Two world championship titles, two European championship titles and three victories at Cowes Week in England. The attractive J/112 E has brought the J/Boats brand numerous successes. Now the fast performance cruiser has been given a new deck layout based on the larger J/45 (YACHT 5/2022 test) and J/40 models, which were awarded the title of European Yacht of the Year 2025 at the Boot trade fair in Düsseldorf (YACHT 19/2024 test). The type designation has also changed: J/36.
The predecessor model, the J 112 E, was launched in 2016 as a new development and successor to the J/109, which was particularly successful in America. As is usual with J/Boats, the design was penned by shipyard boss and in-house designer Alan Johnstone. The rather slender stern, the low freeboard and the pronounced deck moulding reflect his typical signature. And the concept of the J/112 E has set itself apart from the competition, above all with its huge steering wheel (diameter 1.50 metres).
The extendable bowsprit remains
The shipyard has now redesigned the deck layout for the new J/36. The most noticeable change is that the boat is now built with double wheel steering, just like the larger J/40 and the J/45. The general arrangement of the winches and fittings for guiding the sheets and lines remains unchanged. The layout with primary and secondary sheet winches on the cockpit coaming and additional halyard winches on the coachroof to the side of the companionway is favoured by ambitious regatta sailors who enjoy active sailing with a crew. Incidentally, the new boat is being built exclusively under licence by J Composites in Les Sables-d'Olonne on the French west coast, where almost all J/Boats brand boats are now manufactured.
The new J/36 will benefit from a very long and extendable bowsprit made of carbon fibre, allowing a larger gennaker to be used more efficiently. The flexible trunk has long been the typical trademark of J/Boats. While the shipyard has opted for a shorter and fixed bowsprit for the larger J/40 and J/44 models, the long extendable spine remains part of the concept for the J/36.
Compared to the predecessor model J/112 E, both the layout below deck and the fit-out standard remain unchanged apart from minor adjustments. The hull lines converge slightly aft. The stern is narrow, so there is still a double cabin forward and a compartment aft.
For the market launch and world premiere of the J/36 at the Grand Pavois trade fair in La Rochelle, the shipyard is quoting a base price of 246,970 euros. Including VAT of 19% for customers in Germany, the price is therefore around 293,890 euros. However, this price does not include the sails and electronics, which is generally the norm in the performance cruiser class.
Technical data J/36
- Designer: Alan Johnstone
- Hull length: 10.99 m
- Overall length (with bowsprit extended): 11,98 m
- Waterline length: 9.68 m
- Width: 3.60 m
- Draught: 2.25 m (standard) / 1.90 m (optional short keel)
- Weight 5.1 tonnes
- Ballast/proportion: 1.9 tonnes / 37%
- Sail area downwind (main + genoa): 64.9 m2
- Gennaker: 120.0 m2
- Motorisation: Built-in diesel Volvo Penta D1-30 (29 hp) / Saildrive
