The J/105 is Ideal for Big Boat Racing Enthusiasts, Offering Great Competition with a Crew of up to Six.

The J/105 is another example of J-Boats' proven philosophy that simple, well conceived, and solidly constructed boats will succeed. Introduced in late 1991, it remains one of the company's most popular models. Hull No. 700 is not far off.

Sailing World magazine in January 2004 chose it as its "Boat of the Year" in the Racer/Cruiser category, although with 5 feet and 5 inches of headroom in the main cabin and rather limited accommodations, the J/105 wouldn't fit any reasonable person's definition of a 34-foot cruiser. It's not strictly a racer either, because it clearly has appeal beyond the race course, and "day sailer" is much too narrow a definition. So, what to label this unique model? Let's call it a multiple-purpose "fun boat" that will appeal to sailors who place more importance on competitive one-design racing and responsive performance than entertaining or cruising on weekends.

The J/105 measures 34 feet, 6 inches (10.5 meters) length overall and waterline length is 29 feet and 5 inches. Maximum beam is an even 11 feet, standard draft is 6 feet and 6 inches and the designed displacement is 7,750 pounds with a 44 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio. A shoal draft model offers 5-foot, 6-inch draft and a slightly higher ballast to account for the raised center of gravity. The majority of J/105s built are of the deep draft variety.

For years, Tillotson Pearson International (TPI) built the J/105 utilizing the patented SCRIMP process. Simply put, fiberglass materials and core materials are laid up without any resin. The lay-up is then sealed in plastic and a vacuum applied to remove all the air. Resin is then introduced and the vacuum draws the resin through the composite. The process allows precise control over resin to fiberglass ratios and results in a strong yet lightweight hull. TPI pioneered resin infused composites and J/105s are sold with a 10-year hull warranty that includes osmotic blistering.

The deck layout of the J/105 is very clean, yet another benefit of a simple design. A 20-inch square forward hatch will need a means to prevent the hatch from opening past 180 degrees, which causes the frame to crack, if it hasn't already been modified. The T-shaped cockpit is very large and separated by the mainsheet traveler that is within easy reach of the helm. Standard equipment is a tiller with a Spinlock hiking stick, although a 42-inch Edson wheel is offered as an option. The reversed transom has a molded cavity and swim ladder for easy boarding.

The cabin accommodations are spartan yet functional and easily maintained. A seven-foot-long V-berth is forward with a port head and starboard hanging locker. Aft of the main bulkhead a small galley is to starboard and navigation table to port, followed by port and starboard settee/berths that are 6 ½-feet long. The icebox is a 54-quart portable cooler that fits beneath the companionway steps.

Auxiliary power is provided by a 20-hp inboard Yanmar diesel and a Martec folding propeller.

For a boat with a sail area-to-displacement ratio of 24, the J/105 is remarkably easy to sail, even shorthanded. In fact, the only complaint I have heard about the sailing characteristics of the J/105 is her performance to windward in light air. Some have added an overlapping Genoa to help in this regard, but these are not allowed by one-design racing rules, which limit the sail inventory to a mainsail, non-overlapping jib and an asymmetrical spinnaker.

Once the wind picks up to over 8 knots this boat shines on all points of sail, and by all reports, is downright exciting reaching and running in moderate to heavy air. Sustained speeds of 12 to 13 knots broad reaching in 20 knots of wind are not uncommon and the well-balanced hull form, low center of gravity and large rudder allow the boat to be sailed under control in these conditions. Gone are the days of white-knuckle downwind runs and death rolls.

As of June 2008, Hull 672 and 673 were under construction with orders for two more to fill, says Jim Johnstone, J/Boats' director of sales. The company has made some changes. In 2007, J/Boats used two builders, Pearson

Composites and J/Europe in France. Tooling from France was sent to the United States and U.S. Watercraft/Waterlines in Portsmouth, R.I., is now the sole builder of the new J/105s.

Each new boat will be weighed prior to shipping and come with a factory weight certificate because the class is less tolerant of weight fluctuations and J/Boats wants to be more precise with the new ones, Johnstone says.

The new J/105 also will feature a new travelers system, automatic bilge pump as standard, composite tiller rather then wood and a European-style galley that includes space for an optional gimbaled stove.

The J/105 could be a great day sailer, but its strength clearly lies in her appeal as a one-design racer. The class association is quite strong, and nearly all major U.S. sailing centers now have J/105 fleets. For big boat racing enthusiasts, it's hard to beat a boat that offers great competition with a crew of two to six people when it may take eight to 10 people to crew a comparably sized handicapped racer.

Jack Hornor, NA is the principal surveyor and senior designer for the Annapolis-based Marine Survey & Design Co. Hornor writes for BoatU.S. Magazine and other marine publications.

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