J Boats

J/Boats, founded in 1977 by brothers Rod and Bob Johnstone in Newport, Rhode Island, revolutionized performance sailing with lightweight, planning hulls and fractional rigs that deliver speed, stability, and pure joy for racers and cruisers alike. Starting with the iconic J/24—over 5,500 built and still the world’s most popular one-design keelboat—the family-owned company has produced more than 15,000 hulls across 35+ models, from the sprightly J/70 to the elegant J/45. Built in Rhode Island using advanced SCRIMP resin infusion and carbon spars, J/Boats dominate PHRF, IRC, and one-design fleets worldwide while offering trailerable fun and offshore capability, earning a legacy as the gold standard in “fast, fun, forever” sailboats.