On display in Hall 16, Stand D21
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 are in keeping with his signature style, which is as typical as it is unpretentious. And the concept of the J/112 E also set itself apart from the competition 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. The mainsheet arrangement is suitable for single-handed sailing if the helmsman sits in front of one of the two wheels and can therefore easily reach the mainsheet winches.
Incidentally, the new boat will be 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 mobile 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.
The new J/36 presented at boot Düsseldorf costs 299,773 euros including VAT. However, this price does not include the sails or electronics, which is generally the case 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
