53 J Boats 1998 Boat for Sale

Ladyhawk Boat | 53' J Boats 1998

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. 

Denison Yachting is pleased to assist you in the purchase of this vessel. This boat is centrally listed by North Point Yacht Sales.

Denison Yacht Sales offers the details of this yacht in good faith but can’t guarantee the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of this boat for sale. This yacht for sale is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal from that yacht market without notice. She is offered as a convenience by this yacht broker to its clients and is not intended to convey direct representation of a specific yacht for sale.