Design and Construction
The hull shows a flat run at the transom with moderate beam aft in plan view, a deck line forward that is not too fine, and moderate overhangs that give the boat a pleasing look without sacrificing interior volume. TPI built the J/110 with its SCRIMP resin-infusion process, which optimizes glass content and saves weight by reducing the resin needed to wet out the laminate anchor. The structure is cored with Baltek end-grain balsa between biaxial and unidirectional glass, with vinylester resin on the outer hull layer to retard osmotic blistering, and the boat carried a 10-year warranty against blistering. The deck is bonded to the hull along a three-inch inturned flange with Plexus MA550 adhesive, all bulkheads are tabbed to hull and deck for stiffness, and the main structural bulkhead is a molded fiberglass element built to carry chainplate loads and reinforce the mast area. Solid glass L-beam floors promote hull rigidity and carry the keel, while a custom aluminum I-beam forms the keel-step mast support. Each keel is a 4,500-pound lead-and-antimony fin that is bolted and epoxy bonded into the molded-in sump.
Rig and Handling
The J/110 uses a near-masthead rig arranged so the big asymmetrical chute head stays clear of the genoa furling gear during gybes, with a standard two-spreader Hall aluminum spar and Navtec continuous-rod standing rigging; a Hall carbon spar was an option that saved 100 pounds aloft. The mast steps well forward and conveniently through the head, so any drips at the partners fall into a good draining area. End-boom sheeting keeps the traveler close to the helmsman, and the secondaries, traveler controls, and mainsheet are all grouped near the wheel, with halyards and reefing lines led aft to two winches at the companionway. A 5-foot retractable pole and a socked chute make flying the kite a two-person job. Writing in Cruising World, testers found she tacked easily inside 85 to 95 degrees upwind in 10 knots and held six knots through the water, then cracked off to the high sevens with the asymmetrical off the sprit anchor, and called the steering sweet and responsive with ideal feedback.
Accommodations
The interior follows a basic layout A, with a T-shaped cockpit dedicated at the helm yet seating four between traveler and companionway — ideal for one couple but social enough for guests. Below, an owner's V-berth forward has its own drawer chest and hanging locker, with the single head and shower accessible from both the saloon and the forward stateroom. The saloon pairs an L-shaped port settee with a straight starboard longitudinal around a folding dinette, while the galley tucks L-shaped to port and a very nice aft-facing nav station sits to starboard with room for electronics and the DC panel. The quarter berth was expanded to double size by extending it under the cockpit well and aft of the engine box; a wet locker and another double berth occupy the starboard hip. Portlights and five opening hatches bring light and air, and the traditional teak trim with white Formica surfaces reads easygoing rather than precious. Tankage runs 65 gallons of water in two baffled tanks and 21 gallons of fuel in a single tank.
Equipment and Power
The standard auxiliary is a 28-horsepower Yanmar 3GM30 turning a 16-inch Martec folding two-blade prop on a one-inch stainless shaft, with excellent access via the removable stairway unit. A 50-amp alternator feeds two deep-cycle gel cells on a standard 12-volt system, and a 110-volt shore package with battery charger was optional. A molded deck dam forward of the companionway secures a near-weatherproof dodger, local instrument repeaters mount on canted coaming faces, and a Danforth- or Fortress-type anchor lives in a starboard deck locker at the chainplates, with a removable bow roller available as an option.
The Verdict
The J/110 is a purpose-built small-performance cruiser with a genuinely clever infusion-molded structure and a sail plan that two people can handle without strain. Her limited production keeps her uncommon, but the design rewards a buyer who wants light-air quickness and clean deck logic over volume or tankage.
Pros
- Light, strong Baltek-cored infusion structure with a 10-year blister warranty
- Two-person asymmetric and furling setup with all controls led aft
- Excellent engine access and a well-thought-out nav and quarter-berth layout
Cons
- Only 21 gallons of fuel and 65 gallons of water limit range
- Uncommon on the used market due to limited production
- Near-masthead rig demands careful chute-to-furler clearance discipline
