Jera J38X Video Review: Fold-Out Terraces, a Hammock and Twin 425s
By the YachtWay editorial deskUpdated October 2026Video walkthrough9 min read
The Jera J38X is a 37 ft dayboat built for the hours at anchor. The sides of the aft deck fold down into terraces, a hammock hangs between them, and the cockpit lounge turns into one large sunbed at the push of a button. We walked hull number one in Monaco and took her out on twin Yamaha F425 XTO outboards. She cruised at 27 to 28 knots with little bow rise, and nothing rattled on board.
A dayboat designed for after you drop anchor
We started at the stern, because that is where the J38X does its party trick. Once you stop, the side terraces fold down, the hammock goes up and the aft deck becomes a floating terrace. Forward of that is an outdoor galley with a grill and a wine cooler, a helm under a carbon hardtop and a bow lounge with its own shade. Below deck there is a queen bed, a second sleeping area and a head with a separate shower.
What stood out on board
- Side terraces that fold downAt anchor the sides of the aft deck fold out over the water, so the deck gets much wider and the whole cockpit opens up.
- A hammock over the waterIt hangs at the stern next to the terraces. Lie in it and you feel like you are floating above the sea.
- A table that becomes a sunbedPush a button and the cockpit table drops. Add the cushions and the lounge becomes one large sunbed.
- Fridges that turn into freezersFridge drawers on both sides of the lounge, plus two in the galley. Turn them down and they keep ice cream frozen.
- No rattles on hull oneWe jumped our own wake in calm water. No spray hit the windshield, the hardtop stayed still and nothing rattled inside.
- Lighting for nights at anchorLED strips under the handrails, pop-up lights in the bow and accent lights in the hardtop. At night she looks like a small superyacht.
Spec sheet at a glance
| Feature | What you get | The benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Length overall | 36 ft 11 in (11.25 m) | Easy to berth, big enough for a crowd |
| Beam | 12 ft 5 in (3.78 m) | Wider still with the terraces folded down |
| Draft | 2 ft 7 in (0.79 m) | Gets you close to shore and into shallow bays |
| Dry weight | 9 t (19,842 lb) | Light enough for twin outboards |
| Fuel | 264 gal (1,000 L) | Enough for a full day along the coast |
| Capacity | Up to 12 guests | Room for a big group on day trips |
| Power (as tested) | 2x Yamaha F425 XTO, 850 hp | Proven engines, with bigger rigs on offer |
| Listed top speed | 35 kn, 20 kn cruise (listing figures) | Not measured on our sea trial |
| Cruise (our test) | 27 to 28 kn | Over 30 mph, measured in calm water off Monaco |
| Layout (as filmed) | Queen bed, second double bed, one head | An inboard version gets twin beds instead |
| Helm | Garmin display, joystick trim, bow thruster | Roll and pitch set from one joystick |
| Outdoor galley | Grill, sink, two fridges, wine cooler | Cook and serve without going below |
Aft deck and side terraces
The aft deck is where the J38X is different. The side terraces fold down at anchor and a hammock hangs over the water. The table is reached from the port side, not the starboard side, so the view out stays clear while you lounge.
- Swim steps.Steps on both sides of the outboards and a ladder that drops into the water.
- Rain shower.Pulls out at the side, with its own faucet control.
- Lounge bed.The backrests fold down to turn the seating into a lounge bed.
- Sunbed table.Drops at the push of a button and becomes a sunbed with cushions. Folded small, it is a handrail under way.
- Fridge drawers.On both sides of the lounge. They can be turned down to work as freezers.
- Hardtop.Skylights on both sides, LED lights, accent lighting and plenty of speakers.
Outdoor galley
The galley sits right behind the lounge. A raised counter blocks off the grill, so people sitting nearby do not get hit by grease while you cook.
- Sink.A large sink under a lift-up cover. Fill it with ice to keep drinks cold.
- Grill.Built into the counter, with power sockets for a blender.
- Fridges.Two fridges under the counter, on top of the drawers at the back.
- Wine cooler.Fits champagne, white or red. Set the temperature for what is inside.
- Glass drawer.Right below the helm, so glasses are close when you pour.
Helm
The helm seats have a white leather bolster that adjusts so you can lean against it. A tall windshield with a wiper gives a clear view ahead, and every switch is within reach.
- Joystick trim.Roll and pitch from one joystick, a system we had not seen before.
- Bow thruster.Just above the trim joystick.
- Garmin display.Lights, maps and an anchor drag alarm. We show how to set it in the video.
- Comfort.Wireless charger and an air conditioning vent at the helm.
- Controls.Yamaha panel and start buttons, VHF, searchlight, horn, wipers and windlass.
Bow lounge
The bow lounge has backrests that recline, so you can lie back and look ahead. A Bimini canvas clips on for shade, which we would have used with the midday sun over Monaco.
- Lighting.Pop-up lights and LED strips under the handrails for evenings at anchor.
- Charging.Wireless chargers on both sides, plus cup holders.
- Hidden cleats.Under a lid, so the deck stays clean.
- Windlass.Anchor locker in the centre of the bow.
- Hardtop.Carbon fibre with a metallic flake finish.
Below deck
Four steps lead down at an easy angle, with room above the head of a 6 ft 1 in adult. At the foot of the stairs there is a microwave, an ice maker and a hanging closet. The ceiling and side panels are finished in suede.
Owner's bed
- Queen bed.The same width at the head and the foot.
- Windows.Hull windows at sea level, more above, and shades for privacy.
- Details.Reading lights, storage cubbies and power sockets on both sides.
Second bed
- Double bed.Close to a queen, with storage on both sides.
- Inboard layout.Boats with inboard engines get two twin beds with a walkway instead.
Head
- Separate shower.Behind its own door, with a handheld wand and a rain shower.
- Vanity.Full-length mirror on the door, an adjustable mirror and two windows.
- Next boat.The builder told us the next one will get a bench in the shower.
Sea trial off Monaco
We took hull number one out in glassy water off Monaco and made our own chop to jump over. The ride was comfortable, with no banging and no spray on the windshield.
- Low speed.9.5 knots at 4,200 rpm, with little bow rise, so you still see ahead.
- Cruise.27 to 28 knots, over 30 mph.
- Ride.The hardtop stayed still and nothing rattled inside.
- Dry deck.After the run, the main walkway was completely dry.
- More power.For the American market we would fit triple 300s or twin 600s. We did not test those.
The J38X is built around the hours at anchor. The fold-down terraces, the hammock and the lounge that turns into a sunbed make the aft deck feel much bigger than a 37 ft boat should. Below deck there is real headroom, two sleeping areas and a head with a separate shower, so a night on board works too. On twin Yamaha 425s she cruised at 27 to 28 knots and nothing rattled. For the American market we would fit triple 300s or twin 600s. For lounging in the Mediterranean, the twin 425s are enough.
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