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J/Boats

J/120

1994–present
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SA/D
21.6
Performance
Powered up for speed; expect more sail handling in a breeze.
D/L
144.7
Light
Light cruiser/racer, lively motion.
Comfort ratio
21.5
Moderate bluewater
Reasonable offshore comfort.
Capsize screening
2.0
Less resistant
Higher beam-to-displacement; flagged as less resistant to capsize offshore.

Dimensions

Hull typeMonohull
LOA40.00 ft (12.19 m)
LWL35.00 ft (10.67 m)
Beam12.00 ft (3.66 m)
Draft7.00 ft (2.13 m)
Displacement13,900 lbs (6,305 kg)
Ballast6,000 lbs (2,722 kg)
Sail area (main)414 sq ft (38.5 m²)
Sail area (jib)366 sq ft (34.0 m²)
Sail area (total)780 sq ft (72.5 m²)
Rig typesloop
Keel typefin_with_bulb
Rudder typeSpade
Rudder materialGRP / E-glass fiberglass
Fuel capacity27 gal
Water capacity75 gal
DesignerRod Johnstone

Construction

Sources

Dimensions/displacement/sail area per jboats.com tech specs and sailboatdata.com; main/jib split computed from published I/J/P/E rig dimensions (I=50.50, J=14.50, P=46.50, E=17.80), sums to the published 780 sqft 100% SA. Hull layup (Baltek balsa composite, vinylester resin on outer layer, SCRIMP infusion) verified via J/Boats specification text. Mast material not explicitly stated on jboats.com tech-specs page for this model; defaulted to aluminum (standard for this era/model, no carbon option documented). Verified 2026-07-09. [Rudder/tankage/electrical update, 2026-07-16]: Rudder: balanced spade, unidirectional glass, large-diameter shaft (material not documented in available sources). Fuel 27gal (2 baffled tanks), water 75gal (2 baffled tanks under the settee). No holding-tank or electrical-system data found.