating, dodger, or electric winches if not already fitted
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the J-Boats J/109. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 10 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 1 | $105,000 | — |
| Jul 25 | 3 | $99,000 | -5.7% |
| Oct 25 | 2 | $135,969 | +37.3% |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $111,746 | -17.8% |
| Jan 26 | 4 | $110,000 | -1.6% |
| Mar 26 | 3 | $99,700 | -9.4% |
| Apr 26 | 15 | $135,969 | +36.4% |
| May 26 | 3 | $115,000 | -15.4% |
| Jun 26 | 3 | $135,000 | +17.4% |
| Jul 26 | 3 | $115,573 | -14.4% |
Where they're listed
J-Boats J/109 listings appear across 5 countries. United States has the most listings with 17 (50.0%), followed by United Kingdom and Canada.
Country view
34 listings · 5 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $115,000 | 17 | 2 | 50.0% |
| United Kingdom | $115,573 | 13 | 2 | 38.2% |
| Canada | $159,900 | 2 | 0 | 5.9% |
| France | $114,786 | 1 | 0 | 2.9% |
| Netherlands | $127,022 | 1 | 1 | 2.9% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-Boats J/105 | 34.5' | $ 59,750 | 56 | 24 |
| J-Boats J/109You are here | — | $ 115,000 | 35 | 6 |
| Judel/Vrolijk J/30 | 29.83' | $ 14,500 | 26 | 9 |
| J-Boats J/32 | 32.6' | $ 65,000 | 25 | 12 |
| J-Boats J/35 | 35.5' | $ 25,161 | 22 | 5 |
| J-Boats J/133 | 43' | $ 180,000 | 21 | 3 |
| J-Boats J/88 | 29.19' | $ 135,000 | 17 | 6 |
| Kirie 1090 | 36.42' | $ 43,702 | 16 | 3 |
| J-Boats J/97 | 31.53' | $ 138,887 | 14 | 8 |
| Elan 36 | 36.09' | $ 57,416 | 11 | 3 |
| J Boats J/130 | 42.7' | $ 131,250 | 6 | 4 |