J/27 (Joybird 27)
Description
The J/27 is an iconic American-designed fractional-rigged sloop optimized for both one-design racing and weekend cruising, blending speed, simplicity, and seaworthiness in a compact 27-foot package. Launched in 1983 by J/Boats (founded by Rod Johnstone), it quickly became a staple in club racing fleets across the US and Europe, with over 200 units built until production ended in 1992. Its low, heavy bulb keel and generous sail plan deliver responsive handling in light-to-strong winds, making it forgiving for amateurs yet competitive for pros—though it can feel underpowered in moderate breezes without tweaks like symmetric spinnakers. Built by Tillotson-Pearson (TPI) with hand-laid fiberglass hulls and balsa-cored decks, the J/27 emphasizes durability for coastal and short offshore passages, earning a reputation as a "go-fast" dayboat that's trailerable and easy to maintain. It's PHRF-rated around 120–135 (depending on rig) and remains active in class associations, with events like the J/27 North Americans drawing 20+ boats annually. Maximum of 5 sails: 1 main, 2 spinnakers, and 2 headsails aboard while racing. LWL 23.0 Beam 8.5 Draft 4.9 Displacement 3,800 Lead Keel 1,530 Headroom 4.5 Height w/Keel 8.5
Construction Details
| Designer | Rod Johnstone |
|---|---|
| Builder | Tillotson-Pearson |
| Length | 27.500 ft |
| LOA | 27.500 ft |
| LWL | 23.000 ft |
| Beam | 8.500 ft |
| Displacement | 3800 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.900 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 30 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 10.50 ft |
| p | 33 ft |
| e | 12.50 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 ft | 10.50 ft | 33 ft | 12.50 ft | - | - | - | - |
Documents
Blueprints
Sails
J/27 (Joybird 27) - MAINSAIL
| Luff | 33 ft - (10058 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 12.5 ft - (3810 mm) |
| Leech | * 34.6 ft - (10546 mm) |
| Tack Angle | 88.01 ° |
| Diagonal | * 34.88 ft - (10631 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 213.33 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
J/27 (Joybird 27) - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 31.11 ft - (9482 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 13.52 ft - (4121 mm) |
| Leech | * 26.71 ft - (8141 mm) |
| Percentage LP | 110 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 11.55 ft - (3520 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.02 ° |
| Area | * 179.67 ft² |
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J/27 (Joybird 27) - GENOA
| Luff | 31.11 ft - (9482 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 17.73 ft - (5404 mm) |
| Leech | * 29.07 ft - (8861 mm) |
| Percentage LP | 155 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 16.28 ft - (4962 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.05 ° |
| Area | * 253.22 ft² |
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J/27 (Joybird 27) - DRIFTER
| Luff | 30.25 ft - (9220 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 18.25 ft - (5563 mm) |
| Leech | 27.167 ft - (8281 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 154.19 % |
| Length Perp | * 16.19 ft - (4935 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 8.22 ° |
| Area | * 244.81 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
J/27 (Joybird 27) - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | * 30.2 ft - (9205 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 17.32 ft - (5279 mm) |
| Leech | * 27.78 ft - (8467 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 392 ft² |
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J/27 (Joybird 27) - SPINNAKER
| Stays | 30.21 ft - (9208 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | 18.89 ft - (5758 mm) |
| Foot | 18.9 ft - (5761 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 485 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.