j 46 sailboat review

A true sailor's boat, ready to go offshorefast

The brochure lays it on the line. "This boat was created to the only rule that counts: The Rule of the Sea, which is timeless." Herein lies the philosophy behind the J/46, the successor to the well-established and highly successful J/44. J Boat's design brief called for a performance cruising boat that was supremely seaworthy and able to achieve 8-knot passagemaking speeds under sail, while treating its crew to a comfortable ride in the open ocean. The result is a sailor's boat, with an interior layout that reflects the realities of long passages and rough days at sea. The J/46 is a refreshing change from many boats of its size.

J/46While the J/46's sleek, streamlined hull with minimal overhangs and low cabinhouse has its ancestry in the proven hull shape of the J/44, new keel and rudder configurations contribute to its speed and ease of handling. The length-to-beam ratio is high and, combined with ample reserve buoyancy forward, makes for very controlled tracking in rough seas, with minimal steering loads on helm or autopilot. Greater balance of reserve buoyancy at both ends of the boat helps the bow lift up and over ocean chop and large waves. This was immediately apparent during a test sail in a moderate sea. There was none of the pitching and digging-in found in many boats with fine ends and full-midship sections. Even in 15 knots of wind and moderate waves, it showed no signs of hobbyhorsing and moved through the water without fuss and minimal motion. Although we didn't try this, the 46 would sail well under either jib or main alone. The J/46 has come a long way from the 44 in terms of construction methods. It's built by TPI Technologies using the company's patented SCRIMP method, a process that uses infusion-molded sandwich construction for the hull and deck. This method makes a light yet strong boat since the laminate has a much higher fiber content with less resin than in conventional layups. SCRIMP laminates, the company says, test out at double the strength of conventional hand-laid construction techniques.

One goal for the design team was to have plenty of sail power, but keep the center of effort low enough to maintain good performance in rough seas. A carbon fiber mast, with half the weight of an aluminum spar, provided part of the solution. A combination of a light, strong hull, a modern keel design with a lead bulb, and a carbon spar give the 46 a remarkable stability, which I could appreciate even on a 15-knot day. With a 110-percent genoa and full main, even a small crew can sail this boat hard in strong winds, an important consideration for a long-distance passagemaker. If the wind pipes up over 20 knots, simply roll up the jib and sail under full main, finally reefing in 30 knots. Above the water On deck, the layout is simple and efficient. A large, T-shaped cockpit separates the helmsman from the crew, with a comfortable bench seat aft that contains a lazarette and propane locker below. The 60-inch wheel is partially recessed into the cockpit floor and just the right size for sitting to windward or leeward when hard on the wind. Unfortunately you have to reach through the spokes for the engine throttle, something I found distracting when maneuvering at closer quarters. I would have preferred to see it on the starboard side of the cockpit. The main traveler and its controls are immediately forward of the helm, with two Lewmar 46s controlling the double-ended mainsheet.

Two long, contoured seats allow for sunbathing and are extremely comfortable when heeled, with sheet winches (electric on the test boat) close to hand. All halyards and sail controls are led aft to the cockpit, with two convenient self-tailers and an army of stoppers close to the companionway. You can raise and lower the main from the cockpit, especially if you invest in a Leisurefurl mainsail, such as was fitted to the test boatÑpractically essential if you are shorthanded.

The J/46 has one of the least cluttered decks I have ever encountered, with good nonskid, well-placed stainless steel cabinhouse grabrails and a locker recessed into the deck forward. The builder provides a single stainless steel anchor roller, but I would recommend investing in the second, optional one too. A convenient anodized toerail with well-placed fairleads surrounds the boat.

Down below You step down from the cockpit into a spacious main cabin, with a U-shaped galley to port and a navigation station to starboard. A small aft cabin lies under the starboard side deck, complete with double berth, a set of drawers and a hanging locker. This would make a valuable seagoing berth under way, but is hardly large enough for prolonged occupation. A head with shower is tucked behind the galley to port, with easy access to the Yanmar diesel from both the aft cabin and head as well as the companionway steps.

The saloon is airy, with three opening ports and lots of hatch ventilation, and the test boat was finished in cherry wood joinery. Teak is another option, but I found the cherry stunning. A U-shaped dinette with table is immediately forward of the galley, and with the conventional berth/settee opposite, you can sit at least six people down to dinner in comfort. There is a pilot berth outboard the dinette.

The galley is palatial, complete with a Force 10 three-burner stove with an oven, a large icebox (refrigeration is optional) and deep, double sinks. The U-shaped design allows you to wedge yourself securely in a seaway, but I would recommend installing a galley strap for the stove if bound offshore, as there is nothing to support the cook from the back while at the stove.

The navigation station opposite has a comfortable, forward-facing seat, with a large chart table with a hinged top. A useful shallow shelf outboard covers the battery space. There is plenty of room for electronic devices of all kinds, with the electrical panel behind your head. There is nothing particularly innovative about the saloon, but it is functional at anchor and at sea, with well-placed grab handles, rounded surfaces and a stainless grab post on the corner of the galley.

From the saloon you pass into the spacious forward cabin, with a larger head and separate shower compartment to port. Locker space lies to starboard of the head. Both heads have white plastic surfaces that are easily cleaned.

The forward cabin itself is a huge V-berth with central insert and shelves and lockers outboard. This is where I would sleep in port, for there is room to move about and stretch, a large hatch overhead for air and room to sit if you wish. No sartorial excesses here, just a thoroughly practical layout you can dress up any way you wish. Under sail The J/46 is a comfortable, well-appointed boat, with an interior finish that is very different from the somewhat austere decor of other racer-cruisers in the J Boat line. But this boat really shines where it matters, out on the ocean.

I backed the 46 out of the slip with fingertip control, the 76-horsepower Yanmar was barely audible in the cockpit. The remarkable steering, with only a full turn lock-to-lock, gave me the confidence to maneuver the boat at close quarters without wishing for a bow thruster. While passaging, the boat should cruise comfortably at 8 knots at about 2800 rpm, depending on the propeller installation.

Instead of the usual near-calms that seem to appear every time I head out for a boat tests, there was a magnificent 12- to 18-knot afternoon breeze, which suited the boat perfectly. We raised main and jib and hardened on the wind, making a comfortable 7 knots in the lighter puffs. When a gust came, the boat heeled and accelerated fast, with almost perfect balance and a level of control that I associate more with tillers than wheels. Above all, it was quiet, moving effortlessly over the chop and allowing almost no spray aboard. I got the impression it would be a dry boat in rougher conditions, an important factor when beating to windward for 20, 30 miles or more.

We cracked off on a reach and set the asymmetrical spinnaker from its convenient sock. Then the boat really came alive, reaching at speeds around 10 knots sailing on a beam reach. I never felt it was sailing out of control, and the boat could have carried the spinnaker in a lot more wind without a moment of concern. The ease of handling was also a revelation. True, setting spinnakers and large genoas on a boat this size can require a cast of more than a couple, especially on long passages and in strong winds, but the basic configuration of main and 100-percent genoa allows for astonishingly easy handling and safe passages under a wide range of open water conditions. A spinnaker snuffer with lines led back to the cockpit can ease the hoisting.

No 46-foot performance cruising yacht is cheap, but there is a lot for the dollar with the J/46. This is a boat that begs for sophisticated electronics linked to one another. I must confess to being a novice at such things, but it was fascinating to sail with an autopilot linked to GPS, radar and instruments. The boat could be fine-tuned effortlessly. Such electronic sophistication doesn't come cheap, but you would get more out of your 46 with such wizardry.

J Boats offers various refrigeration, power, and cruising packages, as well as a wide range of stand-alone options, so you can customize your boat to your heart's content. But what stands out with the J-46 is its blazing performance, exceptional comfort at sea and ability to make long passages in comfort.

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Yachting World

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J/45 tested: Fast cruiser with timeless appeal

• Rupert Holmes
• April 20, 2022

The J/45 is a fast, but civilised, cruiser with a timeless appeal that will resonate with J/Boats’ many long standing devotees

Product Overview

Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.

We’re close-hauled, sailing the new J/45 at 7.5 knots and catching up with a modern 55-footer, but slowly falling into her lee. Winding on a little mainsheet tightens the leech, putting us in a high mode almost 5° closer to the wind, and we climb above and ahead of the bigger boat. It’s classic J/Boat sailing that’s familiar to thousands of sailors, yet this is a comfortable 45ft cruiser with a host of luxuries including air conditioning.

The J/45 has heaps of appeal to anyone who’s sailed a J in the past. Yet, although the company is responsible for numerous cutting edge designs that changed the way we sail, this boat is more conservative in its nature – it’s an evolution rather than a revolution.

Low freeboard, moderate beam and fine ends by today’s standards, plus a single rudder, put it in classic J/Boat territory. The J/45’s development was also strongly influenced by a desire to produce a boat that’s a joy to sail in light airs, as well as being able to take heavy weather in its stride when necessary.

The J/45 is just as responsive to sail trim as the smaller and racier models in the range and is well powered up in only 8 knots of true wind, when we made 7.5 knots upwind.

Classic J/Boat hull shape gives good performance and handling. Photo: Andreas Lindlahr/EYOTY

As the wind progressively built above 10 knots we gradually depowered by pumping on more backstay tension as the boat accelerated further. In 13 knots of true wind we were making 8.4 knots of boat speed, at a true wind angle of only 42°. In stronger breezes the polars show optimal tacking angles of little more than 70°.

A German mainsheet system, led to winches just ahead of the helm stations, plus a 6:1 traveller, makes for easy trimming upwind. The rig is also easy to depower as the breeze builds – increased backstay tension is effective in changing the mainsail to a completely different shape, markedly reducing its drive.

Collaboration

The initial concept for this new flagship was developed and refined over three years of conversation between the American J/Boats team and J/Composites, based in Les Sables d’Olonne, with further input from Berret-Racoupeau for interior design, layout and ergonomics.

From the outset the key vision for the J/45 was for a comfortable cruiser that’s lots of fun to sail, even in light airs. It’s primarily intended for a family or two couples to spend up to 10 days or so on board, though of course the boat is capable of far more than this.

J/Boats has long favoured wheels over tillers, even on boats as small as the J/105 where tiller steering would create a more open cockpit and facilitate sail trimming when helming and alone in the cockpit. This philosophy is carried over to the J/45, where the narrow transom means the two wheels are of a small diameter.

The instrument pods at the helm stations are small, but both have enough space for a steering compass, pilot controls and a small MFD. Our test boat also has B&G Nemesis displays above the companionway hatch garage, but these were partially obscured by the coachroof winches, so I’d be likely to also opt for 20/20 or larger displays at the mast.

J/45 provides performance and pleasure

Throughout the test the helm was super light but responsive, with good feel that built reassuringly as the rudder loaded up when the J/45 was powered up and well heeled. My notes sum it up as: “a brilliant blend of performance and pleasure, with a lovely feel in the helm at all times.”

Tacking into an uncomfortable swell using the optional heavy weather staysail. Photo: Andreas Lindlahr/EYOTY

On the downside, it’s impossible to adjust the vang and backstay from the port helm station, although the mainsheet winches and traveller are within reach when sitting on the side deck astride the wheel.

Bearing away to a true wind angle of 135° and unfurling the Code 0 in 12 knots of true wind gave 8 knots of boat speed and beautifully easy, yet fast, sailing. Our highest speeds of the test were also achieved under Code 0, with 16 knots of true wind just abaft the beam. The boat powered up well, still feeling relaxed with speeds nudging into double figures, although weight built noticeably in the helm in the strongest gusts.

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Running at a true wind angle of 150° – marginally deeper than the polars show as the optimal angle for downwind VMG – with the 180m2 A2 spinnaker in 9 knots of breeze we made a respectable 6.1 knots. Luffing up 25° resulted in a jump to 8.5 knots.

Heading up further to 110° true and the apparent well forward of the beam, we were fully powered up and well heeled, although with only a small increase in speed. However, this gave the opportunity for an interesting test of the grip provided by the single rudder. When I first sailed twin rudder boats in the late 1990s I was absolutely hooked on the concept – the extra control they offered was a big revelation at the time. However, single rudder designs have been continuously developed and refined since then and the best have improved enormously.

The J/70 sportsboat, for instance, is an example of a modern design that offers precise handling and control through a single rudder, even though it’s transom hung and therefore operates in an area with a lot of turbulence.

As with TP52 s, the J/45’s rudder is well forward under the hull, clear of such turbulence, which helps maintain laminar water flow across the blade even at high angles of incidence and heel.

It’s just possible to reach the mainsheet winch from the helm. Photo: Rupert Holmes

When fully powered up close reaching with the big kite I tried bearing away sharply without easing the sheets. The J/45 answered the helm instantly with a dramatic course change and no hint of the rudder being anywhere close to stalling.

On the other hand, one downside of the moderate beam and finer ends is that the J/45 tends to sail at greater angles of heel than wide bodied twin-rudder yachts, where the angle rarely exceeds 20°.

Two choices are offered for handling the luff of the mainsail when reefing: either a strop with a dogbone that’s made fast near the gooseneck, or a downhaul led aft to the coachroof winches. The headsail of our test boat sets from an optional low-profile Facnor FD furler, while for stronger winds there’s a furling staysail that’s set on a halyard lock. This can be configured for use with the optional self-tacking jib sheet track and offers an excellent set up for winds over 20 knots.

The keel-stepped mast is unusual among performance cruisers today, but makes sense in this case as the extra support at the partners means the section is one size smaller than would be needed for a deck-stepped spar. This reduces weight aloft and makes the rig more responsive to backstay tension when depowering the mainsail.

Glorious sailing with the big A2 spinnaker. Photo: Rupert Holmes

Effort has been made to keep displacement low, although it’s still significantly heavier than some performance cruisers of this size. But at the same time performance is optimised for the fully loaded displacement, which minimises the effect loading the boat has on both speed and handling.

Construction is of infused vinylester resin and hull laminates are over-specified to give excellent stiffness and improved impact resistance.

Well specified

Nothing is skimped on in the deck layout and equipment on the J/45, while the standard specification is generally of a very high level. It includes many items that other yards list as expensive options, such as Nitronic 50 rod rigging, hydraulic backstay and vang, white painted aluminium spars, and a 60hp engine with three-blade folding prop.

Systems work flawlessly and the six winches are generously sized. At the same time, the deck has a very uncluttered appearance, with lines including halyards and the mainsheet system led aft beneath conduits. The hydraulic backstay and vang markedly reduce the amount of string in the cockpit, as do the standard headsail sheet cars that run on a track with pins, although towed cars are offered as an option.

Our test boat has the electric option for the port coachroof winch, which makes for easy spinnaker hoists and trimming. The pit area is also provided with self-stowing washboards and a commendably large rope bin. Other neat touches include the lazybag arrangement, which makes it easy to roll away excess fabric while sailing.

Slimline helm station pods have enough space for a plotter display. Photo: Rupert Holmes

The J/45 cockpit layout will be immediately familiar to any keen sailor, although unlike many yachts of this size, there’s no separate guest cockpit for those who want to stay well clear of the action. The cockpit is narrow by today’s standards, especially towards the transom, but the lack of wide open spaces here is not detrimental for a serious sailing yacht. Deep moulded bulwarks, plus stainless steel coachroof grab rails, give security when going forward, while the non-slip deck surface of our test boat proved effective, as did the Flexiteek fitted to the cockpit benches and sole.

Cruising stores on the J/45

Two-cabin versions of the J/45 have a large cockpit locker under the starboard bench, which is open to the lazarette and can also be accessed from the interior. There’s a lot of stowage space here, with the main area easily able to swallow a dinghy, several sails, paddleboards and more, although the access from deck is relatively narrow.

It also gives safe access to the quadrant and the pilot ram. In addition, there’s a dedicated liferaft locker, access to the lazarette from the cockpit sole and a large sail locker forward.

Given that most cruising stores and equipment tend to be stowed in the back half of a yacht, the 350lt water tank is under the double berth in the forward cabin, while the chain locker is right forward. This is deliberate to balance the weight of movable equipment and stores, but means weight is not concentrated centrally and it feels wrong to place so much in the ends of the boat. It’s a testament to the boat’s underlying design that this weight in the bow didn’t appear to mar handling, or detract from the lovely feel under sail during our test.

Access to quadrant and pilot in the lazarette. Photo: Andreas Lindlahr/EYOTY

No one buys a J/Boat solely on the basis of the interior and it’s no surprise the combination of low freeboard and moderate beam limit volume below deck. However, headroom is generous in the saloon and this a sufficiently large yacht to offer a considerable level of comfort.

While the overall style is instantly recognisable as that of a J/Boat, it’s at least a couple of notches above previous models in terms of quality and feel. J Composites has worked hard to achieve this and there’s a wide range of upholstery options.

Two-cabin versions have excellent stowage aft of the heads compartment, which is also accessible from on deck

The main living, galley and navigation station areas on the J/45 occupy a good length of the boat near the point of maximum beam and are therefore relatively spacious. There are good handholds both at the easy companionway steps and as you move forward into the saloon.

This is wide, with a settee/sea berth to starboard and generous U-shaped seating around the table opposite. On our test boat the aft transverse saloon seat houses an air-conditioning unit with outlets to the saloon and cabins.

At the foot of the companionway the semi U-shape galley has a large single sink and lots of worktop space, along with generally good stowage. Our test boat has a big top loading fridge, plus a second refrigeration unit with drawers, and a three-burner hob with oven. There’s no provision for a dishwasher or a washer-dryer.

The forward owner’s cabin. The fresh water tank is under the berth.

Opposite the galley, the chart table has a conventional forward-facing seat. It’s a good size, with reasonable stowage but no dedicated bookshelves, although some of the six large eye-level lockers lining each side of the saloon could be used for this purpose.

The owner’s cabin is forward, with a peninsula bed, plus a useful separate seat, good floor space and a decent size heads. However, the freshwater tank under the bed limits stowage volumes. This is mostly in one locker to starboard, with hanging space, plus three shelves and two smaller lockers underneath. While there’s ample space for shorter trips, those who envisage spending extended periods on board in cooler climes may need to also use some of the generous saloon stowage.

Aft cabins are smaller than average for a new 45-footer

The port aft cabin is a decent size, with reasonable stowage, although it lacks the palatial proportions of those on boats this of length with more freeboard and where maximum beam is carried right aft. On three-cabin boats the starboard cabin is almost a mirror image of this, but has a little less floor area and stowage.

The second heads compartment, to starboard at the base of the companionway steps, is well appointed and benefits from a big shower area in two-cabin boats. Three-cabin versions, however, lose the shower stall.

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J/Boats has never been afraid to carve its own path. That’s also true for this boat, even though the concept doesn’t obviously push new boundaries. It will certainly appeal to J aficionados. They will appreciate the responsive, precise handling and performance across a wide range of wind speeds and angles. Equally, anyone who’s endured long periods under power while cruising will appreciate the boat’s ability in light airs. It’s really positive to see J/Boats building at this size again. Overall the execution is good and the standard specification impressive, as is attention to detail. For example, this is the only boat of the 10 I tested last winter with cabin sole boards fastened down as per World Sailing’s Offshore Special Regulations, which apply to offshore races and cruising rallies such as the ARC. Add in good resale value and a worldwide dealer/support network and it’s not surprising that this model is already proving popular.

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The J46 Sailboat Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The J46, a high-performance cruising yacht, was designed by Rod Johnstone and built in the USA by J Boats.

Published Specification for the J46

Underwater Configuration:  Bulb fin keel & spade rudder

Hull Material:  GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall:  46'0" (14.0m)

Waterline Length:  40'6" (12.3m)

Beam:  13'10" (4.2m)

Draft:  6'3" (1.9m)

Rig Type:  Masthead sloop

Displacement:  24,000lb (10,886kg)

Designer:  Rod Johnstone

Builder:  J Boats (USA)

Year First Built:  1995

Year Last Built:  2003

Number Built:  35

Owners Association:  J Boat Owners

Published Design Ratios for the  J46

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:  19.7

• Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
• 16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
• Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio:  39.2

• Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
• Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio:  161

• Under 100: Ultralight
• 100 to 200: Light
• 200 to 275: Moderate
• 275 to 350: Heavy
• Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio:  26.7

• Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
• 20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
• 30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
• 40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
• Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula:   1.9

• Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
• Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the J46

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 19.7 suggests that, in the right hands, the J/46 will have enough performance to leave most other sailboats of similar waterline length well astern. 

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 40.0 means that the  J/46  will initially stand up reasonably well to her canvas in a moderate breeze, but she'll need a reef in the main to avoid heeling excessively in a gust.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 161, tells us the J/46 is clearly a light displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer to a degree.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.9 tells us that a J/46 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0. 

Sailboat-Cruising.com says...

About the boat:.

The J/46 sailboat is a comfortable, well-appointed sailboat that excels in detailed examinations of safety, comfort, performance, seakindliness under way, systems, quality of construction, materials, finish, value for the money, as well as intangibles like aesthetics, pride of ownership & all-around fun. The J/46 is a 46-foot masthead sloop that promises to be an exceptional cruising boat and one particularly liberating for a couple eager to go anywhere under sail, without the need for additional crew.

It has two dedicated sleeping cabins and two heads. The forward cabin has a large V-berth with ample storage space. The aft cabin has a large double berth with hanging locker and bureau. The main salon has two settees with pilot berths outboard and a large drop-leaf table. The galley is aft to port with a three-burner propane stove and oven. The navigation station is opposite the galley to starboard. The head is aft to port with access from the salon or aft cabin. The second head is forward to starboard with access from the forward cabin.

The J/46 sailboat is known for its excellent performance in light winds. It has an easy comfortable motion at sea under sail, and is capable of offshore or ocean voyages.

In terms of 'fors', the J/46 sailboat is known for its excellent performance in light winds and its easy comfortable motion at sea under sail. It is capable of offshore or ocean voyages. In terms of 'againsts', there are no major issues reported about this sailboat.

About the Designer:

The designer of the J/46, Rod Johnstone, is a boat builder and yacht designer from the United States. He is known for designing the J/24 sailboat which is the most successful one-design keelboat of the past 35 years with over 5,300 boats built to date.

Other sailboats designed by Rod Johnstone include:

• J/24: The most successful one-design keelboat of the past 35 years with over 5,300 boats built to date.
• J/35: A 35-foot sailboat designed for racing and cruising.
• J/105: A 34-foot sailboat designed for racing and cruising.
• JY 15: A 15-foot sailboat designed for recreational sailing.
• J/80: A trailerable sailboat designed for racing and cruising.

About the Builder:

J Boats is a sailboat manufacturer that has been in business since 1977. They are known for their high-quality racing and performance-cruising sailboats. Sailboats built by J Boats include:

• J/22 - A 22-foot keelboat that is easy to sail and race.
• J/24 - A 24-foot keelboat that is one of the most popular keelboats in the world.
• J/30 - A 30-foot keelboat that was designed for racing and cruising.
• J/32 - A 32-foot keelboat that was designed for cruising and racing.
• J/33 - A 33-foot keelboat that was designed for racing.
• J/34c - A 34-foot keelboat that was designed for cruising and racing.
• J/35 - A 35-foot keelboat that was designed for racing.
• J/37 - A 37-foot keelboat that was designed for racing and cruising.
• J/40 - A 40-foot keelboat that was designed for cruising and racing.
• J/42 - A 42-foot keelboat that was designed for cruising and racing.
• J/44 - A 44-foot keelboat that was designed for cruising and racing.
• J/46 - A 46-foot keelboat that was designed for cruising and racing.

This additional info was drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material, and believes it to be accurate to the best of their knowledge.

Other sailboats in the J-Boat range include:

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J/46 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of J/46. Built by J Boats and designed by Rod Johnstone, the boat was first built in 1995. It has a hull type of Fin w/bulb & spade rudder and LOA is 14.02. Its sail area/displacement ratio 19.71. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined.

J/46 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about J/46 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, contributions, who designed the j/46.

J/46 was designed by Rod Johnstone.

Who builds J/46?

J/46 is built by J Boats.

When was J/46 first built?

J/46 was first built in 1995.

How long is J/46?

J/46 is 12.34 m in length.

What is mast height on J/46?

J/46 has a mast height of 16.31 m.

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• Sailboat Guide

J/46 is a 45 ′ 11 ″ / 14 m monohull sailboat designed by Rod Johnstone and built by J Boats between 1995 and 2003.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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2023 Boat of the Year Best Crossover: J/45

• By Dave Reed
• December 16, 2022

Sailing World Magazine’s  annual Boat of the Year tests are conducted in Annapolis, Maryland, following the US Sailboat Show. With independent judges exhaustively inspecting the boats on land and putting them through their paces on the water, this year’s fleet of new performance-sailing boats spanned from small dinghies to high-tech bluewater catamarans. Here’s the best of the best from our  2023 Boat of the Year nominees »

The Family Flagship

• Stated purpose: Offshore performance, cruising yacht, club racer
• Crew: Two to eight
• Praise for: Powerful hull shape, high-quality build, versatility
• Est. price as sailed: approx. $900,000 to 1 million

The Johnstone family and their builders take their time to get it right. It’s what makes J Boats synonymous with proper and purposeful sailing boats, which now includes the J/45. For the many legacy J Boat owners, this sailboat is for you.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve come out with a boat this size,” says designer Alan Johnstone. “A lot of different trends have come along, and we’ve been paying attention and applying them in the sportboat range and in some of our smaller racer-cruisers.”

A good current-model comparison, says Jeff Johnstone, would be the company’s J/121e, which has been very successful on the offshore racing scene. “The J/45 has over a 40 percent ballast ratio, so that’s pretty substantial,” he says. “That means we can get away with a pretty sizable rig. Our markets are San Diego, Chicago and New England, where it doesn’t blow so hard, so we wanted to be able to actually sail in 5 knots of wind. With sails that work across the wind range, we have a more powerful hull that allows you to carry more sail area.”

The J/45 is a nod to J Boats’ raison d’être, Jeff explains. It’s a boat that is offshore-capable, and easy to campaign with friends and family in the club beer-can series and overnight races. “Look at the events that are prospering,” he says, “pursuit races and cruises—events you don’t need to have a pro crew on board.”

The boat is intended for shorthanded sailing, so there’s a traditional and simple approach to the deck layout, with everything leading to the pit, through-jammers to Harken cabin-top winches (one electrified), one set of coaming primaries, and a pair of winches for the split mainsheet that runs below deck and exits from a nicely sculpted deck fitting. With twin pedestals, the carbon wheels are high and angled outboard for excellent visibility.

“When I first saw it at the dock, I thought, This is a pretty cool race boat,” Powlison says. “When you step back and look at it, it has great-looking lines. When we got on, I immediately noted the sightline from the wheel. I could see across the entire boat all the way to the bow. It’s all really clean and has the attributes you’d expect to see on a proper race boat. When we went below, I was like, wow, it really is a boat I could live on for a while.”

The owner of the boat that was test-sailed has a young family of teens and uses the boat extensively for club racing and cruising in New England. So, the boat was laden with cruising extras, plus a retractable bow thruster, a hydraulic mast jack and an upgraded Hall carbon rig. A custom addition by the owner was the carbon furling boom, which was a project collaboration between North Sails and Hall. The owner is extremely happy with the furler, especially not having to make the family flake and stack 1,152 square feet of race-worthy sails on the family cruise.

“It’s great to see the owner already racing it and doing what it’s meant for,” Allen says. “I know J Boats has wanted to do this model for a long time, and this is now its flagship. All the mechanicals are accessible, all nicely done and perfectly clean. This is a big deal for them, and it being just north of a million, I think this boat will appeal to a new level of client.” [Eds. note: After publication Jeff Johnstone clarified the judge’s quoted price “as sailed”: “Base price is $695k with carbon rig, and a sail-away budget with extensive systems would be somewhere in the $900,000 to $1 million range.”

“I had full control through the jibes and tacks. My sense was that it just kept trucking through all the changes in the conditions.” —Dave Powlison

Stewart has a keen eye for a fast hull and says the J/45 gets its appeal from its subtle curved sheer line and the long, low cabin top. “It’s got a nice hull form too; it’s wide aft, but not unnecessarily wide. Still, there’s good volume for the length.”

Enough of the looks. How does it sail in 10 to 15 knots and moderate chop?

“It was definitely fingertip steering,” Powlison says. “It was really easy to turn—I had full control through the jibes and tacks, and my sense was that it just kept trucking through all the changes in the conditions. I could easily follow the breeze, and for a boat this big, I felt it was very responsive on the helm.”

Allen did his fair share of upwind driving with an experienced crew for the rail weight and sail trim. The midrange breeze for the test sail, Allen says, was the boat’s sweet spot. “When we lock into a puff, the boat leans over just a bit, the helm loads up a touch, and then the boat takes off. At times it did feel a little underpowered in the lulls, but in the 12 to 14, getting to 8.5 was easy and it would just stay there. And even with all the cruising stuff on the boat, downwind was awesome. With the A2, the boat can happily get to 155 to 147 with a little rocked-over weather heel. It was fun.”

“It was good on the fingertip control as promised,” was Stewart’s assessment. “It’s light and responsive, and the wheels had zero play. The rudder had a lot of bite, and the boat was—as described by the designer—a stable and powerful boat.

“On top of that, it had great sails, was well-prepared, had good sailors on board, and showed perfectly to its potential.”

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Sabre 452 vs. J 46

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I''m nearing a decision b/w the Sabre 452 and J46 as my ''retirement'' project. The boat will be sailed in Maine and the U.S.Virgin Islands including an annual round trip passage. It will not be raced and I have the usual spouse-induced short-handed sailing needs. Ease of handling and stability are important but I''m not willing to sacrifice too much speed and it must be fun in the light air of a Maine summer. Any thoughts on this comparison or comparable boats with similar profiles???  

I am a former J40 owner who went through the same decision process and ended up with a Sabre 452. E-mail me and I''ll be glad to discuss my thoughts.  

I must say I envy you...Two very nice boats and it is hard to make a choice. If I were you, I would prefer the J because of the deck hardware placement makes the boat easier to double hand and she is a better performer.A similar boat you should also look at is the new Dehler 47 which is a brand new design out of Judel-vorlig''s design team(Alinghi''s designer).She also has very nice cockpit layout and sail handling controls for double handed sailing.Probably she will cost a little bit less than the other two specially if you can make arrangements to take delivery in Europe. Check her out at Dehler.com. Ok I am biased towards Dehler but I own a Dehler 36 and they are superb boats in every aspect. Good Luck..  

Both of these are really neat but very expensive boats. Both are big burly boats to sail shorthanded with large sail plans and powerful rigs. Of the two I much prefer the J-46. It has a much better deck layout for short-handing and is more about actual sailing ability than appearances. J''s engineering and build quality, while somewhat simplier in finish than the Sabre has generally struck me as being slightly higher. The J-46 is almost 10% lighter and so should offer better light air performance as well as better heavy air performance. The J-46 is based on the J-44 which has proven to be an excellent offshore cruiser. The only short coming on the J-46 is smaller water tankage (117 gal) as compared to the Sabre (optional 200 g). That is easily offset by adding ''passage tanks''. The J-46 offers a better layout for offshore work, which includes a dedicated seaberth within sight of the helmsman and a generally more carefully worked out interior for offshore cruising. Of course, in my opinion, I would probably opt for a J-44 which in many ways is a better boat than both of these for far less money. Respectfully, Jeff  

Thanks for your reply re the Sabre vs J comparison. I''m very interested in your experience. What were the final deciding points, is there anything you''d change, what do you think were the key options you did(or wish you had) incorporate in the 452, and what mast/boom/reefing/furling/rigging options did you end up with? A lot of questions, and it''s great to hear from someone who''s been there. Thanks. Email reply to [email protected]  

I just bought a J/46. We are in identical situations. I wanted a fun boat to sail that would make my heart beat a bit faster every time I saw her.  

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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Preview: J/45 – the J/boat with cruising in mind

• Toby Heppell
• May 2, 2021

The latest yacht to be announced from J/Boats is firmly aimed at the cruising market - though it should maintain the performance for which this marque is so highly regarded

J/Boats are known predominantly for their cruiser-racers, which usually lean rather more towards the racing side of the name than the cruising.

The all new performance cruiser from J/Boats, however, the J/45 is intended as a long-distance yacht that’ll be fun to sail, as well as being civilised when spending extended periods of time on board.

Though the J/Boat brand is seen by many as the preserve of those with an interest in racing as well as a boat that is able to be cruise in relative comfort, the manufacturer says more than half the 15,000 J/Boats built to date are used solely for cruising.

Of the cruising owners, many report that they would like a larger yacht with a greater level of comfort, over and above outright performance considerations. 

As such, the J/45 is the the result of a three-year collaboration between the north American and French arms of the company. In addition, Isabelle Racoupeau brought her interior design expertise to the project.

Much of the focus, then has been on maximising interior volume and comfort, while maintaining an elegant profile. Minimal wetted surface area and light displacement should promote good performance in light airs and minimise the need to use the engine for propulsion while on passage.

This associated weight saving from these decisions has allowed for a smaller, more easily handled rig. A 42% ballast ratio allied to a choice of 2.1m, 2.3m or 2.6m draught bulbed keels promises an ability to ride out heavy weather.

Much thought and analysis has also gone into the systems and equipment, which are optimised for efficient sail handling and manoeuvring, along with comfortable living. As a result the standard specification is unusually high, including the carbon bowsprit, oversize winches and gennaker deck hardware, that manufacturers typically list as expensive extras.

The first boat is currently in build and is scheduled for delivery early summer.

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J/45 Review

In this review we will talk about the new cruising sailing yacht J/45, presented by the shipyard J/Boats as an offshore racing sailboat, which can be successfully used for long autonomous family sailing. An unparalleled level of comfort ensures the convenience of life on board. High speed, as well as other seaworthiness qualities, including the comfortable control of the yacht, complete the picture.

• FEATURES OF REVIEW J/45
• PRICE CALCULATOR

Two Helms for One Rudder

Offshore race or cruise, comfort of life on board, comfort under sail.

• ADVANTAGES OF J/45
• REVIEWS OF J /45 FROM PROFESSIONALS
• VIDEO REVIEWS OF J/45

This vessel is the culmination of three years of work by the J/Boats North American team, as well as the J/Composites shipyard division based in Les Sables d'Olonne. Later they were joined by Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design represented by the famous designer of large yachts Isabelle Racoupeau, who developed the interior design, layout and ergonomics.

A manufacturer of racing cruisers with a proven track record in offshore and inshore racing, J/Boats is trying to take things to new heights. The task was to create the most comfortable cruiser without losing the seaworthiness of a racing yacht.

Since the introduction of the new boat in the spring of 2021, based on nothing more than documentation and brochures, it has become clear that a group of naval architects and designers seem to have coped with their task. Further testing at sea of the first samples fully confirmed these hopes.

Today we clearly see that the J/45 sailing cruiser is primarily intended for long-term sailing of a family of 4 or a small group of friends who can not only live on board in comfortable conditions on the high seas, but also participate in offshore racing.

J/45 was highly appreciated by the yachting community. She straightaway became the owner of two most prestigious awards: Cruising World’s “2023 Boat of the Year” and "Best Performance Cruiser", as well as Sailing World’s “2023 Boat of the Year” and "Best Crossover Winner".

Features of Review J/45

• Brand: J/Boats
• Hull type: Sailing yacht
• Overall length, m: 13.85
• Width, m: 4.25
• Draft, m: 2.32
• Displacement, T: 9.9
• Air draft, m: 2.3
• Water tanks, l: 2 x 200
• Exterior design (Architect): Alan Johnstone
• Interior Design: Isabelle Racoupeau
• CE Certification: A
• Mainsail type: Fully battened
• Jib type: Genoa
• Mainsail area, m²: 180
• Jib area, m²: 121
• Engine: Volvo 60HP
• Optional engine: Volvo 75 HP
• Fuel tanks, l: 200

Price calculator

J/45 review by toprik team.

TopRik team saw the J/45 racing cruiser for the first time at Cannes 2021. Then we already realized that the yacht would become the flagship of the shipyard.

In this motley crowd of yachts, flags and advertising posters, it was difficult to see the elegant lines of this stunning sailboat, which combined North American pragmatism and French charm. The first manifested itself in the nautical characteristics of the boat, and the second - in its ergonomic contours and elegant interiors of the living quarters.

All the extra comfort required extra volume and weight, but the architects tried to keep the displacement low, although the J/45 is still heavier than some cruising sailboats of this size. The developers have ensured that when the yacht is fully loaded, the performance is optimized in such a way that the weight of the boat does not affect its handling and speed.

When making the hull, the method used was vacuum injection of vinyl ester resin into the composite fiberglass materials from which the boat is made. The vacuum infusion method prolongs the life of the yacht as it prevents the osmosis process. Hull lamination provides the necessary structural rigidity, which improves maneuvering and other sailing properties, and increases resistance to mechanical stress.

Traditionally, let's start with a survey of the cockpit, where two control posts are installed. J/Boats is a single rudder lover and the J/45 is no exception.

The main tools are placed on the helm panel - a multifunctional marine display, control of the thruster, autopilot, etc.

Immediately behind the helms are large winches. Halyards and sheets do not clutter up the deck, they are placed in a separate panel, the backstay is hydraulic. A large locker is intended for the cables. Two more winches are located on the sides of the cabin roof.

Safe movement in the cockpit and on deck is provided by the bulwark and handrails on the deckhouse roof.

The cockpit and decks, as well as the cockpit’s benches, are covered with anti-slip material.

With this yacht, such a question is trivial - it’s both. You can also use it for pleasant long passages, using sails or an engine if necessary.

You just have to decide on the layout of the cabins. For family cruising, two cabins are ideal, each with its own bathroom. The owner's cabin is located in the bow of the yacht and provides significant living space.

And if you choose the option with three cabins, then the inhabitants of two of them will have to use a shared bathroom.

If you opt for the two-cabin version, you also get a huge cockpit locker, where you can store not only all your diving equipment, but also an inflatable dinghy.

Another large locker is located on the bow, it is designed to store the sails. There is also a box for the anchor chain and water tanks. This apparent oversaturation of equipment in the stern and bow of the boat, and not in its center, just serves to optimize the handling of this sailing cruiser.

If we are talking about a cruise, then we assume that people (or the sole traveler) will spend a fairly long time on board. The cabins on this boat are clearly designed for maximum comfort for sailboats of this size: large cozy double beds, wardrobes and shelves for storage.

In the owner's cabin of the 2-cabin version, a peninsula bed and an additional pouffe are provided. In this case, as we noted above, the residents have separate bathrooms for each cabin.

All rooms located below deck have sufficient comfortable height. They have access to natural light through the side and ceiling windows.

The same can be said about the saloon, which is just filled with light. This is a fairly spacious room, which includes a skipper's place with a separate table and seat. The navigation spot is equipped with a chartplotter , communications equipment and other useful things.

Opposite to it is a full-fledged galley with a stove, refrigerator, sink, where fresh water is supplied, and table for cooking.

The dining area has a folding table, which, if desired, can be transformed into an extra bed. Around it are soft sofas and seats with pillows. Opposite is another sofa. The vibe is conducive to communication and relaxation in a pleasant environment.

Sitting in the saloon, the skipper can watch the sails through the large hatch in the roof. A ladder with wide steps provides quick access to the cockpit.

Who says it's impossible on a racing sailboat? It all depends on what you put into this concept. We liked that the sailing yacht J/45 did not require to use excessive force for managing it. We came to the conclusion that the sailing rig is equally comfortable and easy to manage both at wind speeds of 7 and 20 knots. In both cases, a combination of mainsail and staysail will be enough for you, and when the wind speed changes, you do not have to change sailing equipment, as is required by heavier cruiser sailboats.

It is also important that even with a light wind you don’t have to use engines, which allows you to save on fuel and avoid polluting the environment.

The rudder is obedient to the helms, and the helms respond to the lightest touch. This ease of handling is due to the low center of gravity, the ergonomic shape of the hull and the intelligent distribution of equipment below deck, as mentioned above. As a result, the draft and wetted area are minimal for a boat of this size and weight, which pleased us with excellent maneuvering in various wind speeds.

Advantages of J/45

I don’t even want to trifle and note some noticed shortcomings, since they are far outweighed by the advantages of this magnificent sailing cruiser. Well, except that one can note a tendency towards a larger roll angle, which is explained by the presence of one rudder. So-so disadvantage, you see, not even worth attention. It noted by our afficionado of boats with two rudders. Another crew member wished there was more storage space.

Yet the advantages of the sailing racing cruiser J/45 were appreciated by all those who conducted the review, including the picky ones.

• Security. This point is especially important, since the boat is primarily intended for family cruises. Safety on board is facilitated by the hull manufacturing method, which eliminates the osmosis process and provides the boat with high impact resistance.
• Quality. The team of architects and designers has carefully selected the required marine equipment, engines, sailing equipment, galley and bathroom equipment from the best manufacturers in each field.
• Complete set. All reviewers of the J/45 note the impressive list of standard sailboat equipment. It even includes parts that other shipyards consider optional, and for which the buyer must pay on top of the cost of the boat. On the J/45 you can sail with confidence even with standard equipment.
• Multifunctionality. The J/45 can serve as a reliable cruiser for the family, as well as an offshore racing sailboat for a group of friends or rented out for commercial purposes.
• Cabin options offer a two-cabin/two-bath version or a three-cabin/two-bath version.
• Upholstery options for furniture and walls, including furniture finishing with white oak, teak or walnut veneer.
• Large list of options for on-board equipment and additional comfort.

Reviews of J /45 from Professionals

When Toby Heppell wrote this review, the first copy of the J/45 was just under construction. This was the first review by a professional yachtsman and journalist of the sailing yacht announced by J/Boats in 2021. The review was posted in Yachting Monthly in May, and by the beginning of summer the first J/45 had already been presented to the maritime community and did not disappoint them.

Toby Heppell noted back then that this sailing yacht was intended for sailing enthusiasts. As the author writes, the J/45 confidently maintains the high seaworthiness that is so valued in J/Boats sail cruisers. After all, the shipyard, known for its racing cruisers, pays more attention to the racing performance of these popular models than to their cruising qualities.

But the latest yacht, presented by J/Boats, pleasantly surprised even the most experienced yachtsmen, successfully combining all the qualities for safe cruising and high-speed sailing in this swift and elegant model.

The author is sure that this new high-performance cruiser will be fun to operate, and at the same time, in a long autonomous voyage, you will be provided with increased comfort for life on board.

Toby Heppell cites the shipyard's assurance that the majority of vessels built by J/Boats are used by owners specifically for cruising, despite the fact that the brand is usually referred to as manufacturers of yachts for racing, which provide relative comfort on board.

In the case of the J/45, the shipyard catered to yachtsmen and cruising yacht owners who wanted a more spacious sailing racer with high performance and the highest level of comfort possible.

We see, that three years of cooperation between naval architects from the American and French departments of the shipyard, as well as the involvement of the famous yacht interior designer Isabelle Racoupeau were not in vain. Their brainchild meets all the requirements for the perfect combination of a sailing racer and a cruiser.

The minimum possible wetted surface area and displacement were achieved under such conditions. This ensured good seaworthiness in light winds and the possibility of a minimum engine usage even during long passages.

Thanks to these solutions, the overall weight of the yacht has been reduced also. This made it possible to use sailing equipment of a smaller size and make it more convenient to control.

The fact that the boat is able to withstand adverse weather conditions is indicated by its ability to withstand roll (ballast ratio is 42%), the presence of a bulbous keel and a draft of 2.3 m.

Toby Heppell noted that even the J/45's standard equipment and control systems provide efficient maneuvering, high seaworthiness and comfortable living on board. Standard equipment includes high power winches, gennaker deck equipment, carbon bowsprit and other marine equipment that other manufacturers list as options that can only be ordered in addition to the main specification.

Correspondent of the Yachting World gave a brief and precise description of the new J/Boat already in the title of their review. Rupert called the J/45 "fast cruiser with timeless appeal". And as an addition, the review was illustrated with a video of testing the yacht at sea from Toby Hodges, who is also the author for the Yachting World.

Being on board the yacht, Rupert Holmes noted that the J/45 is a classic J/Boat that any yachtsman recognizes at first sight. But it’s 13.7 m (45 ft) cruiser that's more comfortable and comes with luxury extras like air conditioning.

During the voyage, sailing at 7.5 knots, the test team caught up with the 16.8 m (55 ft) yacht. But then they lost speed on the leeward side. And then, with the help of a mainsail spin, the yacht moved closer to the wind by 5 degrees, and the team again outstripped the big boat.

The author does not see revolutionary changes, but notes a significant evolution of the J/45 compared to its predecessors. She remains true to the shipyard’s classic feel, as evidenced by her moderate beam, low freeboard and a single rudder.

Design features provide a pleasant sailing in light winds, and at the same time - the ability to overcome problems in adverse weather.

The new J/Boat is just as responsive to sail trim, accelerating well in 8 knots true wind. The author claims that the team accelerated at a speed of 7.5 knots upwind.

When the wind speed increased above 10 knots, the team reduced the power by increasing the backstay tension. With a true wind of 13 knots and an angle of 42°, the speed of the boat reached 8.4 knots. In strong winds, the optimal tacking angles slightly exceed 70°.

The German mainsheet system facilitates the adjustment of the sail trim against the wind thanks to winches, installed very conveniently in front of the helm stations. By adjusting the backstay tension, which changes the shape and power of the mainsail, it is easy to reduce the power of the sails when the wind increases.

The author paid tribute to the shipyard J/Boats, which, according to him, was never afraid to go its own way. And although the J/45 concept, according to Rupert Holmes does not break the established boundaries, that is exactly what the fans of the brand will like.

The author is confident that yachtsmen committed to the brand will appreciate the responsive handling that provides directional accuracy with given parameters, high performance when changing angle and speed of the wind, as well as the ability of the yacht to travel on engines during light wind, which is especially important for long voyages.

In conclusion, Rupert once again dwelled on the impressive standard specification and attention to detail. He singled out one of these details in particular – you are able to fasten down the cabin sole board, exactly in accordance with the rules of World Sailing for offshore racing which also applies to cruising rallies such as ARC.

Video Reviews of J/45

Here’s what this yacht is able to show off on camera.

In this one you get more full explanation of different features of the boat, including life on board:

Very detailed review by Yachting World – a lot of valuable information in 15 minutes:

Simple walkthrough of the interior:

More incredible footage both at sea and on board:

TopRik team's review of the J/45 racing sail cruiser, the results of which are confirmed by other authoritative sources - journalists and yachtsmen of the leading yachting media - allow us to conclude:

• the yacht perfectly combines the properties of a racing sailboat with excellent seaworthiness and a comfortable cruise ship;
• thanks to convenient and simple control, the boat is perfect for lovers of high-speed sailing alone (for experienced sailors) or a small team of yachtsmen;
• the speed characteristics and maneuverability of the J/45 confirm that the boat can successfully participate in offshore yacht racing;
• ease of handling, careful selection of safe and reliable equipment, increased comfort on board, elegant interior, layout of cabins at the request of the owner allow the yacht to be used for long cruising by both a married couple or a family of any size;
• the boat is ideal for a romantic sailing for two, especially if the couple loves speed;
• this is an excellent investment choice for those involved in the charter industry - such a versatile and comfortable yacht, capable of accommodating up to 10 people, will not stay idle waiting for clients.

The J/45 sailing racing cruiser is a prestigious acquisition for corporate use, which will emphasize the commitment of the company's team to a healthy lifestyle and will strengthen its team spirit.

This reliable and safe yacht is suitable for anyone who loves sailing, who loves the speed and romance of the sea, who enjoys the opportunity for energetic sports, who feels the joy of steering a powerful vessel and those entrepreneurs, who are ready to provide others with all these feelings by renting out a magnificent J/45.

Where to Buy J/45 at a Bargain Price

When you decide that it's time to buy a J/45, just visit our marketplace and the topRik team will take care of everything else.

All employees of the marketplace are professional current yachtsmen who have a combined knowledge of all yachts, boats, motor boats and marine equipment that are presented on the website. We provide our clients with a full range of services before the purchase of a J/45 yacht:

• we provide comprehensive consultations on all issues of selection, configuration, cost, design and delivery;
• we give practical advice on each model so that your expectations are fully justified;
• we never impose unnecessary options or equipment - we only suggest how to improve the capabilities of the yacht in full accordance with your needs - the choice is always up to you;
• we select not only convenient, but also the most profitable payment option for you;
• we ourselves negotiate with the manufacturer of the package that you have approved;
• we deliver the yacht to a specified place;
• we provide the yacht with all the necessary equipment and accessories that are not provided in the standard configuration and options - cables, fenders , watermaker , etc.

If necessary, we will provide professional training in our yachting school SimpleSail, after which you will receive a certificate for IYT Yacht Training Course "International Bareboat Skipper" .

Contacting the topRik team eliminates all the problems that may arise when purchasing a sailing yacht J/45. Use the feedback page to reach out to our employees, call the specified phone number or send a request to our email address.

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• Sailboat Review: Race-ready and...

Sailboat Review: Race-ready and Cruising-compatible J/45

Race-ready and cruising compatible, the handsome and powerful j/45 presents an offshore sailor with options..

By  Mark Pillsbury - Cruising World - November 29, 2022

Sailing performance was definitely a factor for Erik Asgeirsson when he began his search for a new sailboat. Currently the fleet captain at the American Yacht Club in Rye, New York, he’s a racing sailor and has been part of a crew who campaigned his uncle’s J/35 around the buoys for many seasons. But after years of owning a Pearson 10M, and with four daughters between the ages of 8 and 14—not to mention a fondness for the rocky coast of Maine—he also wanted a family-friendly cruising boat, which will be shared with a co-owner and his family at the club.

By luck, Al Johnstone and the team at J/Boats had just such a dual-purpose vessel in mind when they sketched out their newest model, the J/45. They envisioned a performance-­oriented, offshore-capable sailboat that would be equally at home both on the Newport Bermuda Race starting line and on an extended cruise to anywhere.

Having launched several smaller (and a few more racing-oriented) boats in the past decade, J/Boats president Jeff Johnstone saw the J/45 as an intentional return to bigger, multipurpose boats. Speaking just ahead of the start of this year’s Newport Bermuda Race, Johnstone noted that out of the nearly 200 boats entered, more than 50 were ­ J/Boats .

But back to the new 45-footer. Asgeirsson and his partner went over the plans, liked what they saw, and ultimately took possession of Hull No. 2 this past spring at the J Composites yard in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France. (J Composites is the longtime builder of J/Boats in Europe and the co-developer of the J/45 and several other models.)

Asgeirsson was aboard  Acadia  for a 400-mile shakedown cruise to the United Kingdom, where the boat was loaded onto a ship and delivered to Narragansett Bay in early June.

To say he was satisfied with the boat would be an understatement. “It’s been a great project,” he told me when I arrived for a sea trial at Safe Harbor New England Boatworks in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

On the dock, I found a lively scene as sailmakers and techs swarmed over the boat, tweaking this and adjusting that in preparation for  Acadia ’s impending delivery home to Rye.

With a dark-blue hull, slightly reversed bow, open transom, teak decks and white cabin top,  Acadia  makes a stunning first impression. I couldn’t help but pause to take in the carbon-fiber spar and in-boom roller furler, the no-nonsense nearly straight sheer of the deck, and the carbon-fiber bowsprit that sits atop a stainless-steel anchor roller. There was a lot there to please the eye.

Asgeirsson and his partner have added several options to the standard J/45 to enhance the dual-purpose nature of the boat, bringing the cost of  Acadia  to right around $950,000, delivered to the US. These include Harken Performa winches, one of which is electric to handle the main halyard (electric all around is also an option); a dual function hydraulic panel for the backstay and boom vang; a carbon Furler Boom from Denmark; a full quiver of top-of-the-line North Sails; and composite standing rigging from Future Fibres, another company under the North umbrella. Other add-ons include air conditioning, generator, teak in the cockpit and on the side decks (Flexiteek is standard), a suite of B&G electronics, a retractable bow thruster, and a removable inner forestay that adds numerous options when setting headsails.

On deck, I thought gear was well laid out. It’s easily accessible for a shorthanded skipper, but at the same time, there’s plenty of room in the cockpit, forward of the twin wheels and traveler, for friends and family to relax or for a racing crew to go to work. The side decks ­adjacent to the helms are at just the right height to provide the skipper with a comfortable place to sit and steer. Visibility forward is excellent. Underway, I liked the location of the drop-leaf cockpit table, which provides a rock-solid handhold when moving about, and the beveled footrest below it for bracing when heeled.

The mainsail is controlled by a double-ended German-style mainsheet, with tails reachable from either wheel. Primary winches are also nearby. Fairleads for the jib sheets are adjustable from the cockpit. A cruising sailor might set them and forget them; racers might tweak their location and further adjust sheeting angles using the friction-ring inhaulers, also led back aft.

The J/45’s side decks are wide, with raised toe rails that should ensure good footing when things get wet and ­slippery. Forward, there’s a deep sail locker that also provides access to the chain locker in the forepeak, sealed off by a watertight door.

The J/45’s simple but elegant interior sports a high-low ­dining table with U-shaped seating to port.   Onne Van Der Wal

Stepping below, I found the cruising virtues of the J/45 to be immediately ­apparent. Rather than offering the bare-bones interior of a racing machine, J/Boats turned things over to French designer Isabelle Racoupeau, who has worked with a number of European luxury yachtbuilders.

Acadia ’s interior trim and furniture are white oak (walnut is standard), set off with plain white panels and cushions. Furniture corners are rounded to prevent boat bites, and counters have proper fiddles so that things stay put. The look is simple but elegant.

The saloon has a dining table with U-shaped seating outboard to port and a settee opposite. The galley is just aft, to port, at the foot of the companionway; a full nav station is to starboard. Even on the cloudy day that I visited, light poured in through overhead hatches, as well as through ports in the cabin top and hull.

The J/45 can be configured in a couple of ways. The owners of  Acadia  opted for the three-stateroom, two-head layout (two staterooms and two heads are also available), to better accommodate family and friends. Pipe berths were included above the double berths in the after staterooms so that the kids could bring more friends (those pipe berths are a handy place to stash gear too). The owner’s en suite stateroom is forward, with stowage for owners who intend to spend a fair bit of time aboard.

The full nav station to starboard suggests some serious cruising chops.   Onne Van Der Wal

The 45’s hull and deck are cored with Corecell and infused using vinylester resin. An interior grid is bonded to the hull and carries mast, rig, and engine loads. Hull No. 2 carries the standard 7-foot-6-inch lead keel (deep and shoal keel options are available).

Fittingly,  Acadia ’s most stunning impression was made when we left the dock and set sail. In 13 knots of breeze and sailing closehauled, the 105 percent genoa and main quickly got us to the mid-7-knot range, and the ride was smooth. The boat responded immediately to any move of the deep, single rudder, and truly, the boat trucked along as though on rails.

My all-too-brief trick on the wheel came early on, as we beat down the bay. I got to work through a few tacks, giving me a good sense for how easy this boat would be to handle, even without a gaggle of talented sailors aboard to tweak the control lines. Being on a tight schedule, all too soon, someone else was in the driver’s seat as we bore away and set an asymmetrical kite for the ride back up the bay—short but sweet, as they say.

So, racer? Cruiser? In which camp does the J/45 belong? Well, I’ll have to give the ­owner the last word here. “The J team’s done a fantastic job designing this dual-­purpose boat,” Asgeirsson told me at the outset. And you know, he was right.

Specifications

LOA: LWL: Beam: Draft: Displacement:  Sail Area:  D/L:  SA/D Water:  Fuel:  Holding:  Engine:  Designer:  Price (as tested):  401-846-8410  

45' 5" 41' 2" 13' 11" 7' 7" 22,900 lb. 1,303 sq. ft. 147 25.9 95 gal. 50 gal. 2x 20 gal. Volvo-Penta 75 hp w/ saildrive Al Johnstone, J?Boats $950,000 jboats.com

Brett Lyall A lifelong, passionate boater, Brett brings 26 years of sailing and 18 years of powerboat knowledge to the McMichael team. His background includes Environmental engineering and consulting, along with 7 years of sales and marketing experience in the luxury market. In addition to being an avid fisherman, surfer, and scuba diver, he is a sailing coach and has crewed extensively offshore on a variety of boats from J109, J105, J99 and 112E to a Gunboat 57. His knowledge of all things boating related is second only to his reputation for exceptional customer service and professionalism.

Doug Conner Doug’s life-long love of all things nautical naturally led him to pursue a career in luxury yacht brokerage. His professional background in sales and marketing, combined with his overall experience in and passion for the yachting industry, makes him a valuable asset to his clients for sail and power boats. Doug is committed to providing his clients with honest, professional, knowledgeable, and personal service.

Myles McQuone Myles is a licensed captain from age 18. He is a third Generation Merchant Mariner, operating boats runs deep in his family. Myles has held multiple roles within the marine industry between Marine Towing and Salvage, Marine Technician and Marine Service Manager. Myles’ focus has always had the customers best interest in mind; expect the same attention while consulting with Myles.

Ethan Morawski Ethan grew up in Fairfield CT and has been sailing for 13 years and powerboating for 10 years all over Long Island Sound. He has worked in the marine industry since High School and has an excellent reputation for superb customer service, seamanship, and attention to details. He is a graduate of Bryant University in RI.

Position Title: Boat Yard Crew Member Position Type: Full-time Experience level:  2-3 years preferred

Reports to: Service Manager

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will work alongside a team of supportive and experienced marine industry professionals. Your primary role will be to support the efficient daily operations of the McMichael yacht yard and the satisfaction of our customers.

This will include a variety of functions and tasks including basic property maintenance, launch and recovery of boats, cleaning, crane and forklift operations, blocking boats, and winter storage and other relevant duties as assigned.

Core Skills:

• Ability to clearly understand instructions and complete tasks accordingly
• Mechanically inclined
• Able to lift and reposition equipment, tools, and materials
• Basic boat operations – power and sail (will train)
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written
• Focus on customer satisfaction
• Proactive mindset
• Able to work unsupervised
• Ability to collaboratively work well with other team members

Responsibilities:

• Support of daily operations
• Support clients boating activities, prepping boats, fueling, etc.
• Safe operation of company vehicles, forklifts, and equipment, including trailer handling
• Haul, block and launch boats
• Boat cleaning and detailing
• Bottom paint and waxing boats
• Dock and marina area maintenance
• Shrink wrapping
• Repositioning boats

The ideal candidate is someone who will enjoy the nautical environment of the boatyard, which includes being around boats and being on the water. They will have at least two to three years of experience at a previous boat yard or yacht club. Their background will include a familiarity with boats. They will be someone who enjoys the boating lifestyle and enjoys working outdoors. They value working in a team and being part of a family-owned organization an enhancing part of the local community. We encourage you to apply if you do not have the experience but are dedicated to building a career in the marine industry.

What does a typical workday look like? A typical morning could involve arriving and immediately removing covers, prepping several boats to be launched and readied for use by their clients. You could find yourself assisting with changing a large tire on a trailer or rigging and craning a boat onto a truck for transportation. Daily activities will also include basic maintenance of the boatyard facilities which includes painting, building repair, emptying garbage, and cleaning, as well as assisting technicians with boat maintenance.

Salary range: $15 – $30

Email: [email protected]

https://vimeo.com/758079548

Position Title: Fiberglass / GelCoat Technician Position Type: Full-time Experience level:  2-3 years preferred

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will work alongside a team of supportive and experienced marine industry professionals. Your primary role will be fiberglass and gel-coat repair work on sailboats and powerboats. The fiberglass work will include everything from small parts repair to structural repair and rebuilds. The gelcoat work will be similarly inclusive and will also involve spaying hull bottoms and topsides with boat bottom paint and gelcoat.

• Working with vinylester, polyester, and epoxy resins
• Experience working with various coring materials
• Knowledge of gelcoat matching and application
• Cutting, grinding and finish sanding
• Visually spot imperfections in all parts
• Use of buffers, DA’s, pencil grinders etc.
• Finish buffing and polishing
• Exceptional paint rolling and spraying finishing
• Proactive mindset and able to work unsupervised
• Complete fiberglass and composite repair work to the highest possible standards
• Spray gelcoat, clear coat, and metal flake consistently and evenly to desired thickness
• Getting the customer back on the water with a safe operating boat
• Ensuring all repair work structurally and visually exceeds expectations
• Lifting heaving objects
• Assisting the entire service teams with various tasks

The ideal candidate is someone who will enjoy the nautical environment of the boatyard, which includes being around boats and being on the water. They will have at least two to three years of experience in fiberglass and composites fabrication or repair as well as experience with painting and gelcoat work or similar skill sets. Their background will include a familiarity with boats and enjoy delivering exceptional finish work. They will be someone who appreciates the boating lifestyle and working sail and powerboats. We are looking for a person who values working in a team and being part of a family-owned organization that is a respected part of the local community.

Salary and benefits: $50 – 70k, Medical, 401K

Position Title: Marine Service Mechanic Position Type: Full-time Experience level:  2-3 years preferred. Certifications Preferred. Equal skills and high motivation also accepted.

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will work alongside a team of supportive and experienced marine industry professionals. Your primary role will be engine maintenance and repairs for both gas and diesel engine systems as well as service and repair work on a variety of other boat system. A large part of this position will include troubleshooting, engine and drive preventative maintenance, emergency repairs at the yard or at the location of the boat needing service. You will be working on inboard and outboard systems and interacting and communicating with our boaters, so a focus on customer service is an important skill. Certification not initial required but is a plus.

• Effective and knowledgeable mechanic
• Problem solving – engines, drives, control systems and electrical
• Mechanical and electrical troubleshooting
• Engine rebuilds, 12v DC systems, machining work
• Gas and diesel engine/generator operations
• Wiring and soldering
• Performing maintenance and repairs safely and quickly
• Have your own set of tools
• Performing functionality checks on engines and systems
• Basic boat operations

The ideal candidate is someone who will enjoy the nautical environment of the boatyard, which includes being around boats and being on the water. They will have at least two to three years of experience as a marine service technician, automotive mechanic, Gen Tech, or similar skill sets. Their background will include a familiarity with boats and enjoy solving mechanical and systems issues. They will be someone who enjoys the boating lifestyle and working outdoors. They value working in a team and being part of a family-owned organization an enhancing part of the local community. We encourage you to apply if you do not have the experience but are dedicated to building a career in the marine service industry.

Salary and benefits: $60 – 80k, Medical, 401K

Position Title: Yacht Sales Consultant Position Type: Full-time Experience level:  2-3 years preferred

Reports to: Sales Manager

Job Description and Summary: In this position you will work alongside the McMichael Sales Team to consult with our client boaters, guiding them to find and purchase the best yacht for their modern boating needs. You will work with an experienced team that specializes in premium racing and sailing yachts, as well as high-performance inboard and outboard day and cruising power yachts. You will work with existing clients as well as being responsible for identifying, nurturing, and closing new clients. You will cultivate relationships with our clients and their families that demonstrate the highest degree of professionalism for the McMichael brand. You will be supported by the team to help you locate, acquire, and nurture prospective new client boaters. You will be a part of a sales and service team that caters to the all-encompassing boating needs of the McMichael community of boaters.

• Active listening
• Conveying key features and distinguishing selling points of a given boat model
• Ability to close high-value sales from $500k – $3M
• Prospect farming
• Excellent negotiating skills
• Influencing with content through digital and social media tools
• Consulting with and guiding clients effectively
• Proactive mindset that fosters successful unsupervised work
• Ability to work collaboratively with other team members
• Close deals on new yacht sales
• Deliver world class service in the form of professionalism, knowledge, and customer service
• Acquire and develop prospects into leads, then into new boat sales
• Attend boat shows and events to meet with and engage boaters
• Use digital and social media tools to engage with boaters
• Secure used boat listings
• Close used boat sales
• Guide boaters through the research, selection, specification, closing, delivery, and commissioning process
• Work with the Sales Team to constantly increase brand and model knowledge
• Influence your client boaters to choose McMichael Yards for their boat servicing and storage needs

The ideal candidate is someone who will enjoy the nautical/boating lifestyle and has grown up around boats. They will have previous experience selling in the corporate environment, in addition to a strong boating background and several years of selling yachts over 30 feet and over $500K. They will be an excellent communicator who is able to convey information clearly and concisely. They will be motivated to constantly learn more and achieve more regarding new boats and sales goals. They will be a person who can collaborate with all the members of the sales team to find creative solutions to barriers and issues.

Experience Level Experienced as a sail or power boater or similar industry background 2-3 years preferred

Salary and benefits: Base of $50 – $70k, commissions, Medical, 401K

John Glynn John brings to McMichael more than three decades of sailing, boating and sales experience. In addition to his time at BEYC, Glynn’s resume includes years as an Associate Editor (and Contributing Editor) for Sailing World magazine, where he was part of the team that created both the “Boat of the Year” awards and the NOOD Regattas. Over the years he has raced aboard C&C 40s, New York 36s, J/35s, Express 37s and Farr 40s, as well as his own J/30 and Soverel 33 Grey Seal. He boats with his family out of Captain Harbor in Greenwich, CT.

“John brings a wealth of experience as a racer, boat owner and industry professional,” said Michael Beers, McMichael Sales Manager. “He will be a fantastic resource for his clients in buying and selling boats. We’re proud to have him on our team, and his background will help us continue to fulfill our motto, ‘Experience Counts!’”

“I’ve been fortunate enough to spend my career in and around the sailing and boating community, enabling me to love the various jobs I’ve held,” said Glynn. “In joining McMichael Yacht Brokers I’ve found another fresh, new outlet from which to apply my knowledge of and passion for yachting. Moreover, I’m able to do that while working in the company of some of the finest yacht brokers in the business. It is my hope to bring to my brokerage customers a sense of confidence and satisfaction as they make yacht transactions, both from the buyer’s and seller’s sides.”

Cameron Campbell Cameron has been boating his entire life, starting as a toddler on Great South Bay on Long Island. He grew up in Connecticut and spent every summer on Long Island Sound. In college he was a member of the University of Rhode Island Sailing Team and also ran operations at the URI Waterfront Center. After college he was an ASA Sailing Instructor at the New York Sailing School on City Island and then for Olympic Circle Sailing on San Francisco Bay. He participated in many regattas on both coasts in both small and large boats. He owned a Sabre for many years which he cruised from Annapolis to Maine. Cameron also has experience with power boats ranging from center consoles though larger cruisers.

Cameron has been working with clients preparing for Bermuda races, extensive blue water cruising, and many that are new to boating.

Rick Fleig Rick grew up on Long Island spending many years sailing on the Sound in everything from J/22′s to J/105′s, Custom C&C 41′s and many other boats, competing in all the major Northeast events. This experience and passion for sailing led him on a path to sail in the 1987 America’s Cup in Perth, Australia with both the Courageous and USA Syndicates. He has sailed in many major international regattas, including the Swan World Championships in Sardinia, the World 6 Meter Championships in Portofino, Italy, and several Newport Bermuda races.

Rick combines his extensive sailing background with both the marine and sports industry, having worked as a regional sales manager at SunfishLaser and Vanguard Sailboats, and prior to that as a regional sales representative with sporting goods giant Nike. He believes that building relationships and understanding the clients’ needs are essential in helping customers have a great experience with their boats. He works out of the McMichael Yacht Broker’s Newport office at the Newport Shipyard.

Rick resides in Portsmouth, RI, with his family, having fallen in love with the Newport area during his many sailing events there. He recently retired as the director/coach of the Portsmouth High School Sailing Team after many years, and along with his wife, Carline, now enjoys his time proudly following their youngest son, Tyler, who just finished his second year at the US Naval Academy. Tyler is a very accomplished sailor himself, and a member of the nationally ranked USNA dinghy sailing team. Rick is a member of Sail Newport and can be seen racing many weeknights and weekends in all the local events in a variety of boats.

Michael Beers Michael is a licensed captain and active racer who began his sailing career in Boston on the Charles River. As someone who did not grow up sailing, he especially enjoys introducing new boaters to the sport. Michael has a proven track record of working tirelessly for his clients, and enjoys working directly with buyers to identify the best possible “next boat” from the many options available. He is an active racer, recently racing in the J/70 fleet at Quantum Key West Race Week and aboard the J/130 Dragonly in the 2012 Newport Bermuda Race.

Prior to joining McMichael in 2007, he captained the 80′ schooner Adirondack II in Newport, RI and was an instructor at Offshore Sailing. In his free time, he enjoys cruising his Sabre.

Todd Williams Todd started sailing on his family’s cruising boat before his memory serves. His love of racing was cultivated through sailing Blue Jays and Lasers in Pequot Yacht Club’s junior program.  Since then he has actively raced in the J105 fleet, J109 fleet, and helped form the J122 class. He also developed and helped launch the LIS IRC 35 class.  Todd is an experienced distance sailor and was involved with winning the Vineyard race class and IRC overall aboard the J122 Partnership.  

Todd enjoys using his extensive knowledge of boating to find his clients the boat that best suits their needs.  He is dedicated to providing the best possible service to all his customers.  Todd can often be found racing with clients and helping them build their racing programs. Through the years, he has custom built many J/Boats, Alerions, and MJM power boats for clients, many of whom he now considers personal friends.

During the winter season you may spot the Williams family on the slopes at Okemo where they have a ski house.

Andy Kaplan Starting October 4, Andrew (Andy) Kaplan has joined the brokerage team at McMichael Yacht Yards & Brokers. The addition increases the McMichael roster to seven full-time yacht brokers serving customers up and down the east coast with a concentration on the Long Island Sound and Narragansett Bay. He will work primarily out of the McMichael Mamaroneck, NY, office as well as Martha’s Vineyard.

“Andy is bringing to McMichael a lifetime of experience in sail and power boating with a keen focus in the sailboat racing world,” said McMichael President Steve Leicht. “His broad familiarity with offshore and one-design sailboats combined with his powerboating experience makes him an ideal addition to our brokerage team.”

Kaplan spent the majority of his career in finance including helping create the Quattro Global Capital, LLC where he was a principal and head of operation and marketing. “I believe that my financial sales and management experience is a great asset as I transition to yacht brokerage,” noted Kaplan. “While they are different industries, to succeed in either you need similar disciplines when matching buyers with the right product. That’s what creates and maintains long term customer relationships.”

Kaplan grew-up in Mamaroneck and has been a member of the Larchmont Yacht Club for over 30 years where he has been active in the Club’s leadership. He lives in New Rochelle, NY, and on Martha’s Vineyard, MA.

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Sailboat Review: Race-ready and Cruising-compatible J/45

• By Mark Pillsbury
• November 29, 2022

Sailing performance was definitely a factor for Erik Asgeirsson when he began his search for a new sailboat. Currently the fleet captain at the American Yacht Club in Rye, New York, he’s a racing sailor and has been part of a crew who campaigned his uncle’s J/35 around the buoys for many seasons. But after years of owning a Pearson 10M, and with four daughters between the ages of 8 and 14—not to mention a fondness for the rocky coast of Maine—he also wanted a family-friendly cruising boat, which will be shared with a co-owner and his family at the club. 

By luck, Al Johnstone and the team at J/Boats had just such a dual-purpose vessel in mind when they sketched out their newest model, the J/45. They envisioned a performance-­oriented, offshore-capable sailboat that would be equally at home both on the Newport Bermuda Race starting line and on an extended cruise to anywhere.

Having launched several smaller (and a few more racing-oriented) boats in the past decade, J/Boats president Jeff Johnstone saw the J/45 as an intentional return to bigger, multipurpose boats. Speaking just ahead of the start of this year’s Newport Bermuda Race, Johnstone noted that out of the nearly 200 boats entered, more than 50 were ­ J/Boats .

But back to the new 45-footer. Asgeirsson and his partner went over the plans, liked what they saw, and ultimately took possession of Hull No. 2 this past spring at the J Composites yard in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France. (J Composites is the longtime builder of J/Boats in Europe and the co-developer of the J/45 and several other models.)

Asgeirsson was aboard Acadia for a 400-mile shakedown cruise to the United Kingdom, where the boat was loaded onto a ship and delivered to Narragansett Bay in early June. 

To say he was satisfied with the boat would be an understatement. “It’s been a great project,” he told me when I arrived for a sea trial at Safe Harbor New England Boatworks in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. 

On the dock, I found a lively scene as sailmakers and techs swarmed over the boat, tweaking this and adjusting that in preparation for Acadia ’s impending delivery home to Rye.

With a dark-blue hull, slightly reversed bow, open transom, teak decks and white cabin top, Acadia makes a stunning first impression. I couldn’t help but pause to take in the carbon-fiber spar and in-boom roller furler, the no-nonsense nearly straight sheer of the deck, and the carbon-fiber bowsprit that sits atop a stainless-steel anchor roller. There was a lot there to please the eye.

Asgeirsson and his partner have added several options to the standard J/45 to enhance the dual-purpose nature of the boat, bringing the cost of  Acadia  to right around $950,000, delivered to the US. These include Harken Performa winches, one of which is electric to handle the main halyard (electric all around is also an option); a dual function hydraulic panel for the backstay and boom vang; a carbon Furler Boom from Denmark; a full quiver of top-of-the-line North Sails; and composite standing rigging from Future Fibres, another company under the North umbrella. Other add-ons include air conditioning, generator, teak in the cockpit and on the side decks (Flexiteek is standard), a suite of B&G electronics, a retractable bow thruster, and a removable inner forestay that adds numerous options when setting headsails.

On deck, I thought gear was well laid out. It’s easily accessible for a shorthanded skipper, but at the same time, there’s plenty of room in the cockpit, forward of the twin wheels and traveler, for friends and family to relax or for a racing crew to go to work. The side decks ­adjacent to the helms are at just the right height to provide the skipper with a comfortable place to sit and steer. Visibility forward is excellent. Underway, I liked the location of the drop-leaf cockpit table, which provides a rock-solid handhold when moving about, and the beveled footrest below it for bracing when heeled.

The mainsail is controlled by a double-ended German-style mainsheet, with tails reachable from either wheel. Primary winches are also nearby. Fairleads for the jib sheets are adjustable from the cockpit. A cruising sailor might set them and forget them; racers might tweak their location and further adjust sheeting angles using the friction-ring inhaulers, also led back aft.

The J/45’s side decks are wide, with raised toe rails that should ensure good footing when things get wet and ­slippery. Forward, there’s a deep sail locker that also provides access to the chain locker in the forepeak, sealed off by a watertight door.

Stepping below, I found the cruising virtues of the J/45 to be immediately ­apparent. Rather than offering the bare-bones interior of a racing machine, J/Boats turned things over to French designer Isabelle Racoupeau, who has worked with a number of European luxury yachtbuilders. 

Acadia ’s interior trim and furniture are white oak (walnut is standard), set off with plain white panels and cushions. Furniture corners are rounded to prevent boat bites, and counters have proper fiddles so that things stay put. The look is simple but elegant. 

The saloon has a dining table with U-shaped seating outboard to port and a settee opposite. The galley is just aft, to port, at the foot of the companionway; a full nav station is to starboard. Even on the cloudy day that I visited, light poured in through overhead hatches, as well as through ports in the cabin top and hull.

The J/45 can be configured in a couple of ways. The owners of Acadia opted for the three-stateroom, two-head layout (two staterooms and two heads are also available), to better accommodate family and friends. Pipe berths were included above the double berths in the after staterooms so that the kids could bring more friends (those pipe berths are a handy place to stash gear too). The owner’s en suite stateroom is forward, with stowage for owners who intend to spend a fair bit of time aboard.

The 45’s hull and deck are cored with Corecell and infused using vinylester resin. An interior grid is bonded to the hull and carries mast, rig, and engine loads. Hull No. 2 carries the standard 7-foot-6-inch lead keel (deep and shoal keel options are available).

Fittingly, Acadia ’s most stunning impression was made when we left the dock and set sail. In 13 knots of breeze and sailing closehauled, the 105 percent genoa and main quickly got us to the mid-7-knot range, and the ride was smooth. The boat responded immediately to any move of the deep, single rudder, and truly, the boat trucked along as though on rails. 

My all-too-brief trick on the wheel came early on, as we beat down the bay. I got to work through a few tacks, giving me a good sense for how easy this boat would be to handle, even without a gaggle of talented sailors aboard to tweak the control lines. Being on a tight schedule, all too soon, someone else was in the driver’s seat as we bore away and set an asymmetrical kite for the ride back up the bay—short but sweet, as they say.

So, racer? Cruiser? In which camp does the J/45 belong? Well, I’ll have to give the ­owner the last word here. “The J team’s done a fantastic job designing this dual-­purpose boat,” Asgeirsson told me at the outset. And you know, he was right.

J/45 Specifications

Mark Pillsbury is a CW editor-at-large.

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