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Tartan 28 Piper
Designer: Tim Jackett  ·  Builder: Tartan Marine  ·  First built: 1990
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About the Tartan 28 Piper

Designed by Tim Jackett and launched in 1990, this 28-foot sloop represents Tartan Marine's commitment to building quality coastal cruisers with performance characteristics. The Piper features a modern fin keel and spade rudder configuration that delivers responsive handling while maintaining the stability expected from a cruising sailboat. With a displacement of 6,300 pounds and 2,300 pounds of ballast, the Piper strikes a balanced approach between performance and comfort. Her 385 square feet of sail area provides adequate power for spirited sailing, while the masthead sloop rig offers simplicity and versatility for both experienced sailors and those newer to the sport. The moderate beam of 10.88 feet creates a roomy interior without sacrificing performance. The boat's comfort ratio of 16.18 indicates she's designed more for performance than heavy cruising, making her well-suited for coastal sailing, day trips, and weekend adventures. Her relatively shallow draft of 3.92 feet opens up shoal-water cruising grounds often inaccessible to deeper-draft vessels. The capsize screening formula of 2.36 suggests reasonable offshore capability, though she's most at home in protected waters and coastal environments where her blend of comfort and sailing ability truly shines.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.25 ft / 8.61 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 23.67 ft / 7.21 m
Beam 10.88 ft / 3.32 m
Max Draft 3.92 ft / 1.19 m
Displacement 6,300.00 lb / 2,858 kg
Ballast 2,300.00 lb / 1,043 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 385.00 ft² / 35.77 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Tim Jackett
Builder Tartan Marine
First Built 1990
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 18.11
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 36.51
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 212.08
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 16.18
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.36
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.52 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.69
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 920.18 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 18.13
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 36.00 ft / 10.97 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 31.00 ft / 9.45 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 11.50 ft / 3.51 m
SA Fore 207.00 ft² / 19.23 m²
SA Main 178.25 ft² / 16.56 m²
SA Total (100%) 385.25 ft² / 35.79 m²
Est. Forestay Length 37.79 ft / 11.52 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Volvo
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 18
Fuel Capacity 16 gals / 61 L
Water Capacity 30 gals / 114 L
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