j 24 sailboat specs

Sailboat specifications

• Last update: 13rd March 2020

J/24's main features

J/24's main dimensions, j/24's rig and sails, j/24's performances, j/24's auxiliary engine, j/24's accommodations and layout.

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• Sailboat Reviews

The right boat at the right time, the J/24 has proven to be a wildly successful one-design racer.

The J/24 is one of those boats that happened along at just the right time, with the right marketing to a ready market. Some may wonder whether the tale of her success would make a better textbook or a better storybook. Either way, much of the marine industry has studied her story, and then flattered her with the praise of emulation. However, no imitation or variation of the J/24 has yet to achieve her popularity.

Since her humble beginnings in 1976 in the garage of an amateur designer, thousands of boats have been sold from factories in Rhode Island, California, Australia, Japan, Italy, England, France, Brazil and Argentina. All of the builders are licensed by a company called J-Boats to build the J/24 to strict one-design tolerances. J-Boats is owned and run by two brothers—Bob and Rod Johnstone (the J in J-Boats).

Bob is the marketing whiz and Rod is the designer. Conservative estimates put their total revenue from the J/24, after buying the boats from the builders and selling them to the dealers, at several million dollars. Not bad considering how it all began….

Ragtime was a 24′ inspiration evolved by Rod Johnstone and his family in their garage as a two-year weekend project. Rod was a salesman for a marine publication, and an avid racer with a successful background in high-performance one designs. He had undertaken, but never completed, the Westlawn home-study course in naval architecture (although he has since been awarded an honorary degree so the school could use his name in its advertisements). Ragtime was launched in 1976, and was an instant winner, taking 17 firsts in 19 starts in eastern Connecticut. People began asking for their own boats.

At this time, brother Bob, also a respected racer, was working in the marketing department of AMF Alcort (Sunfish, Paceship, etc.). When Alcort declined to produce the J/24, Bob quit and formed JBoats. Tillotson-Pearson, builder of the Etchells 22 and the Freedom line of boats, was more receptive and production began in 1977. The first J/24s were as fast as Ragtime , and dominated regattas like the 1977 MORC Internationals. Bob made sure that the favorable results were well publicized; more than 200 boats were sold that year, and nearly 1,000 the next.

It was a big hit for a number of reasons. She moved into a void, appealing to two groups of sailors who were ripe for her type of racing: those who had outgrown athletic small boats, yet still yearned for the competition of one-design racing, and those who wished to compete without the expense, hassles and uncertainties of handicap racing.

The J/24 is a one design’s one design. Like the Laser, Windsurfer, and Hobie Cat, she is proprietary-built under the supervision of one company. Unlike most proprietary one designs, sails are not provided by the J/24’s builder. This was a particularly astute move by the Johnstones as it involved sailmakers in the class. Sailmakers comprise many of the big names in racing; by getting them in the regatta results, the Johnstones added instant credibility to the J/24’s budding status as a “hot” class. By the midwinter championship in 1979, almost every boat in the top 15 finishers had a sailmaker on board.

The big advantage that proprietary one designs have over “independent” one designs (classes with competing builders) is the power of centralized, bigbucks promotion. J-Boats has organized and promoted regattas, and had a heavy hand in running the class association. J/24s got a lot of press, thanks to JBoats. Full color, multi-page advertisements appeared monthly in the slick sailing magazines. Promotion has been primary; money is no object. J/24s have been donated for several high visibility USYRU championships. Big discounts have been given for fleet purchases (sometimes to effectively crush interest in competing one designs).

With the help of British enthusiasts, the Johnstones were able to make the J/24 an IYRU (International Yacht Racing Union) recognized class. More international lobbying got the J/24 into the Pan American Games.

There are some disadvantages to proprietary one designs. First, the class is in a real bind if the builder goes bankrupt. Likewise if the builder should ever abuse his power by ignoring class administration or changing construction of the boat to suit economic demands. Although a proprietary builder faces competition from other types of boats, there is no competition building his boat. This can inflate the price, especially when there are three substantial markups in the pricing structure (builder, J-Boats, and the dealer).

Construction

The J/24 has the distinct advantage of having been produced in great numbers and been subjected to the rigors of hard racing. It’s safe to say that nearly everything that could have broken, has broken, and that the J/24 is now almost bulletproof. J-Boats has done a commendable job in correcting nearly all of the “bugs” in the J/24. However, if you are planning to purchase a boat several years old you should be watchful for some of the old bugs.

Boats built during the first two years of production had particular problems with leaking along the hull-to-deck joint, delamination of the main bulkhead, and the attachment of the keel to the hull. The hull-to-deck leak was due to failure of the silicone sealant in the joint.

The inward-turning hull flange is overlapped by the deck, which is bedded in sealant and through-bolted at close intervals through a teak toe rail. Now this joint is bedded with 3M 5200, a pliable strong adhesive, and leaks are infrequent. Fortunately, the internal side of the joint is exposed throughout the boat’s interior, so recaulking is not difficult.

Harder to rectify is the problem of delamination of the main bulkhead. J/24s are raced hard, often with substantial rig tension. The chainplates pierce the deck and are bolted to the main bulkhead. The plywood bulkhead is tabbed with fiberglass to the hull and deck. The mast is stepped through the deck and sits on an aluminum beam, which is also tabbed to the main bulkhead. Rig tension pulls upward on the bulkhead while mast compression pushes downward on the beam, resulting in tremendous shearing forces on the bulkhead and its tabbing.

On some of the older J/24s, the plywood has delaminated, letting the mast “sink” 1/4 inch or more. Owners of these boats have either returned them to the factory for replacement of the bulkhead, or ground off the delamination and reglassed the bulkhead themselves. The builder now uses a better grade of plywood and installs screws to reinforce the bulkhead tabbing. As an added precaution, the boat owner may wish to bolt the mast-bearing beam to the bulkhead with an angle-iron.

The third problem with some of the older J/24s is the keel-to-hull attachment. The builder used to fill the keel sump with a vermiculite mixture of resin and plant fiber. The keel bolts were fastened through the vermiculite which, when saturated with water, is less rigid than solid laminations of fiberglass. After several years of sailing, or a hard grounding, the keel bolts would begin to work, and the keel would loosen enough to be able to be wobbled by hand with the boat suspended from a hoist. The first sign of this problem is the appearance of a crack along the keel stub. Tightening of the keel bolts, which are quality stainless steel, is a simple but temporary fix. What is needed is a backing plate for the bolts, bedded on top of the vermiculite.

There was a variety of other problems with early J/24s: The mast has three internal halyards; two jib halyards exit below the headstay with the spinnaker halyard above. On the older boats, a large square hole was cut in the mast to accommodate the sheaves, leaving an open, poorly supported space adjacent to the spinnaker sheave. This is sometimes the source of mast cracks; the fix is to weld a plate over it.

In January of 1980, the J/24 got much-improved companionway and forward hatches. The hatches on older boats were molded of thin fiberglass, and had a tendency to leak and fracture under the weight of heavy crew members. The new forward hatches are lexan, and the companionway hatch is now much heavier with a lower profile.

The J/24’s rudder is heavy and strong. The builder claims you can hang a 900 pound keel from the rudder tip without breaking it. Although the J/24’s rudder pintles appear more than adequate, after several years of use they have been known to develop corrosion cracks where the pintle is welded to its strap. In 1981, the builder began equipping J/24s with weldless pintles; the builder also offers the new system as a replacement for old boats.

The starboard chainplate bolts through both the bulkhead and the hull liner. The port chainplate bolts through only the bulkhead. After the first two years of production, the port bulkhead was reinforced with fiberglass in the chainplate area. On earlier boats, a backing plate should be added to prevent the chainplate bolts from elongating their holes.

The hull and deck of the J/24 are cored with balsa, which makes them stiff, light, quiet and relatively condensation-free. We have heard of occasional delaminations resulting from trailering with improperly adjusted poppets. The Kenyon mast section is the same as that used on the Etchells 22, a bigger boat. It is more than adequate for any strength of wind.

The J/24 does not have positive flotation, and she has been known to capsize in severe conditions. This is usually not a problem as she floats on her side with the companionway well out of the water. However, should the leeward cockpit locker fall open, water can rush below, filling the cabin and causing her to sink. While fastening the lockers in heavy weather prevents the problem, the manufacturer began to seal off the lockers from the cabin with an additional bulkhead several years ago, as a safety measure.

Of the 2,500 J/24s sold in the US, nearly 2,000 of them have been built by Tillotson-Pearson in Rhode Island. The others were built by Performance Sailcraft in San Francisco, which is now defunct. New boats are now shipped cross country. Top west coast sailors tell us they favor the east coast built boats, claiming the keels and rudders on the west coast built boats are too thick to be competitive. The west coast keels are thick because they are covered with injection-molded gelcoat. Tillotson-Pearson fairs the keels with auto body putty.

Handling Under Sail

The J/24’s PHRF rating ranges from 165 to 174, depending on the handicapper. She rates as fast as or faster than a C&C 30, Santana 30, or Pearson 30. One must remember that, because the J/24 has attracted competent owners, her PHRF rating is probably somewhat inflated. While the J/24 is an excellent training boat because she is so responsive, a beginning racer may have an especially hard time making her perform to her PHRF rating.

Aside from her speed, the J/24’s greatest asset is her maneuverability. With her stern hung rudder she can be turned in her own length, sculled out to a mooring in light air, and brought to a screeching halt by jamming the rudder over 90 degrees.

The J/24 has a narrow “groove;” it takes a lot of concentration to keep her going at top speed. She is sensitive to backstay trim, sheet tension, weight placement and lower shroud tension. The lower shrouds act like running backstays, because they are anchored aft of the mast. They must be loosened in light air to create some headstay sag, and then tightened in heavy air to straighten the mast, making backstay tension more effective in removing the sag.

Sheet tension is also critical. Top crews rarely cleat the genoa sheets, having one crewmember hold the tail while hiking from the rail. Some of the best sailors even lead the jib to the weather winch so the sail can be trimmed without sending crew weight to leeward.

The class rules allow you to race with a mainsail, a 150% genoa, a working jib and a single spinnaker. This makes sail selection simple and the inventory affordable (about $2,600 total). However, the one genoa must carry the boat all the way from a flat calm up to 20 knots or more. To be competitive in light air, the genoa must be full; yet to hold the boat level with this full genoa in a strong breeze, you need a lot of crew weight. Most of the top crews are now sailing with five people on board for a total crew weight of 800 to 900 pounds. The J/24 is a small boat, and the additional fifth crew member really makes the boat cramped. Add to this the increasing trend of some skippers making the crew sit in the cabin on the leeward bunk in light air, and you have a boat which can be less than fun to crew on.

There are two worthwhile improvements that can help a J/24’s performance. To decrease the boat’s slight tendency toward a lee helm in light air, the mast should be cut to minimum length allowed in the class rules, and the headstay should be lengthened to the maximum allowed to give the mast more rake. The other improvement is fairing the keel to minimum dimensions. The keel is much thicker than is necessary for optimum performance. It comes relatively fair from the builder, but most owners will want to grind off the builder’s auto-body filler and sharpen the trailing edge. On some of the older boats, the trailing edge is twice the minimum thickness.

Some racers go so far as to spend $500-$1,000 to have the keel professionally faired.

While all indications are that the builder has excellent quality control, there have been complaints that some of the spars provided by Kenyon in the last two years have come with the wrong length shrouds, or widely differing bend characteristics. One top sailor said he would never buy a used J/24 without first making sure that he could make the mast stand straight sideways with substantial shroud tension.

The J/24 is best suited for racing; there are many boats in her size range that are far more comfortable and practical for daysaiIing. However, the J/24 is a joy to sail under mainsail alone. Unlike most boats, she balances and sails upwind at a respectable speed, and her maneuverability gives her tremendous freedom in crowded harbors.

Handling Under Power

The J/24 is powered by an outboard engine; an inboard is not feasible or available. Class rules require that an outboard with a minimum of 3.5 hp be carried while racing. Most owners opt for a 3.5-4 hp outboard. It provides adequate power and is as much weight as you want to be hefting over a transom. Although the cockpit locker is plenty big enough, most owners stow the outboard under a berth in the cabin to keep the weight out of the stern. This makes using the outboard inconvenient. The factory-supplied optional outboard bracket has a spring-loaded hinge to lift the engine for easy mounting; we recommend it. Because the outboard is likely to be stored in the cabin, a remote gas tank will keep fuel spillage and odor to a minimum.

Above Decks

The J/24 is very well laid out, yet she is still not a comfortable or easy boat to crew on. When she was first launched, sailors said her layout could be no better, and she was copied by manufacturers of competing boats. However, after years of racing, sailors have discovered several things that could be improved.

Cockpit winches are located just forward of the mainsheet traveler, which spans the middle of the cockpit. Many sailors have moved the winches forward, so the crewmember tacking the genoa can face forward instead of aft during a tack. It pays to check to see if relocated deck hardware was installed properly; one J/24 owner we know discovered that the previous owner had moved the winches, but hadn’t installed proper backing plates or filled the original holes correctly. As a result, seepage had occurred and several square feet of the balsa-cored deck above the quarterberth had become sodden and rotten.

The standard mainsheet cleat is attached to the traveler car so that, when you trim the sheet, you inadvertently pull the car to weather. Many sailors have solved this by mounting a fixed cleat with a swivel base at the center of the traveler bar.

On older boats the backstay was single-ended at the transom. Boats now come with a double-ended backstay led forward to the helmsman on each side of the cockpit. Foot blocks need to be mounted on the traveler to keep helmsmen from falling to leeward as the boat heels (you must steer from forward and well outboard of the traveler).

For those who plan to try cross-sheeting to the weather winch, leading the jib sheets through Harken ratchet blocks is advised. Most sailors will also want to mount barber haulers to pull the genoa sheet outboard in strong winds. Cam cleats for the barber haulers should be mounted on the companionway so they “self-cleat” when led to the weather winch.

Cabin-top winches for the halyards and spinnaker guys are optional and essential. Because the J/24 has single spinnaker sheets, most sailors mount “twings,” which pull the guy down to the deck outboard of the shrouds when reaching.

In the search for a cleaner deck, it is now common to mount the spinnaker halyard cleat on the mast. Most sailors use only one jib halyard. Although a second jib halyard is optional, it is necessary only for long distance handicap racing. On short one design courses it is better to struggle along overpowered than to place crew weight on the bow to change headsails. Instruments are also unnecessary in one design racing. There are more than enough boats on a one design race course to judge your speed without the help of a speedometer.

The J/24 comes equipped with a Headfoil II grooved headstay system, which works very smoothly. Early boats came with Stern Twinstays, which have occasionally failed when the bearings freeze up with age. Some sailors have exchanged the grooved headstay system for cloth snaps on their headsails (you seldom change sails anyway). We applaud this idea, as it makes the sails more manageable in severe weather.

Although the flat decks are well suited for racing, the cockpit is less than comfortable for daysailing. There are no seat backs and the boom is dangerously low. Visibility with the deck-sweeping 150% genoa is terrible, and is often the cause of nightmarish collisions on crowded race courses. Lower life lines are optional and recommended for those with children, but they interfere with fast tacks when racing. The boom is rigged with a 4-to-1 vang, which is swiveled on the more recent J/24s to be adjustable from either rail on a windy spinnaker reach. The boom is also rigged with reef lines which exit through stoppers at the gooseneck.

Top sailors have discovered that the boat always sails better without a reef, which is a good thing, because the stoppers are both difficult to operate and have a history of slipping.

The interior is simple and functional. On most boats it is used for little more than sail storage. However, for a couple who enjoys roughing it, it could make for occasional weekend cruising. The first thing you notic below is the lack of headroom. You can sit in comfort, but to move about you must crawl.

The interior is finished off in bare white gelcoat. Early boats had coarse, non-skid gelcoat on the overhead. While this may have been more attractive than smooth gelcoat, it really did a number on elbows and bald heads. It also tended to collect dirt and mildew. Earlier through-bolted deck fittings were capped with acorn nuts. Now the nuts lie flush with the overhead—less pain when bumped.

A molded hull liner is used to form the two quarter berths, the cabin sole, and two lockers and a galley just aft of the main bulkhead. One locker is deep enough to serve as a wet locker for foul weather gear; the other is best used to store the rudiments of a meal. The galley consists of a sink with a hand pump. A small, two burner stove could be mounted in the small, removable “table” forward of the port quarter berth. The icebox, a large portable cooler made by Igloo, has a piece of teak glued to it and doubles as a companionway step. After a season or two of jumping on the ice chest, the lid disintegrates.

The forward V-berth, although divided by the mast, is still large and comfortable enough for a couple. The boat does not come equipped with a head. To avoid the extra drag of a through-hull fitting, portable heads are often used. We would rather use a cedar bucket—there simply isn’t enough space in the cabin of a J/24 to cohabitate with a portable head. If you plan to seriously race, you won’t want to load the boat’s lockers with cruising equipment. If you do cruise, it will probably be out of a duffel bag.

J/24: How Trailerable?

The J/24 is not launchable from a boat ramp, unless the ramp is steep, paved or of hard sand, and you use a long extender between the tongue of the trailer and your trailer hitch. Her 3,100 pounds (fully loaded) require a big, 8-cylinder vehicle to tow her. She is easily launched from a 2-ton hoist which can attach to a strap on her keel bolts. However, the hatch slides just far enough forward to allow the hoisting cable to clear it, so the hatch tends to get chewed by the cable.

The J/24 was originally designed to sail at a displacement of 2,800 pounds. The class minimum was later increased to 3,100. The original single axle trailer provide as a factory option was barely adequate for the intended, 2,800 pound boat, and totally inadequate for a fully loaded boat. Tales abound of blown tires and broken trailer welds. The factory now offers both a single and double axle trailer; we recommend the double axle.

If you want to seriously race a J/24, trailering is a necessity. Local fleets grow and shrink each year with the whims of their members, but national and regional regattas continue to attract many participants. Make no mistake, however; trailering is expensive.

The owning and maintenance of a big car, the gas and tolls of trailering, and the housing of crew are not cheap.

Conclusions

The appeal of the J/24 is as a racer. If you plan to do anything else, she is not for you. Although the J/24 is relatively easy to sail, she is very difficult to sail well. To many people, she represents a chance to compete in the big leagues; by traveling to major regattas you can sail against some of the best sailors in the country. However, the big leagues are tough—if you like to race with a pick-up crew and a hangover you’d also better be satisfied with finishing last.

One appeal of the J/24 is that, unlike many big league boats, you can always come home and sail because the boat has so big a following. There are enough boats to race it one-design almost anywhere; and in a pinch, there is always handicap racing. As long as you don’t want to travel, the boat is inexpensive to maintain.

Despite our effort to highlight every flaw that has appeared throughout the J/24’s evolution, we’d like to emphasize that she is more hardy than most boats of her type. Few boats can take the punishment that a J/24 gets during a season of racing and come through with so few scars. No racing boat will appreciate; but the J/24 can keep her value.

The dream boat with the fairy tale success story has turned out, after all, to be a rugged winner in the real world.

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• Sailboat Guide

J/24 is a 24 ′ 0 ″ / 7.3 m monohull sailboat designed by Rod Johnstone and built by Sydney Yachts/Bashford Int., J Boats, Ovington Boats Ltd., and Waterline Systems, LLC starting in 1977.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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J/24 sportboats.

Sturdy, nimble, and reponsive, the tiller-steered J/24 sailboat is a joy to sail. Easy to sail and rigged with advanced sail controls to fine-tune sail trim, this model is ideal for sailors of every skill level from beginners to experienced. The J/24 is the core training platform for our Berkeley ASA 101, Sportboat Basic Keelboat and ASA 103, Sportboat Basic Cruising courses, as well as our Advanced Sportboat Clinic and J/24 Racing Skipper Clinic. Our J/24s are also available for qualified members to bareboat charter to enjoy zipping around San Francisco Bay.

A Tohatsu 6-horsepower outboard engine will aid your close-quarters docking and maneuvering. Before you exit the marina, have both sails raised and trimmed - the little outboard engine can struggle against 15-20 knot wind and 2-3 foot chop. 

With a length of 24 feet, a beam of 9 feet, and displacement of 3,100 pounds, (900 pounds of which are in the lead keel), the J/24 by J/Boats is the world’s most popular keelboat class. A bit of trivia: There were over 5,500 J/24s built.  At one point over 50,000 active sailors in 150 fleets across 40+ countries were sailing these boats.

You can read more about the J/24 here .

J/24s Currently in Our Berkeley Sportboat Fleet

• J/24 #00 Midnight Run
• J/24 #04 Jubilee
• J/24 #08 Menage A Cinq
• J/24 #10 Mr. Toad
• J/24 #20 Eileen
• J/24 #22 Endeavor
• J/24 #28 Sea Biscuit
• J/24 #36 Teleri
• J/24 #48 Last Chance

Length: 24' LOA Beam: 9' Draft: 4' Displacement: 3100 lbs Mast Height: 28' 

Outboard Motor

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Testimonials.

The meeting room was quite adequate and the location most convenient, but the course outline and instruction were outstanding. Modern Sailing is fortunate to have such a well organized instructor in Mr. Stan Lander who teaches very well from a rich professional background. Mr. Lander was generous with his time and patiently in helping students who needed more attention or time in understanding various aspects of the curriculum.

The class was terrific. I know you must get many compliments about your sailing instructors...But I must tell you that Robert is outstanding. Having taught SCUBA, I really appreciate the way he is so sensitive to all on board, dealing with each so well, knowing quickly their strengths and weaknesses making each feel special and cared for.

I've taken two classes at MSS&C and was very happy with the program. This is also a great club with lots of opportunities for camaraderie and practice on the water. The boats in the fleet are fantastic and kept in tip-top shape. I highly recommend for all sailors and would-be sailors!

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Sausalito Location 2310 Marinship Way, Sausalito, CA 94965 (415) 331-8250 (800) 995-1668

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What Is a J24 Sailboat? (Everything You Need To Know)

The J24 sailboat is a classic sailboat design that has been around since the 1970s and remains popular to this day.

Whether youre looking for a fun, affordable sailboat for racing or cruising, the J24 is an excellent choice.

In this article, well discuss the history, design and specifications, performance, cost and maintenance, racing and cruising opportunities, current popularity and impact, and advantages of the J24 sailboat.

So, if youre looking for a reliable, capable, and fun sailboat, read on to find out if the J24 is right for you!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

A J/24 sailboat is a popular one-design keelboat class designed by Rod Johnstone.

It is a 24 foot long keelboat with a deep cockpit and a large sailplan.

This boat is designed to be easily handled by a small crew and is popular for sailing in both inshore and offshore conditions.

It is popular for racing and club sailing, with fleets found all over the world.

History of the J24 Sailboat

The J/24 sailboat is a 24-foot-long, 8-foot-wide sailboat designed by Rod Johnstone in 1979.

The boat was designed to be a performance-oriented one-design racer, and it quickly became one of the most popular sailboats ever produced.

To date, over 5,800 boats have been built since its introduction, and it continues to be in high demand today.

The J/24 was designed with an emphasis on speed and responsiveness, and it is a great choice for both novice and experienced sailors.

It is a relatively affordable boat, and its easy maintenance makes it an ideal choice for those who want to spend their time sailing rather than on repairs.

The J/24 sailboat is ideal for regatta racing, but it is also a great choice for casual cruising around the lake or bay.

Its design allows it to handle a wide range of conditions, from light winds to strong gusts.

It is also a great choice for those looking to get involved in competitive sailing, as the boat has been used in a number of major international regattas.

The J/24’s popularity has led to the formation of the International J/24 Class Association, which regulates the boat’s performance and specifications.

The association also organizes events and regattas to promote the J/24 and ensure fair competition.

The J/24’s popularity continues to grow today, and it remains one of the most popular sailboats ever produced.

Its combination of performance, affordability, and ease of maintenance make it a great choice for anyone looking to get involved in sailing.

Design and Specifications

The J/24 sailboat is an iconic one-design racing boat that was designed by Rod Johnstone in 1979.

It is 24-feet long and 8-feet wide, making it the ideal size for racing and cruising.

It has a simple yet sophisticated design that enables it to be fast and responsive on the water, while also being easy to maintain.

The boat has a displacement of 4,200 lbs and a sail area of 248 square feet.

The hull is made from fiberglass and is designed with a wide beam and a moderate draft, making it maneuverable and stable in a variety of conditions.

The boat is also equipped with all the necessary gear to race, including a spinnaker, a jib, and a mainsail.

The boat is designed to be sailed as a single-hander or a crew of up to five people.

The J/24 is a great boat for both racing and cruising.

It is a popular choice for regattas around the world, and its low cost and easy maintenance make it a great choice for novice and experienced sailors alike.

The boat is also equipped with a variety of modern features, such as jib tracks, adjustable backstays, and adjustable shrouds, allowing sailors to tweak the boats performance for different conditions.

The boat has also been designed to be easily modified for comfort and convenience, making it a great choice for weekend sailors.

Performance

When it comes to sailing, performance is key.

The J/24 sailboat is designed to provide an exciting and thrilling sailing experience for both novice and experienced sailors alike.

The boat has a sleek and modern design, and is designed for speed and agility.

Its 24-foot length and 8-foot width make it a great size for racing or cruising, and its relatively low cost and easy maintenance make it a great choice for any sailor.

The boat is equipped with a balanced spade rudder and a deep keel, which helps it to maneuver quickly and accurately.

Its light weight and low drag coefficient mean that it can reach speeds of up to 10 knots, and its ability to tack quickly and easily make it a great choice for competitive racing.

Its generous sail area also helps to provide the power to push it through the water with ease.

The J/24 has been raced since its introduction in 1979, and has become one of the most popular sailboats ever produced, with over 5,800 boats built since then.

It is a great choice for novice and experienced sailors alike, and its popularity continues to grow today.

If youre looking for a fast, responsive boat that is easy to maintain and relatively low cost, the J/24 is the perfect boat for you.

Cost and Maintenance

The J/24 sailboat is an affordable and accessible boat for sailors of all skill levels.

It is designed with a lightweight, yet durable construction, making it a cost-effective choice for people looking to buy or build their own sailboat.

Its parts are readily available at marine stores, and the boat itself can be purchased for around $25,000, depending on the model.

Maintenance on the J/24 is relatively simple and straightforward.

The boats hull is made of fiberglass, and the rigging is composed of stainless steel, bronze, and aluminum components.

The boat requires periodic cleaning and waxing to keep it looking its best, and it should be inspected regularly for any signs of wear and tear.

Additionally, the boats sails should be inspected and replaced if necessary.

The J/24 sailboat is an ideal choice for novice and experienced sailors alike.

Its low cost and easy maintenance make it an attractive option for those looking to invest in a boat.

Its lightweight construction and responsive sailing characteristics make it a great boat for racing or recreational sailing.

With its popularity continuing to grow, the J/24 is sure to be a staple of the sailing community for many years to come.

Racing and Cruising Opportunities

The J/24 is an incredibly versatile sailboat, offering both racing and cruising opportunities for sailors of all skill levels.

With its responsive design, the J/24 is an excellent choice for racing in regattas.

It is a fast and agile boat that is both easy to maneuver and forgiving for novice sailors.

The J/24 is also an ideal choice for cruising around the lake, as its relatively low cost and easy maintenance make it accessible to a wide range of sailors.

The J/24 is a popular choice for both novice and experienced sailors alike.

Its design and performance characteristics make it a great choice for both racing and cruising.

The J/24 is a one-design racer, meaning that all boats of the same class must be built to the same specifications, making them more equal in performance.

This allows for more competitive racing and makes the J/24 a great choice for sailors of all skill levels.

The J/24 is also a great choice for cruising around the lake.

Its relatively low cost and easy maintenance make it accessible to a wide range of sailors.

The boat is also easy to handle and forgiving for novice sailors.

The boat is also large enough to accommodate up to eight people, making it great for family days out on the lake.

The J/24 is a popular boat for both racing and cruising, and its popularity continues to grow today.

Its accessible price point and easy handling make it an ideal choice for both novice and experienced sailors alike.

The boat is also incredibly versatile, offering both racing and cruising opportunities for sailors of all skill levels.

Popularity and Impact Today

The J/24 sailboat has become an iconic boat over the past 40 years and continues to be incredibly popular, both as a racing boat and for recreational sailing.

With over 5,800 boats produced since its introduction, it is the most successful one-design keelboat ever built.

To this day, the J/24 remains a favorite among sailors of all experience levels, from seasoned racers to weekend sailors.

The J/24’s popularity has also had a major impact on the world of sailing.

The introduction of the J/24 in 1979 sparked a revolution in sailboat design, inspiring other manufacturers to create similar performance-oriented boats.

The J/24 was the first one-design keelboat to feature a spinnaker, leading to the widespread adoption of the sail by other boat classes.

The J/24 is also used in a variety of sailing events, including the highly competitive J/24 World Championship.

The J/24 World Championship is held annually and brings together the best J/24 sailors from around the world.

It is one of the most prestigious and competitive one-design sailing events in the world, and the winner of the event is often seen as the “best of the best” in the J/24 class.

The J/24 is also popular in the cruising community, with many sailors enjoying the boat for weekend trips or longer sailing adventures.

With its relatively low cost and easy maintenance, the J/24 is an ideal choice for novice and experienced sailors alike.

The boat is also popular among youth sailing programs, as it is a great platform for teaching basic sailing skills in a safe and fun environment.

In short, the J/24 sailboat has become a timeless classic and continues to be one of the most popular sailboats in the world.

With its performance-oriented design and ease of maintenance, the J/24 is an ideal choice for both racing and leisure sailing.

Its iconic status and continued popularity are a testament to its quality and enduring appeal.

Advantages of the J24 Sailboat

The J24 sailboat is a great choice for those looking to get into sailing as it offers a range of advantages for novice and experienced sailors alike.

The design of the J24 is both performance-oriented and easy to maintain, making it an ideal boat for sailors of all levels.

It is also relatively inexpensive, meaning that it is a cost-effective way to get out on the water.

The J24 is a fast and responsive boat, making it ideal for competitive racing in regattas, as well as leisurely cruising around the lake.

Its 24-foot length and 8-foot width make it the perfect size for a day trip, and its lightweight construction means it is easy to trailer and launch.

Additionally, the boat is equipped with a retractable bow sprit and large genoa sail, allowing it to sail upwind with ease.

The J24 also features a self-bailing cockpit, which helps to keep the boat dry during inclement weather.

The boat is also equipped with a large storage space, which makes it easy to store extra supplies and gear.

Finally, the boats light weight and simple design make it easy to maintain, meaning that it is a great choice for those looking for a low-maintenance boat.

All in all, the J24 sailboat is a great choice for those looking to get into sailing.

Its performance-oriented design, ease of maintenance, and low cost make it an ideal boat for novice and experienced sailors alike.

The boat is fast and responsive, and its large storage capacity and self-bailing cockpit make it perfect for day trips.

Whether youre looking to race in regattas or just cruise around the lake, the J24 is a great choice.

Final Thoughts

The J/24 sailboat is a great choice for novice and experienced sailors alike, offering an exciting blend of performance, cost, and maintenance.

With its incredible popularity and success, it’s no wonder the J/24 remains one of the most popular sailboats ever produced.

Whether you’re interested in racing in regattas or just cruising around the lake, the J/24 is an ideal choice.

So, why not take the plunge and discover the joys of sailing with the J/24?

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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Class History

The J/24 is an extremely successful one-design keelboat. Attention to the rules and strict international control provides close racing and attracts the world's top sailors. The J/24 is also popular with weekend club sailors because it is fun, responsive in all conditions, and can be easily handled by one or two people. The class has wisely allowed the development of new hardware systems to keep the boat up-to-date and easy- to-race. Harken has led the way in developing hardware systems for the J/24.

Links J/24 Class McLube™

Boat Specifications

LOA: 24 ft (7.32 m) LWL: 20 ft (6.10 m) Beam: 8.9 ft (2.71 m) Displacement: 3,100 lb (1,405 kg) Ballast: 950 lb (431 kg) 100% Sail Area: (261 sq ft (24.25 sq m)

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57mm Block — Swivel Becket

57mm Fiddle Block — Swivel

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Standard Cam Base — Swivel, Bullseye, 150 Cam

22mm Windward Sheeting Car

22mm High-Beam Slide Bolt Track — 1 m

57mm Aluminum Low-Load Block — Swivel

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THE WORLD'S FASTEST J24 SAILS

North Sails is the premier sailmaker for the J/24 class, renowned for producing the fastest J/24 sails in the world. Our expert team of sail designers and engineers has worked closely with J/24 sailors to develop sails that deliver unrivaled speed, control, and maneuverability. With a long-standing history of success in this class, North Sails has earned the trust of J/24 sailors worldwide.

Choose North Sails for your J/24 campaign and experience the performance, durability, and craftsmanship that have made us the go-to sailmaker for J/24 sailors across the globe. Elevate your racing to new heights with North Sails.

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