J/37
Description
The J/37 (1987–1991) is a 37′6″ high-performance racer-cruiser that many knowledgeable sailors regard as one of the finest big J/Boats ever drawn. Designed by Rod Johnstone specifically for IMS and IOR competition, it combines a slippery, moderate-displacement hull (14,900 lb, with 6,700 lb lead ballast in a deep 7′3″ fin or optional 6′ shoal keel) and a towering fractional rig carrying 1,000 sq ft upwind (SA/D ~28 in race trim, D/L ~140)—numbers that delivered dominant IMS wins in the late 1980s, including the 1988 SORC overall and multiple Key West Race Week titles. Below, the low-profile cabin conceals a surprisingly livable three-cabin, single-head layout with 6′3″ headroom, full galley, and nav station, making it a genuine offshore weapon that still cruised comfortably. Cockpit is pure race-oriented (all lines aft, huge wheel), yet the boat sails balanced and light on the helm even when pressed hard; PHRF ratings typically 60–72. Built like a tank by Tillotson-Pearson to ABS standards, it remains blisteringly quick against much newer 40-footers. Only 33 hulls were produced (most with the legendary “Flash Gordon” navy-blue stripe), giving the J/37 true cult-classic status
Construction Details
| Designer | Rod Johnstone |
|---|---|
| Builder | J Boats |
| Length | 38.000 ft |
| LOA | 37.420 ft |
| LWL | 32.420 ft |
| Beam | 12.330 ft |
| Displacement | 13500 lb |
| Max Draft | 7.250 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 51.50 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 14.83 ft |
| p | 45.17 ft |
| e | 16.50 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51.50 ft | 14.83 ft | 45.17 ft | 16.50 ft | - | - | - | - |
Documents
Sails
J/37 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 45.17 ft - (13768 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 16.5 ft - (5029 mm) |
| Leech | * 47.27 ft - (14408 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 47.55 ft - (14493 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 382.25 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
J/37 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 42.87 ft - (13067 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 19.33 ft - (5892 mm) |
| Leech | * 37.84 ft - (11534 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.04 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 17.06 ft - (5200 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | * 365.63 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
J/37 - GENOA
| Luff | * 50.91 ft - (15517 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 23.68 ft - (7218 mm) |
| Leech | * 48.21 ft - (14694 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 149.97 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 22.24 ft - (6779 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.03 ° |
| Area | * 566.08 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
J/37 - GENOA
| Luff | 50 ft - (15240 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 19.75 ft - (6020 mm) |
| Leech | 47 ft - (14326 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 125.02 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 18.54 ft - (5651 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.11 ° |
| Area | * 463.46 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
J/37 - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | 51.5 ft - (15697 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 25 ft - (7620 mm) |
| Leech | 48 ft - (14630 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 966 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
J/37 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 50.91 ft - (15517 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 26.69 ft - (8135 mm) |
| Foot | * 26.69 ft - (8135 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 1155 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.