Design and Construction
The J/33 measures 33.5 feet overall, with a 28-foot waterline, an 11-foot beam, and a 6.2-foot draft. It displaces 8,100 pounds, carries 3,200 pounds of ballast, and has 561 square feet of sail area on a masthead sloop rig. Those figures place it firmly in the medium-light performance bracket, with a D/L of 165 and a SA/D of 22.3.
The hull form is purposeful rather than decorative. Minimal overhangs make the most of its 33 feet of sailing length. The midsection has some deadrise, which diminishes aft and becomes more pronounced forward in a V-shaped entry. The stern follows the style of the J/24 and J/35, while the fin and rudder are typical of the J Boats family. Overall, the profile is simple and uncluttered.
Above the waterline, the J/33 has a typical J Boats deck, with minimal camber and a boxy little cabintrunk. Its virtue is that it provides the required headroom in the minimum amount of space, leaving the deck clear for optimum play. There are no coamings cluttering the cockpit.
The rounded corners give the so-called Jacuzzi cockpit its name. In practice, it’s a footwell for the helmsman and one trimmer. Footrests beside the mainsheet traveler help the helmsman stay up to weather.
Rig and Handling
Forward, the boat has a toe rail; aft, genoa track takes its place along the rail. The two-spreader rig uses slightly swept-back spreaders. Disappearing checkstays are standard, presumably using a bullet block at the chainplates and some bungee cord.
From the factory, the boat was fitted with rod rigging, a hydraulic backstay, and Harken rudder bearings.
The J/33 has a pleasing upwind shape and the rock-solid feel on the wind associated with the J Boats family. There’s enough power to make the helmsman feel actively involved in driving the boat. Its well-rounded and effective performance range is a direct result of that medium-light displacement.
Accommodations and Auxiliary Power
Below, the layout favors function over flourish. The interior could be comfortable enough for a small family to cruise, with good berths and a semi-enclosed head, but nothing fancy beyond that.
A dining table is optional. So is a removable forepeak with cushions and a canvas curtain. Both are left to the owner’s cruising ambitions rather than required by the class.
Auxiliary power comes from a Volvo 2002 18 hp diesel. Tankage is 15 gallons of fuel and 30 gallons of water—modest capacities, but appropriate for a boat that performs so well it’s hard to have negative feelings about it.
Racing Identity and Ownership
Strict class rules were written and intended to minimize the expense of maintaining a competitive J/33. That suits a boat aimed at sailors keen on close one-design racing as well as competition in IMS and PHRF fleets.
The first of the new J/33s is now racing, with the expectation that this new J Boat will be very competitive.
The Verdict
The J/33 is a focused 33-foot performer that trades interior polish for racing ability and a clean, easy-to-work deck. Its medium-light hull, V-shaped forward entry, and J-family fin-and-rudder configuration give it a broad performance range, while the class rules are intended to keep the cost of competitive one-design sailing in check.
Pros
- Medium-light 8,100 lb hull and 165 D/L provide a well-rounded performance range
- Rock-solid upwind feel, with enough power to reward active driving
- Class rules written to minimize the cost of maintaining a competitive boat
- Typical J Boats deck leaves maximum room for crew movement
Cons
- Plain interior; the dining table and forepeak enclosure are optional rather than standard
- Cockpit footwell accommodates the helmsman and one trimmer, not a full crew
