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Tartan 31 Piper
Designer: Tim Jackett  ·  Builder: Tartan Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1992
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About the Tartan 31 Piper

Launched during Tartan's golden era of performance-oriented cruisers, the Piper represents the shipyard's commitment to building seaworthy vessels that balance sailing ability with comfortable accommodations. This 31-footer emerged from the renowned Tartan Marine Engineering design team, carrying forward the brand's reputation for quality construction and thoughtful engineering. Built with Tartan's characteristic attention to detail, the Piper features the yard's signature robust fiberglass construction and well-engineered deck layout. The design emphasizes ease of handling while maintaining the performance characteristics that made Tartan sailboats favorites among serious sailors. Her moderate displacement and well-balanced sail plan make her suitable for both coastal cruising and longer passages, appealing to sailors who appreciate responsive handling without sacrificing comfort. The Piper's cockpit and deck arrangement reflect practical seamanship considerations, with logical placement of running rigging and hardware. Below decks, the accommodation plan maximizes the available space while maintaining the structural integrity that Tartan owners have come to expect. This model continues to be respected in the used boat market for its solid build quality and sailing characteristics that reward skilled seamanship.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 31.33 ft / 9.55 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 26.04 ft / 7.94 m
Beam 10.92 ft / 3.33 m
Max Draft 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Displacement 9,030.00 lb / 4,096 kg
Ballast 3,600.00 lb / 1,633 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Tim Jackett
Builder Tartan Marine (USA)
First Built 1992
Related Sailboats Tartan 31 · Cal 31 · Hunter 31 · Catalina 315 · J97
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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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Performance Ratios
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
39.87
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
228.31
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. 6.09 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 18.73
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.50 ft / 3.81 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 506.00 ft² / 47.01 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Yanmar
How It Compares

vs. Cal 31, Catalina 315, Hunter 31, J97, Tartan 31

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Tartan 31 Piper ★
31.3 ft
Cal 31
31.5 ft
Catalina 315
31.5 ft
Hunter 31
31.3 ft
J97
31.5 ft
Tartan 31
31.3 ft
LWL
Tartan 31 Piper ★
26.0 ft
Cal 31
25.7 ft
Catalina 315
27.0 ft
Hunter 31
26.3 ft
J97
26.6 ft
Tartan 31
26.0 ft
Beam
Tartan 31 Piper ★
10.9 ft
Cal 31
10.0 ft
Catalina 315
11.1 ft
Hunter 31
10.9 ft
J97
11.0 ft
Tartan 31
10.9 ft
Displacement
Tartan 31 Piper ★
9 lbs
Cal 31
9 lbs
Catalina 315
10 lbs
Hunter 31
9 lbs
J97
8 lbs
Tartan 31
9 lbs
Ballast
Tartan 31 Piper ★
3 lbs
Cal 31
3 lbs
Catalina 315
4 lbs
Hunter 31
4 lbs
J97
2 lbs
Tartan 31
3 lbs
Sail Area
Tartan 31 Piper ★
Cal 31
490 sq ft
Catalina 315
468 sq ft
Hunter 31
458 sq ft
J97
498 sq ft
Tartan 31
506 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Tartan 31 Piper ★
Cal 31
156 s/nm
Catalina 315
167 s/nm
Hunter 31
183 s/nm
J97
Tartan 31
159 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Tartan 31 Piper ★
Cal 31
18.0
Catalina 315
16.1
Hunter 31
16.2
J97
19.0
Tartan 31
18.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Tartan 31 Piper ★
39.9 %
Cal 31
Catalina 315
40.0 %
Hunter 31
41.2 %
J97
Tartan 31
43.2 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Tartan 31 Piper ★
Cal 31
24.1
Catalina 315
22.0
Hunter 31
22.4
J97
19.4
Tartan 31
20.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Tartan 31 Piper ★
Cal 31
1.91
Catalina 315
2.06
Hunter 31
2.05
J97
2.15
Tartan 31
2.10
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Tartan 31 Piper ★
228
Cal 31
Catalina 315
226
Hunter 31
239
J97
Tartan 31
229
Hull Speed
Tartan 31 Piper ★
Cal 31
6.8 kts
Catalina 315
7.0 kts
Hunter 31
6.9 kts
J97
6.9 kts
Tartan 31
6.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Tartan 31 Piper ★
Cal 31
2.3
Catalina 315
Hunter 31
2.2
J97
2.9
Tartan 31
2.6
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