I have a J-133, which I feel is the predecessor to this one, and we absolutely love ours in all ways. Each boat is a compromise… except the J-133, and hopefully the J-45 is similar (it sounds like it). In ground swell and 25 knots we can easily surf at 17 knots, still feeling very much in control (more regularly doing 10-13 in 20 knots on the quarter offshore ). It’s an absolute passage maker. That said, it’s still incredibly comfortable down below. Also, from another perspective having done work on the boat, everything is accessible to repair and work on without destroying furniture, but it’s still beautifully done joinery. I can’t recommend the 133, or likely this one, enough as a true sailor’s cruising boat and a comfortable, fast, capable passage maker.
it seems fairly comparable to an x4.6 at a lower price point. fit and finish looks not as good but tough to tell from video, noticed a few things. performance with the narrower beam aft may be better on the J. very thorough review, well done.
Now J/boats has announced an J/40 and you have allready sailed the X-yachts 4.3 so could you please do an J/40 vs X4.0 sailing review that would be awesome!!! And of course your reviews are very good!!!
J boats always make good, seamanlike boats with great performance. This is no different. Good job by J-Boats, bringing back the idea of a cruiser/racer?
Call me old fashioned because I am. This is much more cruiser racer or long weekender than a true cruising yacht. I would be uncomfortable in that cockpit on an overnight passage and even worse in a blow. I am not talking blue water but as a cruising sailor in the UK we cross Biscay every couple of years to get a change from the Solent. Told you that I eas old fashioned. I like the video though. 😀
I have to say when I went on board her I felt the build quality was very disappointing, especially in comparison to her direct competitors (x-yacht, GS etc)
Never tell a young person that anything cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for someone ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing.
This boat is a complete failure as a long distance cruiser. Why? Because that cockpit would become completely miserable, in fat it is ridiculous. Solution - Put one helm in the middle of the cockpit where it can be protected by an enclosure. Move the main sheet traveler forward of the dodger and have a clean and comfortable cockpit. Without these changes this boat is nothing more than a day sailor or weekender during pleasant weather.
Anybody said they wanted to build a long distance cruiser ? You could also say a Golf GTI is a complete failure because it is not designed to travel from Europe to South Africa 😂.
Your ‘solution’ eliminates all reasons why people would buy a j45. Just accept not everything has to be your taste. Plenty cruisers, who come from a racing background, have a circumnavigation project with a boat with dual helmstations and a performance rig, and that’s who this is aimed at.
@@donaldvanvliet9039 - The only reason anyone would buy this boat, would be to have a 45' day sailor. What I am saying is not a matter of taste, but functionality due to experience gained from crossing oceans. This boat is a confused mess, it's not a cruiser and it's not a race boat, it's just a mess. Nothing but a day sailor or a dock ornament for the know nothing dreamers.
I have a J-133, which I feel is the predecessor to this one, and we absolutely love ours in all ways. Each boat is a compromise… except the J-133, and hopefully the J-45 is similar (it sounds like it). In ground swell and 25 knots we can easily surf at 17 knots, still feeling very much in control (more regularly doing 10-13 in 20 knots on the quarter offshore ). It’s an absolute passage maker. That said, it’s still incredibly comfortable down below. Also, from another perspective having done work on the boat, everything is accessible to repair and work on without destroying furniture, but it’s still beautifully done joinery. I can’t recommend the 133, or likely this one, enough as a true sailor’s cruising boat and a comfortable, fast, capable passage maker.
Great job on this video. It’s great to see some honesty through critiques or suggested improvements unlike the other major TH-cam channel available.
it seems fairly comparable to an x4.6 at a lower price point. fit and finish looks not as good but tough to tell from video, noticed a few things. performance with the narrower beam aft may be better on the J. very thorough review, well done.
Now J/boats has announced an J/40 and you have allready sailed the X-yachts 4.3 so could you please do an J/40 vs X4.0 sailing review that would be awesome!!! And of course your reviews are very good!!!
Great video , great boat, Thanks!
J boats always make good, seamanlike boats with great performance. This is no different. Good job by J-Boats, bringing back the idea of a cruiser/racer?
Thanks for a great video!
Fabulous joinery!
Very good tour.
Call me old fashioned because I am. This is much more cruiser racer or long weekender than a true cruising yacht. I would be uncomfortable in that cockpit on an overnight passage and even worse in a blow. I am not talking blue water but as a cruising sailor in the UK we cross Biscay every couple of years to get a change from the Solent. Told you that I eas old fashioned. I like the video though. 😀
You’re not the benchmark, nor the targetclient for this boat, if you get ‘uncomfortable’ in the cockpit.
1st J boat with hull windows?
J112E & 97E owners may want to have a word with you about that.
This or X yachts 4.3?
I have to say when I went on board her I felt the build quality was very disappointing, especially in comparison to her direct competitors (x-yacht, GS etc)
Is it good to sit so near water when the sea is storming, you should sit in the middle of the boat?
The wheels seem comically small.
Twin wheels on a not particularly wide stern sailboat.
@@paulpaul9914 there are at least 20cm of diameter to the bottom of the cockpit, and this makes a huge difference. It looks like miniature.
@@GasolineNicenstein
It's the port to starboard cockpit width that limits the wheel size on this sailboat.
Never tell a young person that anything cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for someone ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing.
This boat is a complete failure as a long distance cruiser. Why? Because that cockpit would become completely miserable, in fat it is ridiculous. Solution - Put one helm in the middle of the cockpit where it can be protected by an enclosure. Move the main sheet traveler forward of the dodger and have a clean and comfortable cockpit. Without these changes this boat is nothing more than a day sailor or weekender during pleasant weather.
Sailing Sweet Ruca seems to do okey on there J/boat.... Around the world.....
@@jwxlr - Yeah, and you can go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, but who would want too? By the way, Sweet Ruca has a single center helm.
Anybody said they wanted to build a long distance cruiser ? You could also say a Golf GTI is a complete failure because it is not designed to travel from Europe to South Africa 😂.
Your ‘solution’ eliminates all reasons why people would buy a j45.
Just accept not everything has to be your taste.
Plenty cruisers, who come from a racing background, have a circumnavigation project with a boat with dual helmstations and a performance rig, and that’s who this is aimed at.
@@donaldvanvliet9039 - The only reason anyone would buy this boat, would be to have a 45' day sailor. What I am saying is not a matter of taste, but functionality due to experience gained from crossing oceans. This boat is a confused mess, it's not a cruiser and it's not a race boat, it's just a mess. Nothing but a day sailor or a dock ornament for the know nothing dreamers.
How much? It must cost a fortune!!
Price seems pretty comparable to other cruisers of this size.