Brilliant is the ideal daysailer. An easily driven hull with moderate sailplan and simple sail handling systems allow the J/100 to be effortlessly singlehanded. Mainsheet and genoa sheets are easily controlled by the skipper from the aft end of the cockpit while guests at the forward end may relax out of the way of the action. Her spacious cockpit provides comfortable seating for six or more for an afternoon sail – or plenty of room to stretch out and take a nap or enjoy a picnic at anchor. Two large cockpit lazarettes and a stern locker provide more than ample storage space for fenders, sails and other cruising gear. A transom swimstep with folding stainless swim ladder allows easy boarding from a dinghy or after a swim. Below deck, her interior provides enough accommodations for a short weekend cruise while maintaining the theme of simplicity and functionality. Molded gelcoat surfaces with white bulkheads and teak trim are easy to maintain. A separate forward cabin with head and sink will sleep two in the v-berth – although she could accommodate four if desired.
Winner of Sailing World’s 2005 “Overall Boat of the Year” award, the J/100 is excels at her design intent of providing a platform for the pure enjoyment of sailing. A light touch on the tiller, the feel of power and ease of handling convinced us that she would be a fantastic choice for daysailing, club racing or the occasional summer weekend cruise. With a non overlapping jib on a furler and an asymmetric spinnaker designed to be tacked to a stainless ring at the bow, performance is attainable for even the casual sailor. Simplicity is the theme and fun is the result.
| Name of vessel | Brilliant |
| Model | J Boats J/100 |
| Year | 2005 |
| Builder | J Boats |
| Designer | Rod Johnstone |
| Price | $85,000 USD |
| Location | Olympia, WA |
| Length (feet) | 33 |
| Beam (feet) | 9' 3" |
| Draft (feet) | 5' 9" |
| Displacement (pounds) | 6500 lbs |
| Ballast (pounds) | 2450 lbs |
| Engine model | Volvo |
| Engine horsepower | 10 |
| Engine hours | |
| Fuel tank capacity (gallons) | 10 |
| Water tank capacity (gallons) | 5 |
| Holding tank capacity (gallons) | 12 |
Interior Accommodations
The J/100’s simple accommodations are ideal for a day sail or short weekend cruise. Her interior is finished in molded fiberglass and gelcoat surfaces, white bulkheads and teak trim. The cabin sole is synthetic teak and holly. Ample storage is available below the settees and v-berth. She will sleep for with her v-berth and two salon settees.
There are only two short steps from the cockpit below. Long settees with canvas covered cushions are located to port and starboard. Shelves run along the hull side above. Aft of the port settee is a cooler. There are reading lamps at the head of the settees to port and starboard. There are two fixed ports in the cabin side.
Forward is the V-berth cabin with head. There is a large v-berth forward with canvas covered cushions. The head faces forward at the aft, port corner of the cabin. Outboard is a molded counter and sink with hand pump faucet. Above is a mirrored sliding door locker. There is an additional locker below the sink. Opposite to starboard is an open hanging area for foul weather gear or sail storage. An opening hatch provides ventilation.
Deluxe interior trim package: varnish finish on below decks teak, varnished teak and raised panel bulkhead door
V-berth package
Raritan PH-2 marine head with 14 gallon holding tank and Y-valve
Molded sink with overboard drain
Lee cloths on settee berths
Bulkhead mounted storage bags and cupholders
Electronics & Navigation
B&G Triton with two mast displays (2018)
Icom VHF radio with masthead antenna and spare at transom
Furuno GP-32 GPS
Simrad TP-10 autopilot
Danforth compass
LED navigation and steaming lights
Electrical Systems
12vDC electrical system with breaker panel
West Marine AGM house battery and engine start battery
Mechanical Systems
10hp Volvo diesel engine
Saildrive transmission (refurbished 2018)
Single throttle/shift lever
Gori 2-blade geared folding propeller
Engine control panel with tachometer and alarms
Manual bilge pump
Automatic electric bilge pump
Deck & Hull
Brilliant is an aft cockpit “daysailer” sailboat designed by Rod Johnstone. Her hull is long and narrow, with low freeboard and displaces only 6,500 pounds. Below the waterline she is configured with a fin keel and spade rudder. Her hull and deck are constructed of resin infused fiberglass with end grain Baltek balsa core. Her hull is white gelcoat with a black boot stripe. Her deck is white gelcoat with contrasting gray nonskid. A teak toe rail with six stainless steel mooring chocks surrounds the decks. Her foredeck and side decks are uncluttered and easily navigated. All halyards and control lines are led aft to stoppers and winches on the cabin top. The long cockpit will easily accommodate six or more for an afternoon sail. Tall seat backs provide a comfortable and protected cockpit space. The traveler and mainsheet with fine tune adjustment is located toward the aft end of the cockpit within easy reach of the skipper. Three large deck lockers provide excellent storage space for fenders, dock lines and other cruising gear. There is a small swimstep with folding swim ladder at the transom.
Brilliant is powered by a Volvo diesel engine with Saildrive located below the forward end of the cockpit. The companionway steps and a molded fiberglass enclosure are easily removed to allow excellent access to the engine and drive.
Laminated wood tiller with Spinlock tiller extension
Balanced high aspect spade rudder built in E-glass with large diameter shaft
(4) stainless mooring cleats
Custom removable aluminum footbar in cockpit
Companionway dodger
Lifeline cushions
Cockpit sheet bags
ORC package with double lifelines and boarding gates
Sails & Rigging
Hall Spars double spreader carbon fiber mast, painted white
Navtec rod rigging
Mainsail, jib and spin halyards plus sheave for topping lift
Spinnaker pole mast track
Carbon fiber spinnaker pole
Hall Spars aluminum boom
Sailtec backstay adjuster
Hall Spars Quick Vang rigid boom vang
Harken headsail furler
Genoa/jib track with adjustable fairleads (2019)
Ballard Sails S2 spinnaker (2019)
Ballard Sails S1.5 spinnaker (2016)
Ballard Sails furling A2 spinnaker (2019)
Harken Reflex spinnaker furling system (2019)
Ballard Sails Carbon main (2018)
Ballard Sails Carbon 150% genoa (2017)
Ballard Sails Carbon 105% jib (2018)
Mainsail cover (2019)
New Harken roller furler and foil (2018)
(3) winch handles
(2) Harken 32.2A two speed winches on cabin top
(2) Harken radial primary winches (2018)
Harken mainsheet traveler with windward sheeting car
Harken 6:1/24 rough/fine tune mainsheet
Covers for mainsail, forward hatch, tiller and winches
Boom tent