Design and Construction
J/Boats built the 112E in France through J Composites Shipyard, which is licensed to manufacture several models for the Newport, Rhode Island-based company. The boat follows the marque’s resin-infusion tradition, with a carefully crafted SCRIMP resin-infused deck and hull.
The end-grain balsa-cored hull has an outer layer of vinylester resin and a vinylester barrier coat intended to prevent osmosis and blistering. The deck laminate uses a foam core to help lower the center of gravity. An infused fiberglass floor-stringer grid adds stiffness and helps carry rig and keel loads, while all intermediate bulkheads are glassed to both the hull and deck to stiffen the structure further. The builder backs the hull with a 10-year warranty.
The 36-foot hull has a displacement of 11,300 pounds and carries 4,000 pounds of ballast, giving it a ballast ratio of 0.35. Its standard epoxy-encapsulated cast-iron fin and lead bulb keel draws 6 feet 11 inches. A shoal option is available for sailors who need access to shallow berths.
V-shaped bow sections are intended to improve directional stability and reduce slamming when the seas build. A sculpted cabintrunk, blunt ends, and a springy sheer give the boat its distinctive profile.
Rig and Sail Plan
The standard rig is a slightly fractional, double-spreader tapered aluminum mast, paired with a minimally overlapping blade jib. A carbon mast is optional for sailors looking to reduce weight aloft. Rod rigging, a hydraulic backstay adjuster, moveable genoa cars, and a retractable offset carbon bowsprit provide plenty of scope for sail trim. The jib and main halyards are low-stretch Dyneema.
A 105 percent jib flies on a Harken unit for cruising, while the retractable carbon sprit carries an asymmetric kite. With 696 square feet of sail and a 31-foot-9-inch waterline, the J/112E has a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 22.
Cockpit, Handling, and Auxiliary Power
The cockpit is laid out around a single recessed wheel. The mainsheet ends run into watertight boxes in the cockpit sidewalls before reaching their winches, leaving the sole clear. There’s a liferaft locker to starboard, a large storage locker to port, and a removable stainless steel swim step as standard.
On the water, the trademark high-aspect, semi-balanced spade rudder gave Cruising World’s tester fingertip control through its chain-and-wire linkage. The slippery hull and powerful rudder also make the boat a pleasure to maneuver under power.
Auxiliary power comes from a 30 hp Volvo saildrive. Tankage is modest, with 53 gallons of water and 22 gallons of fuel. The boat’s somewhat restricted fuel capacity reflects its role as a boat that only needs to motor in the truly light stuff.
Accommodations
Below, cold-molded solid and laminated walnut contrasts with white side and ceiling panels. Large cabintrunk windows and a pair of small hull windows help make the saloon inviting.
The owner’s cabin forward has a roomy double V-berth with storage beneath, a large hanging locker, and double doors opening into the saloon. A second private cabin and double quarterberth to starboard give the boat two private cabins, in addition to the saloon settees.
A pair of straight settees flank the folding dining table. They are plenty long to serve as good sea berths for a 6-footer, an important feature on a true seagoing boat. Robust grabrails run fore and aft along both sides of the deckhead.
The L-shaped galley is to starboard, close to the companionway. Opposite, the single head and shower can also serve as a wet locker.
Performance Under Sail
Aboard Mary Gail in the 2016 Chicago to Mackinac Race, the tester finished second in the boat’s section and regularly clocked speeds in excess of 16 knots flying the chute, with a maximum of 18.2 knots.
On a close reach in 7–8 knots of wind, the boat promptly sailed at wind speed under a Code 0 and pulled away from its competition in light air. After the first squall, the crew shifted down to a genoa, and the boat tacked with confidence. Late in the race, its well-balanced helm and spade rudder proved more than up to controlling the boat in a following sea.
The Verdict
The J/112E is a thoughtfully evolved 36-footer that blends J/Boats’ race-bred DNA with genuine cruising livability. Its infused balsa-and-foam structure, outboard chainplates, and adjustable rig deliver light-air acceleration and confident heavy-weather control. Below, the walnut-finished interior and sea-berth settees make it livable offshore.
The trade-offs are modest fuel capacity and the deep standard keel. For sailors who can accommodate those limitations, the J/112E offers cruising comfort without straying far from its performance roots.
Pros
- Resin-infused balsa hull with a vinylester osmosis barrier and 10-year builder warranty
- Light-air performance demonstrated by wind-speed close reaches, plus speeds exceeding 16 knots under the chute
- Long, straight settees that serve as proper sea berths for a 6-footer
- Single recessed wheel and watertight mainsheet boxes keep the cockpit clear and controllable
Cons
- Restricted 22-gallon fuel capacity limits motoring range
- Standard 6-foot-11-inch draft excludes many shallow berths without the shoal option
