With the new J/7, J/Boats has distilled nearly five decades of design experience into a modern 23-foot keelboat that’s as approachable as it is spirited. Designed to be trailerable behind a midsize SUV, the J/7 offers seating for up to five in a deep, secure cockpit, a compact cabin for storage and overnights, and a simple sail plan that delivers the crisp handling J/Boats are known for. Aimed at families, beginners, and club programs—but with enough sparkle to keep experienced sailors engaged—the J/7 promises to double your sailing days with a blend of comfort, stability, and pure fun on the water.
Design & Layout
The J/7’s layout emphasizes comfort and ergonomics without overcomplication. The cockpit spans 8.5 feet with long bench seats, angled backrests, and space for five adults. A walk-through transom with swim platform adds lounging and teaching space, making the boat as welcoming at anchor as it is under sail. Belowdecks, a compact cabin offers a V-berth, low settees, and stowage—enough for a nap, privacy, or a weekend “glamping” setup with a boom tent and portable head. Visibility from the helm is excellent, thanks to the low cabin profile and high boom clearance, ensuring that crew of all experience levels feel secure and comfortable.
Construction & Systems
The J/7 is engineered for daily program use, drawing lessons from the J/22, J/24, J/70, and J/80 fleets that have endured decades of hard service worldwide. Hull and deck are built with vacuum-bagged composite sandwich construction: biaxial E-glass skins with a Corecell foam core, reinforced with high-density inserts at load points. The result is a rugged, lightweight platform with a high strength-to-weight ratio. The keel is a 3.8-foot all-lead fin with a bulb, yielding a 46% ballast ratio for stability rarely seen in this size range. Systems are deliberately simple: roller-furling jib, end-boom mainsheet bridle (no traveler), and an aluminum deck-stepped mast for easy stepping and transport. Auxiliary power comes from a small outboard bracketed off the transom.
Performance Under Sail
Sailing the J/7 is intentionally straightforward. With one hand on the tiller and the other on the mainsheet, the boat balances beautifully upwind or under main alone. The generous ballast and hull form provide exceptional stiffness, keeping heel angles comfortable even with inexperienced crews aboard. Responsive sail controls—adjustable backstay, efficient sheeting angles, and jib furling—allow quick depowering in puffs. An optional sprit and asymmetric spinnaker package opens downwind possibilities, though the boat is equally happy reaching with just main and jib. Early demo sails show upwind speeds over 7 knots in a breeze and smooth tracking through tacks. For clubs, families, and daysailors alike, the J/7 delivers the unmistakable “J feel” in a forgiving and versatile package.
Safety & Stability
One of the J/7’s standout features is its stability and predictability. With over 1,000 pounds of lead ballast in its keel bulb, the boat resists excessive heeling and inspires confidence for new sailors. The open, self-bailing cockpit drains quickly, and all sail controls are led to hand, minimizing the need for crew to move about underway. The molded-in toerail and lifeline-ready deck plan further enhance security. Whether used as a club trainer or a family daysailer, the J/7’s balance of stiffness, simplicity, and strength checks the safety box as solidly as it does the fun box.
J/7 Specifications
| LOA | 23’1” (7.04 m) |
| LWL | 20’8” (6.35 m) |
| Beam | 8’1” (2.47 m) |
| Draft | 3’8” (1.16 m) |
| Displacement | 2,300 lbs (1,044 kg) |
| Ballast | 1,050 lbs (476 kg), lead |
| Ballast Ratio | 46% |
| Sail Area (100%) | 256 sq. ft. (23.8 sq. m) |
| Rig Dimensions (I/J/P/E) | I: 27’, J: 8.1’, P: 27’, E: 10.9’ |
| Auxiliary Power | Outboard |
| Trailerable | Yes, behind midsize SUV |
| Builder | J/Boats, Newport, RI |
A Small Boat With a Big Boat Feel
What sets the J/7 apart is how much big-boat stability it delivers in a compact, 23-foot package. With a 46% ballast ratio, high freeboard, and long cockpit benches, the J/7 gives sailors a sense of security rare in boats this size. That translates into more relaxed crews, more time on the water, and fewer canceled days when conditions are less than perfect. It’s an approach that makes the J/7 as much about accessibility as performance.
Heritage in Every Hull
The J/7 carries forward J/Boats’ legacy that began in 1977 with the garage-built J/24. That boat launched a family-run company and a worldwide fleet of over 15,000 boats. Like its predecessors, the J/7 balances speed, simplicity, and practicality. It’s designed not just as a boat to sail hard and put away wet, but as a design that will endure across decades of active use in family fleets, clubs, and sailing schools.
Options for More Fun
Out of the box, the J/7 is about mainsail-and-jib simplicity. But sailors who want to stretch its legs can opt for a bolt-on short sprit and asymmetric spinnaker package, or a symmetric spinnaker setup with a mast ring and foreguy. Cushions, a trailer, and a boom tent extend its versatility for days afloat or overnighting. One-design rules are being drafted for club-level racing, ensuring that the J/7 will be just as comfortable in the beer-can fleet as it is at the mooring.
Step aboard with Sailing World editor Dave Reed and team for a first sail on the J/7.
About the Builder
J/Boats: Sailing to Success
Founded by brothers Rod and Bob Johnstone in 1977, J/Boats began with the iconic J/24, a garage-built racer that went on to become the most successful keelboat class in the world. Over the decades, the Johnstone family has built more than 15,000 boats across a wide range of designs, all carrying the same DNA: performance made accessible to sailors of every level. Today, the second and third generations of Johnstones continue to lead the brand from Newport, Rhode Island, with models spanning 23 to 65 feet. The J/7 is the latest in that lineage, a boat as true to its roots as it is forward-looking.
First Impressions
Stepping aboard the J/7, it’s immediately clear that J/Boats focused on simplicity and comfort without sacrificing performance. The cockpit seats five adults with ease, and the wide side decks and walk-through transom make moving around effortless. Lines are led cleanly to the helm, halyards are easy to manage, and the adjustable backstay gives instant sail control, even in puffy conditions. Underway, the boat feels solid and balanced, tracking straight with minimal fuss, yet it responds instantly when you want to turn or trim. Stability is remarkable for a 23-footer, thanks to a low VCG and 46-percent ballast ratio, so stepping aboard at the dock or in a breeze is confidence-inspiring. Downwind, the boat slides gracefully, and upwind, it carries sail efficiently without demanding constant attention. For families, beginners, or experienced sailors looking for quick, enjoyable days on the water, the J/7 delivers a full-size sailing experience in a trailerable package, making it easy to get out more often, whether for a casual afternoon sail or a spirited weekend session.
