New Listing – 2014 J Boats J/88

Grabau International is delighted to announce the listing of the simply stunning 2014 J Boats J/88 ‘JESTER’.

Very lightly used, impeccably well maintained and massive spec J/88 from 2014/15. With over £30k of fitted extras and some very smart North 3Di sails, there is little reason to go new. JESTER is 100% ready to go for the 2018 season.

FURTHER BROKER’S COMMENTS:

With over £30,000 in additional extras JESTER is one of the highest spec J/88’s on the water. Ordered in 2014 and delivered as a 2015 model and hull No.44, JESTER has been used very lightly for fast cruising. With just 70hrs on her Volvo D1-13 inboard engine and very little wear & tear to be seen, she makes for a very tempting alternative to a new build.

In terms of her specification, in addition to standard JESTER comes fitted with the following:-

• Comfort pack including fresh water installation, galley sink, removable saloon table and V-berth platform with cushions
• Saloon and aft berth cushions
• Zip door to forward cabin
• Internal hull pockets
• Webasto diesel-fired hot air cabin heating
• 220vAC shore power and battery charger
• Second AGM battery
• 220vAC inverter
• Rigging plus package including jib in-hauler system, cunningham purchase, side deck padeye and spinnaker sheets storage cam cleat.
• 2 additional opening ports in cockpit
• Aluminium anchor
• B&G Triton electronics package with Zeus 7” plotter and mast-mounted multi-repeaters
• GOFREE Wifi bridge
• Raymarine ST2000+ tiller pilot
• Fusion multimedia system with cockpit speakers
• Harken through-deck furler
• North 3Di mainsail and jib
• North A2
• Cruising main and jib

Ideal for the club-racer, fast cruiser, family sailor or keen campaign class racer, JESTER is very seriously for sale and priced to suit as her owners now wish to go larger for offshore sailing.

OWNER’S COMMENTS:

The J/88 was a natural choice for us when we purchased the boat, as she was a fairly unique design as a fast cruiser, unlike many other production cruising boats, but like many J boats she is has found many fans as a race boat. Light weight, easily sailed by two, with superb performance, especially in light winds, and an exceptional planing performance when the wind pipes up. The J/88 is a very rewarding boat to sail and provides instant response and feedback when sailed well. A real sailor’s yacht. She is also a very easy boat to maintain, with no overly complicated systems to look after, and allows you to do more sailing and less maintenance.

Unlike most J/88 owners in the UK, we have had a great time cruising her over the past few years, and she hasn’t been anywhere near a race course! Consequently, she is in excellent condition, and probably the best example in the UK. We certainly wouldn’t be selling the boat if we didn’t now have ambitions to go offshore, as for the sort of sailing we currently do around the Solent and inshore, she is perfect.

MANUFACTURER’S COMMENTS:

The J/88 is not only comfortable and easy to handle, but her sweet balance, effortless speed and comfort will maximize your sailing fun. J/88 truly hits the sweet-spot in J Boat’s new performance sprit range – large enough to provide the creature comforts of a sit-in cockpit, inboard diesel, overnighting interior and head; and small enough to be single-point lifted, owner trailered and stored. Plus, there’s no wood on deck, minimum systems, and a simple functional interior so you can maximize sailing time and minimize on-board maintenance.

If sailing is having your cake and eating it too, then the J/88 is like ordering the whole dessert menu. Design highlights include a high-aspect, non-overlapping sail plan (no genoas) with a light weight carbon fiber mast – deck stepped configuration for easy rigging and tuning as well as for keeping the water out and the main cabin dry.

The 6.5 ft fixed keel with molded finish ensures a fair, smooth foil surface with a low vertical center of gravity.  This provides a ride that’s every bit as stable and exciting as the J/88’s speedster siblings – fast upwind with amazing fingertip balance on the helm and exciting planing potential downwind in moderate to fresh breezes thanks to the easy to manage masthead asymmetrical spinnaker and retractable carbon J/Sprit.

Since J/88’s successful launch and with nearly 100 boats sailing around the world in 2017, the growing J/88 Owner managed one-design class enjoys very close racing in the US and UK, friendly social gatherings for owners and each year more events are being added to the calendar.  With maximum crew of six and strict sail limitations, the class rules help to keep costs under control and attracts sailors looking for a simplified one design experience that includes friends and family.

J/88 not only satisfies her owners, but has met with critical acclaim in the boating press, awarded the “Best Boat Under 30 Ft” in SAILING WORLD’s Boat of the Year competition, Yachts & Yachting Magazine’s Boat of the Year as well as receiving high marks from the SAIL Magazine, Sailing Magazine, Boats.com, Yachting World Magazine and several others who have taken the opportunity to review the boat. J/88 is perfect for offshore racing as well as for one-design and or local beer can races.  What’s most important is that when all the racing is over, you’ll thoroughly enjoy and appreciate J/88 versatility while sharing her forgiving daysailing qualities with all of your family and friends.

PRESS REVIEW:

“Falling neatly between the J/70 and J/111, the 88 might be labelled midsize if it were an automobile, but no matter what you call it, the J/Boat design and build team found the sweet spot with this 29-foot family daysailer and racer. It’s a J, so it’s fast and fun to sail in a variety of conditions. Its success is well documented in an auspicious debut in 2014, including second in class in the Chicago-Mackinac race. While it is small enough to be single-point lifted for easy storage and trailering, it is big enough to have an interior that’s surprisingly comfortable, with enough elbowroom to extend sailing through the weekend. “.

(John Kretschmer from SAILING Magazine

J Boats J/88 – Jester – £99,000 VAT paid – full details here

Do you have a yacht like this to sell? Grabau International are always looking for new high quality cruising yacht listings both in the UK and internationally. For further information about our tailored brokerage services, please look here or feel free to contact us.