To expand your sailing horizons with a modern sportboat in open waters outside protected harbors and lakes, there's only one choice: J/80. Sailing World magazine rated J/80 as easier to handle, less intimidating, safer and better suited for sailing offshore than other modern sportboats tested.
Numbers highlight the reason: The 1440 lb. lead keel with bulb on the J/80 weighs nearly the same as the leading competitor's entire boat. No question. The most important standard when it comes to a forgiving design, family sailing fun and sailing in open waters is stability. Now these assessments have become official.
Offshore Certified
The J/80 is certified for Design Category B of the EU Recreational Craft Directive which states that qualifying boats are designed for waves up to 13 feet high with winds to 41 knots, or conditions which may be encountered on offshore voyages of sufficient length or on coasts where shelter may not always be immediately available. That these conditions may also be experienced on inland seas (or lakes) of sufficient size for the wave height to be generated. Other monohull sportboats we know of with retractable sprits under 30' are rated for Category C, "designed" for waves of less than 7 feet and winds less than 33 knots or conditions which might be encountered on exposed inland waters, in estuaries, and in coastal waters in moderate weather conditions.
Don't you think it's time to join nearly 1000 other owners worldwide who are discovering how well the J/80 fits their plans for sailing fun? J/80 is the only sportboat that combines simplicity of operation, confidence building stability and 15 knot spinnaker rides in an affordable, low maintenance and trailerable package. It even has 4 berths and a 12 foot long cockpit. You can try one out or refine your skills with expert instructions, prior to delivery of your own boat, at a J World Sailing School in Annapolis or San Diego.
Draft: 4 ft. 9 in.
Beam: 8 ft. 3 in.
Displacement: 2900
Standard features:
Construction
J/Europe constructed hull and deck of GRP balsa
sandwich, additional reinforcing is by way of
unidirectional and bidirectional laminate.
The resin vinylester and ISO NPG gelcoat of the
hull are guaranteed for 5 years against the
occurrence of osmosis. The bulkheads absorb the
loads of the shrouds and mast compression.
The mast step loads are spread through an
aluminum frame fastened to the main bulkhead.
The keel is fabricated from lead and antimony. It is
faired with an epoxy finish. The keel is secured by
way of stainless steel bolts to an integral hull sump
The hull is reinforced by various molded stringers.
Reinforced polyester rudder on transom with
stainless steel fitting.
Low transom suitable for direct mounting of a 3 or 4
hp outboard.
Bolts, screws and fitting are all made of stainless
steel, marine grade anodized.
Deck
Large modern cockpit with molded foot braces on
centerline.
Stainless steel forestay attachment plate.
Stainless steel pulpit single lifeline.
U bolt on the fore deck.
Stainless steel chain plates for cap shrouds, lower,
shrouds and backstay.
Opening hatch (420 x 420 mm) mounted on cabin
trunk forward of mast.
Two clear anodized jib T tracks with cars.
Swivel mounted, boomvang (12:1) jamming cleats,
on each side of the coach roof.
Mainsheet traveler with coaming mounted (3:1)
control line, cleats.
Swivel mounted mainsheet (5:1) jamming cleat and
ratchet block on cockpit sole.
Jamming cleats and feed blocks for backstay
adjustment (4:1) led forward in cockpit to port and
starboard.
Internal spinnaker bowsprit launching line aft
through fairleads inside the cabin to exit the aft face
of the cabin trunk to a cam cleat.
Bullseye fairleads to lead roller furler control line
(port with cam cleat) and tack line (stbd) aft to
cockpit side mounted clutch.
Two halyard storage bags mounted in cockpit.
One winch handle pocket.
Laminated wood tiller, varnished, tiller extension.
Spinnaker sheet blocks at aft and forward end of the cockpit.
Two stern pulpits of stainless steel single lifelines.
One fixed cabin window on each side of coach roof.
GRP main sliding hatch with Plexiglas one piece
offshore drop board.
One manual Bilge pump operated from cockpit.
One winch handle.
Non slip finish to all horizontal deck surfaces in white.
Molded Toe rail forward.
Spars & Standing Rigging
Sparcraft Mast and boom in anodized light alloy.
Custom, carbon fiber bowsprit.
Harken unit 00 AL roller furling on head stay.
Two pairs of spreaders swept aft 20 degrees.
Stainless steel wire standing rigging with turnbuckle adjusters.
Backstay with adjustment tackle led to either side of the cockpit.
Reef pennants and mainsail clew outhaul (6:1) led inside boom.
Retractable carbon bowsprit, controlled from
cockpit.
Mainsheet and ball bearing blocks.
Boomvang line with blocks.
Two jib sheets.
One main halyard spectra (no shackle).
One jib halyard spectra (no shackle).
One spinnaker halyard with snap shackle.
Two spinnaker sheets with ball bearing blocks
ratchet.
One spinnaker tack line.
Interior
Removable, synthetic teak and holly cabin sole.
Molded settee berths with access to storage below.
Large forward V-berth platform with two access
panels above mast step, and instrument thru-hull
area with inspection port.
Large and removable molded step permitting an
outboard engine and cooler to be stored aft.
Crane lifting bar integral to keel bolt system.
Interior reading light.
12 volt (44 AH) battery secured with straps.
