The Award-winning J/46.. an Elegant Yacht for Effortless Cruising

Presale survey available to qualified buyers

J/46 may be the only sailing yacht of its size not requiring professional crew to sail at designed performance levels…..or to maintain. Two people can easily manage her upwind and down to achieve the same 8-knot passage-making speeds under sail that is possible when motoring with a 76hp diesel auxiliary. The joy of sailing the perfect boat is, after all, a goal we believe every owner ultimately seeks. To ensure that good sailing days are spent sailing rather than scrubbing and varnishing, J/46 is designed to be virtually maintenance-free. Her exquisite joiner work is protected from the sun below where its beauty can be preserved.

Great boats don’t happen overnight. Helped by new materials and techniques, they evolve from the joint experiences of designer, builder and owners to become state-of-the-art. J/46 is such a vessel, inheriting the proven hull shape of the J/44, an offshore blue water classic, having won the Fastnet, Sydney-Hobart, NYYC Queen’s Cup and Trans-Atlantic races. J/44 is the only Class of yacht ever to be given its own class start by the Cruising Club of America in the Newport-Bermuda Race. To create the J/46, a foot of sailing length is added for speed; a transom swim/boarding platform for convenience; a carbon fiber mast and low VCG 6.2’ shoal draft keel for more stability; and a resin-infused, composite hull and deck for greater strength. Belowdecks, the choice was clear, use the same beautifully varnished cherry or teak joinerwork, entertainment center and styling so highly acclaimed in our deluxe J/160.

J/46 is a "maxi-Ditch" yacht, the tallest yacht that can fit under the bridges of the Intra-Coastal Waterway. Yet she is non-intimidating. A high length-to-beam ratio on the waterline of this sea-kindly yacht significantly improves tracking offshore in large waves and makes sailplan balance less critical. J/46 sails with either main or jib only, always responding predictably to a light touch on the helm. Sail power with good stability allows cruising with working jib rather than large genoa. That’s less work for the crew and improved visibility for the person on the helm. J Boats’ unique spinnaker system makes downwind sailing possible for two. A modern asymmetric spinnaker attaches to the top of the anchor roller, is contained within a cockpit-controlled snuffer, and is stored, ready to use, in the bow locker. The spinnaker is hoisted to the masthead, 2’ above the headstay intersect, leaving space for the snuffer to shift on a jibe. Jibing is then easy. One simply lets off one spinnaker sheet and pulls in the other.

Sailing Awards

J/46 Selected for SAIL Magazine's Top Ten. Atlantic City (New Jersey) January 20, 2000 - J/46 Awarded Sailing World Boat-of-the-Year. Atlantic City (New Jersey) January 19, 2000 - The new J/46, flagship of the 2000 Sailing World BOTY fleet was awarded "Best in Class" and recognized for excellence in sailboat design and construction.