1998 J/160, Ladyhawk

The J/160, launched in 1996, is widely regarded as one of the finest performance cruisers ever built: a 52 ft 8 in (16.08 m) carbon-fiber thoroughbred designed by Rod Johnstone for fast, shorthanded offshore sailing without sacrificing luxury. With a sleek, low-profile deck saloon, 14 ft 2 in beam, 7 ft 2 in fin keel, 32,000 lb. displacement, and a towering 72 ft carbon mast supporting a fractional rig carrying 1,350 sq ft upwind (mainsail 750 sq ft + 110 % blade jib), the J/160 routinely sails at 10–12 knots on a reach and logs 250–300 nm days under white sails alone. Below, the bright, open interior—finished in cherry or teak—features a huge owner’s stateroom forward with a large pullman berth to port, writing desk and storage to starboard and a large private head in the bow, two generous guest cabins, and a spacious saloon raised for panoramic visibility. Hallmarks include a carbon sprit for asymmetrical spinnakers, push-button electric primary winches, a large nav station, and an ergonomic cockpit that makes single- or double-handed sailing genuinely effortless. Only 33 were built (1996–2002), making the J/160 a rare modern classic.

Ladyhawk represents a wonderful example of the J/160, features a practical three-cabin interior with a large main salon, navigation station, and offshore-capable galley layout.

• North Sail inventory (2019)
• New standing rigging (2015)
• Lithium house batteries (2022)
• Watermaker
• B&G/Furuno electronics
• Forward owner’s stateroom with private head and shower.
• Two aft guest staterooms with double berths. 
• Main salon with L-shaped port settee and starboard settee.  
• Drop-leaf teak table on centerline.  
• Pilot berth aft of the port settee.  
• U-shaped galley to port at companionway.  
• Dedicated navigation station to starboard.  
• Teak interior joinery with satin varnish finish.  
• Teak and holly cabin sole.  
• Opening port lights and overhead hatches throughout. 

SALON

The salon is arranged as a large central living and dining space with strong natural light, ventilation, and direct access to the navigation station, guest staterooms, head and companionway.  

• Large open main salon layout.  
• Direct access from cockpit companionway.  
• L-shaped settee to port.  
• Straight bench seating to starboard.  
• Drop-leaf teak table on centerline.  
• Pilot berth aft of the port settee.  
• Large opening portlights.  
• Overhead opening hatches.  
• Teak paneling and solid teak trim.  
• Satin varnish interior finish.  
• Ultra-leather cushions and interior detailing.  
• Teak and holly cabin sole.  
• Entertainment area to starboard.  
• Flat-screen TV and stereo system.

GALLEY

The galley is a secure U-shaped working space positioned just to port of the companionway with dedicated refrigeration, storage, and service systems for extended cruising.  

• U-shaped galley to port of companionway.  
• Corian countertops.  
• Custom refrigerator and freezer boxes.  
• Additional refrigerated box below and forward of sinks.  
• Sea Frost 12VDC engine-driven refrigeration system.  
• Sea Frost 115VAC refrigeration/freezer system. 
• Force 10 Marine stove/oven
• GE microwave
• Refrigeration machinery located in port-side engine room.  
• Storage cabinets outboard.  
• Drawer and cabinet storage.  
• Generator and air conditioning controls in recessed panel nearby.  

Owner's Stateroom and Head

The owner’s stateroom is arranged forward with a pullman berth to port, private head and shower, and useful built-in storage and vanity space to starboard.

• Private head access.
• Separate shower.  
• Vanity/desk area with stool.
• Drawer storage at vanity.
• Cabinet storage outboard.
• Hanging locker access.
• Overhead hatch for natural light and ventilation.
• Opening port lights in the stateroom.
• Teak trim and teak joinery details.
• Stainless sink in head.
• Large mirror above sink.
• Teak shower grate and shower seat.
• Molded head and shower sole for easy maintenance.

GUEST STATEROOMS AND HEAD

The guest accommodations include two aft double cabins with adjacent day head access from the main salon.  

• Two aft guest staterooms.  
• Double berths in each cabin.  
• Head/shower compartment adjacent to guest accommodations. 
• Main salon access to guest head.  
• Built-in drawer storage in guest cabins.
• Countertop storage surface in guest cabins.
• Shelving outboard.
• Hanging locker/storage locker space.
• Opening port lights in guest cabins.
• Reading lights at berth.
• Teak ceiling battens and trim details.
• Teak and holly sole.
• Molded berth bases with storage below.
• Private cabin doors.
• Good separation from main living spaces for guest privacy.

NAVIGATION & ELECTRONICS

• Ritchie 5” magnetic compass at helm.
• Furuno NavNet 3D MFD12 x2
• B&G Chartplotter at helmstation
• B&G Multifunction Displays x6
• B&G 2020 Displays
• B&G Multifunction in Owners Stateroom
• B&G Autopilot with four controllers
• Icom IC-M604 VHF Transceiver w/ remote at helm
• Icom HF IC-M710 SSB Transceiver
• Robertson/Simrad AP21 autopilot.
• Furuno 841 4kW radar.  
• Sony AM/FM/CD marine stereo

ENGINE AND MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT

• Yanmar 4JH2-DTBE 4-cylinder turbo diesel. Hours: 2,344
• Fresh-water-cooled engine.  
• KM4A transmission.  
• 21” 2-blade Max-Prop with Spurs line cutters
• Westerbeke 7.6 kw diesel generator (2,382 hours)
• Aquamet 22 stainless 1 1/2” shaft.  
• PSS dripless shaft seal.  
• Aquadrive CV system
• Fuel polishing system
• Dual aluminum fuel tanks, plus 2x bladder tanks, 160 gallons total.  
• Dual Racor fuel filtration for main engine.  
• Reverse-cycle air conditioning, three zones.
• Espar diesel heater
• Parker Village watermaker

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

The vessel is equipped with 12VDC house and start systems, inverter/charger capability, generator support, and 50A shore power service.  

• 12v Lithium house batteries (2022) with seperate AGM battery as backup
• Mastervolt battery charger
• Separate 12V engine-start battery.  
• Main DC breaker panel aft of navigation station.  
• 55A Yanmar alternator.  
• 165A Balmar alternator with external regulator.  
• 51A generator alternator.  
• Heart Interface Freedom 25 inverter/charger.  
• 2500-watt inverter.  
• Link 2000R remote control panel.  
• 125/250V 50A shore power inlet.  
• 50’ shore power cord

DECK AND HULL

Ladyhawk is a Tillotson-Pearson built J/160 with composite construction, fin keel, spade rudder, and a clean performance deck layout.  

• J/160 design by Rod Johnstone
• Built by J Boats / Tillotson-Pearson Industries
• Resin-infused composite hull construction 
• ABS plan approval reported by survey
• Balanced spade rudder
• Dark blue topsides with cove stripe and white boot stripe
• Molded transom door/swim platform with boarding ladder  
• Self-bailing T-shaped cockpit with teak sole  
• Wide side decks with genoa tracks and padeyes 
• Stainless pulpits, stanchions, and double lifelines
• Multiple Lewmar opening hatches and port lights
• Fresh bottom paint and propspeed (2026)

SAILS AND RIGGING

• Hall Spars carbon mast
• Three sets of carbon spreaders.  
• Carbon boom with internal outhaul.  
• Carbon retractable bowsprit.  
• Spinnaker/reaching pole.  
• Nitronic 50 rod standing rigging (replaced 2015) 
• 7/8 fractional rig.  
• Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster.  
• Running rigging led aft to cockpit.  
• Harken headsail furling system.  
• Lewmar electric primary winches.  
• Lewmar secondary and cabin-top winches.  
• Lewmar Ocean Racing mainsheet traveler.  
• New (2019) North 3Di Endurance mainsail with Dutchman system.  
• New (2019) North 3dI Endurance 100% genoa
• North Cruising Spinnaker 
• North Staysail, tri-sail and storm jib

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

The safety inventory includes fire suppression, EPIRB, bilge systems, emergency steering, and offshore deck safety gear.

• Large plow anchor with 200' HT chain
• Backup Fortress anchor with chain and rode
• Fireboy automatic engine-room fire system.  
• Four portable fire extinguishers.  
• Carbon monoxide detector.  
• LPG remote switch and gas alarm panel.  
• ACR 406 EPIRB.
• Manual bilge pumps.  
• Electric bilge pumps.  
• High-water bilge alarm panel.  
• Emergency tiller.  
• Double lifelines and stainless pulpits.  
• 2x inflatable PDFs.