J Boats J/97 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

What separates the J/97 from traditional J/Boats is its hull form. The shape is much different than the traditionally narrow J/Boat, influenced by IRC and its encouragement of stiff and forgiving designs, and testers noted it is beamier and more flared than earlier models, with maximum beam just a hair over 11 feet carried virtually all the way back to the cockpit. J/Europe in France has been building J/Boats under license since the 1990s using the well-known SCRIMP resin-infusion system, and on the J/97 that means a balsa-core hull and Divinycell-core deck infused with polyester resins resin-infused core construction. Outboard chainplates and unidirectional composites running across the deck in the mast area remove the need for a main structural bulkhead at the mast, while a stainless steel fabrication embedded in the lead keel is tied to the boat with 10 bolts. Construction materials and standards of structural assembly and finish appear to be of high quality, and the hull comes with a 10-year limited warranty.

Rig and Handling

The sail plan features a 105-percent jib and a powerful mainsail that is easy to control from the helm using the adjustable backstay, boom vang, and mainsheet system tackles. Alan Johnstone chose the 105-percent jib because it is more powerful than a self-tacker while remaining quite easy to sheet, and the jib rolls up quickly and easily. A refined carbon bowsprit carries a large asymmetric chute and retracts into a self-draining tube; with no pole to fool with, handling the spinnaker is quite simple, although the boat won't sail as deep as one flying a conventional chute yet sails faster tacking downwind anyway. The aluminum Sparcraft double-spreader rig is served by a pair of cockpit primaries, cabin-top winches, a raised mainsheet traveler, adjustable jib-lead tracks, and an old-school-style split backstay system, with testers praising the low-friction sail controls. On the water the boat points high and maneuvers like a hummingbird while remaining simple to handle, can clock near wind speed in light to modest air, and accelerates immediately yet can be pinched up without dying. The tiller remains fingertip light thanks to the balanced high-lift rudder and smooth bearings, and the boat powers easily at 6.5 knots or better.

Accommodations

Belowdecks the J/97 has the volume, look, and feel of a 40-footer, with an interior wide open because the forward bulkhead is in front of the mast — a result of moving that bulkhead 32 inches forward to retain the V-berth while gaining saloon, head, and storage areas aft. The European-style layout favors a casual hangout over liveaboard density: two big plush settees sized for sea berths, an open V-berth, and a centerline table, with an aft double berth below and an enclosed head. A two-burner gimballed stove with oven swings in the galley alongside a single deep sink near the centerline, and a number of opening ports provide good ventilation throughout. Storage spaces aren't huge but are adequate for short cruises, augmented by hanging duffel-bag lockers that are easy to remove, and the cabin top crown helps provide 5-foot-11-inch headroom below while the hull retains a low profile. Up top, the deck plan is clean and functional with ergonomics providing comfortable positions for winching, driving, or lounging; full-length cockpit seats set the traveler flush, and inboard lips on the seat tops retain cushions and give good footrests.

Safety and Downflooding

A 15-inch-high bridgedeck stands as a buttress against any possible downflooding, and the wide-open transom drains shipped water instantly while providing a large space for a life raft, closable with a removable athwartships seat. The standard boat features a racy smooth sheer aft. These features, combined with the untwitchy handling brief, make the design forgiving for short-handed or inexperienced crews in coastal conditions.

Known Issues

Boat of the Year judges felt the high camber to the cabin top around the mast was less than ideal, and on the tested boat bolts protruding from furling gear mounted on the cabin top weren't capped and could contribute to head nicks — Alan Johnstone later said any protruding bolts would be capped on all future boats. The test boat had no stops on the rudder, allowing the blade to develop considerable leverage when backing under power, though rudder stops are standard and that boat was retrofitted. Some experts have questioned the longevity of balsa core and the fastening of deck to hull with Plexus without fasteners. There's no real keel sump, so bilge water can migrate up along the hull sides when the boat heels, and the keel's near-vertical leading edge may not take too kindly to rock ledges.

The Verdict

The J/97 succeeds as a versatile family raceboat and coastal cruiser that punches well above its 31 feet 6 inches length, blending a forgiving IRC-influenced hull with a simple, well-balanced rig and an open, high-volume interior. It is an honest entry-level J/Boat that rewards inexpert crews yet still sparks in club racing.

Pros