Tartan 30
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About the Tartan 30
Designed by the legendary naval architecture firm Sparkman & Stephens and built by Tartan Marine from 1970 to 1978, this classic 30-footer represents quality construction from sailing's golden era. With 606 hulls produced during its eight-year run, the Tartan 30 earned a solid reputation among sailors seeking a capable coastal cruiser with comfortable accommodations. The boat's moderate displacement of 8,750 pounds and substantial ballast ratio provide excellent stability, while the fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration delivers responsive handling without sacrificing directional stability. Her masthead sloop rig and 449 square feet of sail area offer versatile performance across varying wind conditions, making her equally at home on weekend coastal adventures or extended cruising. Notable for her robust fiberglass construction and thoughtful interior layout, the Tartan 30 strikes an appealing balance between performance and comfort. The low comfort ratio of 24.26 indicates a relatively quick motion at sea, while her capsize screening value of 1.94 demonstrates good stability characteristics for coastal sailing. With a hull speed of 6.60 knots, she moves efficiently through the water, and the reliable 30-horsepower auxiliary engine provides adequate backup power for marina maneuvering and calm weather motoring.
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Market Price Estimate
Beta
$6,500 – $14,500
typical asking price
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
- Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
- Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
- Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
- Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
- Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
- Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall)
29.92 ft / 9.12 m
LWL (Waterline Length)
24.25 ft / 7.39 m
Beam
10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Max Draft
4.92 ft / 1.50 m
Displacement
8,750.00 lb / 3,969 kg
Ballast
3,600.00 lb / 1,633 kg
Ballast Type
Lead
Sail Area (Reported)
449.00 ft² / 41.71 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type
Masthead Sloop
Construction
FG
Designer
Sparkman & Stephens
Builder
Tartan Marine (USA)
First Built
1970
Last Built
1978
Number Built
606
Associations
Tartan 30 Association (Chesapeake)
Owner Reviews
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Known Issues & What to Watch For
The deck-to-hull joint on early Tartan 30s was through-bolted with an external aluminum toerail that can loosen and allow water intrusion. The toerail fasteners are known to corrode and the underlying fiberglass laminate can delaminate at this joint over time.
1970–1974 models
Tartan used a balsa-cored deck on the Tartan 30, and water intrusion through deck hardware fittings is a well-documented problem. Compression rot in the balsa core around chainplates, stanchion bases, and winch pads is common and should be tapped systematically and probed at all hardware penetrations.
The encapsulated lead keel on the Tartan 30 can develop cracks at the hull-keel joint where the fiberglass tabbing meets the keel stub, sometimes allowing water intrusion into the laminate. Inspect this junction carefully for stress cracking and any signs of weeping or rust staining.
The chainplate knees on the Tartan 30 are glassed to the interior hull liner and are known to develop stress cracks in the surrounding laminate, particularly on boats that have been sailed hard. The chainplate attachment points should be inspected from below for any signs of movement, cracking, or water staining.
The interior liner system used by Tartan can trap moisture between the liner and the hull, leading to hidden moisture accumulation and mold that is difficult to detect without removing portions of the liner. Check for soft spots and musty odors in the settee and quarter berth areas.
Many Tartan 30s were fitted with the Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine, which by this age typically requires carburetor rebuilding, ignition system overhaul, and close inspection of fuel lines for deterioration. Verify whether the boat still has the original Atomic 4 or has been converted to diesel, as conversions vary widely in quality.
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating
PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
171
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
16.97
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
41.14
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
273.92
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
24.26
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
1.94
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.
6.60 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
1.96
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.
866.48 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.
16.97
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height)
39.00 ft / 11.89 m
J (Foretriangle Base)
13.00 ft / 3.96 m
P (Mainsail Luff)
34.00 ft / 10.36 m
E (Mainsail Foot)
11.50 ft / 3.51 m
SA Fore
253.50 ft² / 23.55 m²
SA Main
195.50 ft² / 18.16 m²
SA Total (100%)
449.00 ft² / 41.71 m²
Est. Forestay Length
41.11 ft / 12.53 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make
Universal
Engine Model
Atomic 4
Engine Type
Gas
Horsepower
30
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