J/124 Review: The 41 Foot J/Boats Weekender

The J124 began as a bigger J/100

When the J/100 daysailer sold quickly after its 2004 launch, J/Boats asked an obvious question: what if the same idea had room for a weekend aboard? The answer was the J/124. SAIL described it as the J/100 concept extrapolated out to 40 feet, aimed at comfort, simplicity and sailing performance rather than long-term offshore cruising. Cruising World called it just enough larger than the J/100 that you could daysail it, race it and take it on a coastwise cruise.

J/Boats lists the J/124 as introduced in 2005, built to hull 35, with a last model year of 2007. Sailboatdata gives an earlier first-built date of 2002, which conflicts with the builder's record; the J/Boats date fits the magazine reviews that followed the J/100. With so few built, the J/124 is a niche boat, and that rarity is part of its appeal and its resale challenge.

Long waterline, narrow beam and a lot of carbon

J/Boats' tech specs list 40 ft 8 in overall, a long 36 ft 2 in waterline, a narrow 11 ft 4 in beam, 7 ft of draft and 12,600 lb displacement with 5,000 lb of ballast. Sail area is 754 sq ft with a 100 percent foretriangle, for a sail area to displacement ratio of 22 and a displacement to length ratio of 119, the same figure as the J/100. SAIL's early review quoted 11,500 lb, so treat displacement figures with some caution and rely on the builder's sheet.

J/Boats said the composite hull evolved from J designs that had dominated IRC racing in Europe. The Hall Spars mast and the rudder are carbon fiber, and Cruising World's test boat had a 54 inch carbon wheel. The set-back headstay and pulpit give it a slightly aggressive look, while narrow beam and a low center of gravity were presented by J/Boats as hallmarks of seaworthiness for coastal sailing.

Sailing it with two, or with ten for drinks

Cruising World's tester found the boat tracked easily upwind with the main controls close at hand. The split mainsheet leads under the deck to winches just forward of the helm, and the traveler runs across the cockpit sole. The cockpit is extra large, and on an evening sail it comfortably carried a crew of ten. SAIL noted sheets led to winches near the helm, 14 inch cockpit backrests, seats long enough to sleep on and an optional dodger.

The optional Hoyt self-tacking jib boom with a roller furling jib was, in J/Boats' words, the easiest configuration of all. Combine that with the carbon rig and a 40 hp diesel and the J/124 makes a fast, simple boat for a couple, which is how many owners use it. Racing crews can remove the jib boom and sail it hard, but the deck and interior were designed for people who want to sail well without a full crew.

Below decks: where the J/124 draws the line

The interior surprised Cruising World. It has an aft head to starboard, a simple galley, a stand-up chart table, long straight settees and modest forward and aft cabins, finished in fine teak joinery with Ultraleather or suede upholstery. J/Boats lists 6 ft of headroom, three separate sleeping areas and a top-loading icebox. A huge starboard cockpit locker can also be reached from the head.

The limits are clear. Cruising World listed tankage, galley size, 6 ft headroom and a high price as the main drawbacks, and said serious cruising would need options such as a removable bow anchor roller, a cockpit table, DC refrigeration and hot water. Sailboatdata lists 25 gallons of fuel and 35 gallons of water. That is a weekend and yacht club cruise boat, not a passage maker.

Setting up a J/124 for weekends away

If you plan to use the boat the way J/Boats intended, check the options list of any boat you view against Cruising World's suggestions. A removable bow anchor roller matters more than it sounds, because there is no permanent bow roller as standard, and anchoring without one is no fun on a 41 footer. DC refrigeration replaces the top-loading icebox for anything longer than an overnight, and a hot water system makes the boat far more comfortable for guests.

A varnished teak table that works in the cockpit or below, a dodger and good cockpit cushions turn the big cockpit into the boat's real living room. Beyond that, keep it simple. J/Boats said little-used amenities and complex cruising systems were discouraged by design, and every pound of extra gear blunts the light-air performance that makes the boat special.

J/124 versus J/24: two very different boats

Searches for the J/124 often get mixed up with the J/24, J/Boats' famous 24 foot one-design keelboat. They share only the brand and part of the name. The J/24 is a small, crewed racing boat with a basic cuddy, while the J/124 is a 41 foot carbon-rigged daysailer and weekender with a real head, galley and cabins. If you are shopping for a J/24, see our separate J/24 guide; if you want a big, easy, fast boat for two, the J/124 is the one to read about here.

Buying one of only 35

Scarcity shapes the J/124 market. With only about 35 boats spread across the US and abroad, you may wait a season for the right one, and comparable sales are thin. Use J/Boats' community and owners for history on specific hull numbers, and have a surveyor experienced with high-tech composites and carbon spars inspect the boat.

Running costs in the US are about $12,000 to $26,000 a year for a 40 to 42 ft slip, insurance, haul-out and maintenance, more if you race. Carbon rig inspections and sail replacement are the big periodic expenses. A cared-for J/124 with cruising options installed is a rare thing, and the right buyer should be prepared to move quickly.