The J Boats J/105 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1991 vs J Boats J/111 2012 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — J Boats J/105 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1991 at 34,5 ft versus J Boats J/111 2012 at 36,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the J Boats J/111 2012 tips the scales at 9 295 lbs — 1 546 lbs less than the J Boats J/105 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1991 at 7 749 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The J Boats J/111 2012 tops out at 21 hp. Engine specs for the J Boats J/105 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1991 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the J Boats J/111 2012 carries 19 gallons versus 12 gallons in the J Boats J/105 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1991. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The J Boats J/111 2012 is rated for 11 passengers, while the J Boats J/105 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1991 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the J Boats J/111 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket — 7 749 lbs for the J Boats J/105 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1991 and 9 295 lbs for the J Boats J/111 2012. Comparable displacement means broadly similar seakeeping behaviour and load capacity, though hull form and ballast ratio will still produce noticeably different sailing characteristics.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The J Boats J/111 2012 draws 7,2 ft, compared to 5,7 ft for the J Boats J/105 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1991. That 1,5-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.
The J Boats J/105 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1991 uses fractional_rig_sloop rigging. The J Boats J/111 2012 has a documented auxiliary engine of 21 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 7,7 knots for the J Boats J/111 2012 and 7,3 knots for the J Boats J/105 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1991.
Bottom line: The J Boats J/105 Shoal draft Shoal draft 1991 and J Boats J/111 2012 are closely matched on paper. A sea trial on both in representative conditions is the only reliable way to find which one suits your sailing style, home port, and intended cruising ground.