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J/Boats J/35

Built 1983–1992 by Tillotson-Pearson (TPI)

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About the J/Boats J/35

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

J/Boats J/35
Photo: Bob Johnstone, Copyrighted free use via Wikimedia Commons · licence (names blurred)
Built
1983–1992
Builder
Tillotson-Pearson (TPI)
Designer
Rod Johnstone
Length
35.5 ft
Waterline
30 ft
Beam
11.8 ft
Draft
6.9 ft
Displacement
10,500 lb
Ballast
4,400 lb
Hull
fiberglass-cored
Hull / keel
fin keel
Rig
sloop
Propulsion
inboard
Fuel
20 gal
Water
35 gal
Water heater
AC + engine · factory option
Number built
330
Bow thruster
not fitted
Stern thruster
not fitted
Steering
tiller
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
  • Fuel 20 gal
    “A 20-gallon fuel tank” — search excerpt, practical-sailor.com · “20 U.S. gallons (76L; 17impgal)” — spec database, en.wikipedia.org
    A Practical Sailor review and Wikipedia agree; no builder document was found.
  • Water 35 gal
    “35 U.S. gallons (130L; 29impgal)” — spec database, en.wikipedia.org
    The only source is Wikipedia, which draws on a spec database. The class rules confirm a permanent water tank but not its size.
  • Water heater AC + engine · factory option
    “Hot & Cold Pressure Water (must be ordered with shorepower or fresh water engine cooling)” — brochure (c. 1988), j35.org
    The J/35 sales brochure (printed February 1988, hosted by the J/35 class association) lists hot and cold pressure water as an option that required either 110 V shore power or fresh-water engine cooling; the standard boat has foot pumps and a 35 gal tank. A Deluxe Forepeak Stateroom package also bundled these items. No heater size given.

Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.

Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
  • Bow thruster not fitted
    “STANDARD ... OPTIONS ... (full standard and option lists; no thruster)” — brochure (1988), j35.org
    The c.1988 J Boats brochure (class association copy) gives the full standard-equipment and option lists; no thruster appears in either.
  • Stern thruster not fitted
    “STANDARD ... OPTIONS ... (full standard and option lists; no thruster)” — brochure (1988), j35.org
    The same builder standard and option lists used for the bow thruster offer none.
  • Steering tiller
    “Varnished ash tiller with ladder style adjustable hiking stick.” — brochure (1988), j35.org · “OPTIONS ... Wheel Steering, Compass, Guard ... Elkhide Wheel Cover on Above.” — brochure (1988), j35.org
    The builder's list gives an ash tiller as standard, with wheel steering (with compass and guard) as a factory option whose make and mechanism aren't stated. The 1992 brochure's text on the new cockpit also refers to the tiller.

Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.

Hull and deck balsa-cored in biaxial/unidirectional glass; molded fiberglass main structural bulkhead; mast step and external lead keel fastened to glass floor beams. Hulls built after 1988 carried a 10-year anti-blister warranty. Standard Martec folding prop. Shoal-draft version 6.0 ft. A few built under license in Australia. Practical Sailor (2000) said more than 300 built by then.

Engines fitted

Generator

Not in the brochure's standard or options lists.

Manuals and brochures online

Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.

Known problems for this model

Model sources (4)

sailboatdata.com · practical-sailor.com · en.wikipedia.org · j35.org

Other J/Boats models

Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.