In this article:
- Technical data J/9
- YACHT rating J/9
- These are daysailers from the competition
The appeal lies in the simple, uncomplicated pleasure of sailing. Just as the mood takes you, even at short notice, if the conditions are right, without an announcement after work or at the weekend. Just hoist the sails, go out and have fun, relax and return to the harbour - done! This is daysailing par excellence, a water sports pleasure that is neither geared towards being particularly sporty nor does it demand too much in terms of living comfort. It is pure pleasure, defined by the sheer pleasure of travelling and spending time on the water.
Modern daysailers and weekenders are characterised by catchy concepts, attractive designs and high functionality combined with the simplest possible handling. With a low freeboard, short superstructures and all the larger cockpits, they stand out visually from cruising boats designed for maximum living space. The boats usually have a particularly attractive appearance, their hulls are often short and tend to be slender.
Despite its attractiveness and the correspondingly high demand, the market for daysailers in Europe is quite manageable. Brands such as Saffier, Tofinou, Brenta and Black Pepper, among others, are frequently mentioned. Over in America, the topic has a higher priority, especially on the US East Coast, where many smaller yacht builders further enrich the market segment and diversify the range even further.
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High import costs make it difficult for the J/9 in Europe
J/Boats in Newport is now once again offering a very typical representative of the genre. The traditional family business in the small US state of Rhode Island maintains a broad programme of daysailers, sports boats and performance cruisers and also has a market presence in Europe with a subsidiary in France. Its J/9 is a late successor to the legendary J/100, which became a major bestseller for the shipyard from 2006 onwards, and is also available in Europe. The J/9 essentially adopts the simple daysailing concept of its popular predecessor, but is around 1.5 metres shorter and correspondingly less wide.
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However, the new boat will initially be built exclusively by J/Boats in the USA, which will make sales on the domestic market more difficult due to the high import costs. Brand and shipyard boss Jeff Johnstone is therefore considering outsourcing the production of the boat to J Composites in Les Sables-d'Olonne on the west coast of France due to the already high demand.
In Europe, the first J/9 from American production was delivered to the sales partner Dyna Sport Boats in Switzerland in autumn. An opportunity for an exclusive test date for YACHT. However, this test is not under a favourable star as far as wind conditions are concerned. On the picturesque Lake Zug, the wind was almost completely absent the whole day in clear sunshine and high pressure. Only for a short period of time did a weak thermal with a maximum force of five knots allow a few strokes close to land. Unfortunately, the conditions were not sufficient for a really meaningful assessment of the sailing characteristics. And because the boat has to be taken out of the water and put into winter storage immediately after the test date, there is unfortunately no opportunity for a follow-up test for the time being.
J is known for its good sailing characteristics
Nevertheless, this much can be said: Even with a hint of wind, the comparatively lightly built J/9 accelerates well and noticeably fast. She reacts very agilely and immediately to steering impulses with the tiller. With half the wind and a gennaker, the log sometimes climbs above four knots of speed. However, the few performance figures should be taken with a pinch of salt in view of the extremely difficult conditions.
The design by Alan Johnstone, who has been designing the fast and successful cracks of all J/Boats boats for a long time, guarantees consistent performance even in stronger winds. It is safe to assume that he has not missed the mark with his latest design and that the sailing characteristics in windy conditions are as good as you would expect from all J/Boats boats.
As is typical of the brand, the Sparcraft aluminium mast is fitted with a pair of spreaders and stands on the keel, although in this case it is unusually far forward in the boat. The J dimension is just 3.05 metres with a hull length of 8.53 metres. There is a good reason for this: the J/9 is said to be almost as good and balanced on the wind with the mainsail as with the headsail unfurled. Videos and test reports from the USA confirm that it works very well with a reduced sail plan. This will please single-handed sailors, for whom the already extremely easy handling is made even easier, especially in strong winds.
As standard, the J/9 is equipped with a self-tacking rail for a jib. As a more powerful alternative, customers can order a short overlapping genoa with adjustable centreboard points on the cabin superstructure for an additional charge. The bowsprit made of carbon fibre is permanently attached, but is also only offered as an extra and in a package with additional sails such as a gennaker or code zero.
The equipment on deck is straightforward and reduced to the essentials. "Keep it simple" is J/Boats' tried and tested credo for the layout on deck of the J/9. The shipyard favours quality and only uses parts from well-known manufacturers in reasonable sizes. Harken supplies all the fittings as well as the winches for the halyards and for the genoa sheet on the roof.
Small bathing platform as a special feature of the J/9
Daysailing also includes a comparatively large cockpit with plenty of space to enjoy and relax. On the J/9, the yawls are an impressive 2.50 metres long. Up to eight people can sit on them quite comfortably in the harbour or in the bay. The benches can also be used as sunbeds for sunbathing. The space underneath the dykes is designed for stowing large and small items on both sides. There is plenty of space, even for bulky items such as additional sails. Unfortunately, the lockers only have one lid each and there are no partitions inside. This makes it difficult to grab stowage items that slip through to the rear.
A special design feature is a small aft bathing platform separated from the cockpit. However, a bathing ladder for this is also only available as an option. For access to the stern, the simple Dyneema cockpot for guiding the mainsheet can be easily removed and the boom can be tied off to the side. However, the split backstay adjustment with multiple reduction is a hindrance to boarding and disembarking via the stern.
As a pure daysailer, the interior is only of secondary importance. Nevertheless, the boat has a very simple and sober, yet functional and perfectly habitable interior. The berths in the foredeck and to the side in the saloon offer enough comfortable sleeping space for two to a maximum of three people. The living space is certainly sufficient for a weekend trip.
WC in the centre of the room offers hardly any privacy
Cooking facilities in the form of a galley block are also not available as an option. Instead, the J/9 is equipped with a cool box right from the shipyard, which leaves no doubt as to the boat's origin. Instead, the shipyard installs a toilet with faecal storage in the boat as standard. However, the toilet is completely free-standing in front of the companionway, without any spatial separation from the double berth in the foredeck. This can be uncomfortable on a tour. A light curtain provides modest privacy from the saloon. The question remains as to whether a portable chemical toilet would not be a simpler, cheaper and more practical solution.
There is plenty of storage space below deck. Swallows' nests, lockers, boxes and open shelves keep everything organised. Additional, spacious storage compartments are also easily accessible under the bunks in the foredeck and in the saloon. There is also praise for the perfect ventilation options. All the windows in the superstructure can be opened and, together with the large deck hatch in the foredeck, the ventilation is perfect.
Acceptable base price is driven up by equipment and import
The prices communicated by the dealers in Europe are based on the current list for the American market. There, the ship currently costs 123,000 US dollars in the relatively basic configuration. At the current exchange rate, the base price in Europe is 115,890 euros net, or 137,910 euros including 19 per cent VAT. Compared to the competition, this base price is still competitive. However, the standard specification does not include sails or motorisation. Equipped ready to sail, including a built-in engine from Yanmar or electric drive from Torqeedo, the J/9 costs over 180,000 euros. That's a lot of money for a boat of this size and orientation.
In addition, the costs for transport from the shipyard in America to Europe are borne by the buyer. He will then have to spend at least another 10,000 euros, depending on the offer. However, the J/9 can benefit from its dimensions. The small and slim ship fits neatly into a 40-foot container, including the rig. This means that the overall costs for the transfer remain within reasonable limits.
The attractive and versatile daysailing concept of the J/9 has a lot of potential to be successful on the European market. But only if the boat is also built by J Composites in France in the near future. In this case, the overall costs could be more competitive. This would be a very welcome development for interested parties in this country. And the successful boat deserves a better chance on the market.
Technical data J/9
Photo: YACHTModerate power: The rig is not very high. The self-tacking jib is standard, a genoa is available as an option
- CE design category:B
- Torso length: 8,53 m
- Overall length (with bowsprit): 9,15 m
- Waterline length: 7,74 m
- Width: 2,61 m
- Draught/alternative: 1,49/1,18 m
- Mast height above waterline:12,68 m
- Theoretical torso speed: 6.7 kn
- Weight:1,93 t
- Ballast/proportion: 907 kg/47 %
- Mainsail: 25,4 m²
- Genoa (106 %): 15,9 m²
- machine (Yanmar): 10 kW/15 hp
- Fuel tank (PVC): 45 l
- Fresh water tank (bag): 25 l
- Holding tank: 50 l
Sailing performance
without drift/current; wind speed: 4 to 5 kn (2 Bft), wave height: smooth water (* with gennaker)
Potential STZ
The ship is comparatively light with only a moderate amount of sail area. The sail carrying capacity is relatively high
Hull and deck construction
GRP sandwich construction with E-glass and foam core. Lead keel bolted and glued. Laminated floor assembly
Rig and sail
Aluminium rig from Sparcraft with a spreader spreader. The mast is powder-coated white as standard. Shrouds and forestay made of 1x19 wire. Dyneema backstay
Machine and drive
Standard equipment ex shipyard without engine. The J/9 can be optionally equipped with a diesel engine (Yanmar 2YM15) with Saildrive (surcharge 22,490 euros) or alternatively with an electric motor (Torqeedo Pod Drive, surcharge 21,980 euros). The boat can also be powered by an outboard motor
Interior
The extension below deck is sufficient for the weekend. Three people can stay overnight. The berths are long and wide enough for this. Aft of the main bulkhead, the ship remains empty
Equipment and prices J/9
- Base price ex shipyard: 137.910 €
- Price ready to sail: 182.740 €
- Guarantee/against osmosis:5/10 years
- Shipyard: J/Boats, Inc; Newport, Rhode Island (USA); www.jboats.com
- Distribution: www.mittelmannswerft.de (D); www.jboats.ch (CH)
YACHT rating J/9
Attractive daysailer/weekender from the USA with an extremely uncomplicated concept. The interior is simple, yet cosy. The high price for the ready-to-sail boat is sobering
Design and concept
Clear orientation as a daysailer
Very pleasing appearance
High acquisition costs
Sailing performance and trim
High performance potential
Sailing only possible with main
One-handed handling
Living and finishing quality
Functional equipment
Pleasantly bright inside
WC function questionable
Equipment and technology
High-quality deck equipment
Selectable motorisation
No variable draughts
These are daysailers from the competition
Domani S30 Club
Photo: EYOTY/B. Kolthof
Attractive weekender from Belgium with many unique visual and conceptual features. In the test, the boat showed very good, sporty sailing characteristics. Simple and sleek interior.Hull length 8.40 m; width 2.46 m; weight 1.85 tonnes; from 133,875 euros
YACHT test: Issue 3/2018
Pointer 30
Photo: Werft
The new product from Holland has now been unveiled at the boot trade fair in Düsseldorf. The Pointer 30 is a real all-rounder and is just as suitable as a simple weekender as it is as a sports boat.Hull length 9.20 m; width 2.90 m; weight 2.4 tonnes; from 132,670 euros
YACHT presentation
Saffier Se 27 Leisure
Photo: YACHT/B. Kolthof
Handy, uncomplicated and fast. The Saffier from Holland is a kind of roadster on the water. The interior below deck is minimalist, but meets modest requirements for the weekend.Hull length 8.10 m; width 2.55 m; weight 1.9 tonnes; from 112,455 euros
YACHT test: Issue 10/2020
Sunbeam 28.1
Photo: YACHT/N. Krauss
Pretty weekender from Austria for fun and sporty hours on the water with a small crew. The boat has a cosy interior below deck with a separate toilet room.Hull length 8.50 m; width 2.49 m; weight 2.3 tonnes; from 130,780 euros
YACHT test: Issue 12/2013
More on the topic:
- Small cruiser cruises - small boat on the open sea
- Ulrike Ufer on her passion for Leisure 17
- Affordable entry - four mini tourers compared
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