Its 37-foot 10-inch waterline and modest 12-foot 9-inch beam taper to a leaner waterplane. Displacement is 17,900 pounds, with 6,900 pounds of lead ballast in the standard 7.5-foot bulb keel.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck are SCRIMP infusion-molded sandwich structures made with biaxial and quadraxial E-glass over Baltek end-grain balsa core, all bonded with vinylester resin. The hull-to-deck joint is glued with Plexus MA550.
TPI Inc., the boat’s builder, was among the first production yards to use resin infusion. During infusion, resin fills the slots in the balsa core, reducing voids and producing a laminate that is more resistant to water damage.
A low-profile coachroof and wide side decks make it easy to move around on deck. The fine entry and flat canoe body point to a hull tuned more for speed than volume.
Rig, Deck Layout, and Handling
The carbon mast has double swept-back spreaders and requires neither runners nor checkstays. The base rig includes Navtec rod rigging, a hydraulic backstay, and a Harken MKIII furler. A retractable carbon-fiber sprit carries an asymmetric spinnaker, which testers found much easier to manage than a conventional chute.
The main halyard and reef lines lead aft to the cockpit. The spinnaker and jib halyards remain at the mast, keeping the companionway clear. The 105 percent jib tacks easily, while the double-ended mainsheet and traveler sit directly ahead of the wheel. The 60-inch wheel is sized for the helmsman.
A well-matched bulb keel and spade rudder provide forgiving steering and surprising tracking for such high-aspect appendages. The generously sized, high-aspect rudder carried its load without stalling. The boat is light, responsive, and fast in light air, yet strong enough for offshore work.
The deck also provides plenty of storage. The lazaret and enormous seat locker offer scads of cockpit space for gear. The simple, robust rig should suit owners who want performance without the crew demands of a symmetric spinnaker.
Accommodations
Below, the modest beam and straightforward cabin sole give the interior the feel of a proper sailboat rather than a condo. The test boat had the standard three-cabin layout. An optional two-cabin arrangement places a guest stateroom aft, opposite a second head.
Headroom is 6 feet 4 inches beneath attractive cherry joinery. Large hanging lockers and cabinets provide generous stateroom storage. The forward master cabin feels spacious despite the retractable sprit’s housing tube running along the starboard side.
The U-shaped galley to starboard braces the cook securely, though its stowage is stingy for a boat of this size. To port, the full-size nav station is a proper desktop workspace rather than an afterthought, with room for useful electronics.
Two settees flank the table and serve as sea berths with lee cloths. Both heads have well-placed toilets that are easy to use in a seaway, and the aft head includes an effective wet locker. Superb handholds provide a mix of strong vertical and horizontal grips throughout the interior.
Machinery and Standard Equipment
Base equipment is generous and includes a Hall Spars carbon-fiber mast under 65 feet, AGM batteries, and a Force 10 propane stove. The 56-horsepower Yanmar runs at about 2,300 rpm. A shoal-draft keel was offered as an alternative.
Tankage is limited to 50 gallons each for fuel and water, a capacity that drew comment.
Known Issues
The prototype had some binding in the rudderstock bearing, which the J/Boat team was already correcting.
The specific boat sailed by one reviewer lacked a bow roller, which is needed for efficient anchoring with a plumb stem. Its toerail also stopped short of the mast. Shallow cockpit coamings provided little back support.
The Verdict
The J/133 thoughtfully extends the J/109 concept into a mid-40s performer that can race credibly while offering real cruising comfort. Its infused balsa sandwich construction, clean deck plan, simple rig, and asymmetric-spinnaker setup suit short-handed sailing. Below, the interior is ergonomic and seaworthy, though tankage and galley stowage are limited.
Pros
- Forgiving, precise steering from the matched bulb keel and high-aspect spade rudder
- Asymmetric spinnaker on a retractable carbon sprit simplifies downwind handling
- Infused SCRIMP laminate with void-reduced balsa core resists water damage
- Excellent nav station, superb handholds, and genuine sea berths
- Generous cockpit storage in the lazaret and large seat locker
Cons
- Only 50 gallons each of fuel and water
- Galley stowage is stingy for a boat of this size
- Shallow cockpit coamings provide little back support
- The prototype’s rudderstock bearing bound
- The boat sailed by one reviewer lacked a bow roller, and its toerail stopped short of the mast
