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The J24 started out as a garage project, on a shoe string budget, as a way for Rod Johnstone to validate a design idea that was years in the making and provide him with a boat the entire family could sail on. That first season the J24 won just about every race that was entered. Even better, the crew was rarely the same for each event and was primarily made up of family with a few friends. The goal to have fun sailing with family and friends was met. At the end of that year sailors were asking Rod for a copy for their very own, and by partnering with brother Bob, JBoats was born.
Sales took off over the next couple of years. In 1978 the original production plan tripled from 250 to 750 hulls. Texans bought 150 J24's that year. 2,000 hulls were built from 1977 thru 1979. Current hull numbers are in the mid 5,000's-making the J24 the most successful one design sailboat ever built.
Since the late 70's J24's have had a strong presence on all lakes in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, JBoats Southwest territory. Most every top sailor in the southwest, and certainly world wide has done some time on a J24. Over the years the J24 has garnered an impressive list of awards from the sailing world including election to the American sailing Hall of Fame. J24 sailors here in the southwest are in the J24 class association District 14-with 13 fleets. It is hard to find a lake that doesn't have a J24 on it here in the southwest. Find out what's going with the J24 in this area by going to the District 14 web site: http://www.j24texas.com/
Today the J24 remains a popular choice for new and experienced, young and old sailors alike. It's the gold standard for one design racing, and here in the southwest we are fortunate enough to have hundreds of experienced J24 sailors willing to help new J24 owners get into racing form. The J24 remains true to the original design intent of keeping the fun in sailing, and whether you race or cruise on a J24 you are sure to have fun, meet a lot of other fun J24 sailors and truly enjoy the sport of sailing. J24's are available today from JBoats Southwest or can be purchased factory direct.
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