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Tartan 41
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Tartan Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1972
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About the Tartan 41

Designed by the legendary naval architecture firm Sparkman & Stephens and built by Tartan Marine from 1972 to 1976, this classic 41-footer represents American yacht building at its finest during the early 1970s. With only 80 hulls produced during its five-year production run, the Tartan 41 has earned a reputation as a well-built, performance-oriented cruiser that balances comfort with sailing ability. The boat's substantial 17,850-pound displacement and generous 9,200 pounds of ballast provide excellent stability and seaworthiness, making it well-suited for both coastal cruising and offshore passages. The fin keel with rudder on skeg configuration offers good tracking and maneuverability while maintaining structural integrity. With a comfort ratio of 27.97, the design prioritizes motion comfort over pure speed, though the SA/Displacement ratio of 17.05 indicates respectable performance potential. The masthead sloop rig with 725 square feet of sail area provides manageable sail handling for a cruising couple while delivering adequate power in light to moderate conditions. Hull speed calculations suggest comfortable passage-making capabilities, and the capsize screening value of 1.88 indicates good offshore stability characteristics. This makes the Tartan 41 an excellent choice for serious coastal cruisers and those considering their first offshore adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 40.63 ft / 12.38 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 32.67 ft / 9.96 m
Beam 12.25 ft / 3.73 m
Max Draft 6.80 ft / 2.07 m
Displacement 17,850.00 lb / 8,097 kg
Ballast 9,200.00 lb / 4,173 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 725.00 ft² / 67.35 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 1972
Last Built 1976
Number Built 80
Related Sailboats Cc 41 · Columbia 41 · Coronado 41 · Swan 411 · Catalina 400
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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
 102
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
 17.05
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
 51.54
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
 228.53
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
 27.97
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
 1.88
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. 7.66 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
 2.39
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. 1,429.99 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. 17.04
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 51.00 ft / 15.54 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 17.44 ft / 5.32 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 45.00 ft / 13.72 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.44 ft / 3.79 m
SA Fore 444.72 ft² / 41.32 m²
SA Main 279.90 ft² / 26.00 m²
SA Total (100%) 724.62 ft² / 67.32 m²
Est. Forestay Length 53.90 ft / 16.43 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Westerbeke
Engine Model Pilot 20
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 20
Water Capacity 60 gals / 227 L
How It Compares

vs. Catalina 400, Cc 41, Columbia 41, Coronado 41, Swan 411

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Tartan 41 ★
40.6 ft
Catalina 400
40.5 ft
Cc 41
40.8 ft
Columbia 41
40.5 ft
Coronado 41
40.5 ft
Swan 411
40.8 ft
LWL
Tartan 41 ★
32.7 ft
Catalina 400
34.8 ft
Cc 41
33.3 ft
Columbia 41
32.0 ft
Coronado 41
31.7 ft
Swan 411
33.6 ft
Beam
Tartan 41 ★
12.3 ft
Catalina 400
13.5 ft
Cc 41
12.9 ft
Columbia 41
11.3 ft
Coronado 41
11.3 ft
Swan 411
11.9 ft
Displacement
Tartan 41 ★
17 lbs
Catalina 400
18 lbs
Cc 41
17 lbs
Columbia 41
20 lbs
Coronado 41
19 lbs
Swan 411
23 lbs
Ballast
Tartan 41 ★
9 lbs
Catalina 400
7 lbs
Cc 41
8 lbs
Columbia 41
8 lbs
Coronado 41
8 lbs
Swan 411
9 lbs
Sail Area
Tartan 41 ★
725 sq ft
Catalina 400
808 sq ft
Cc 41
—
Columbia 41
639 sq ft
Coronado 41
639 sq ft
Swan 411
873 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Tartan 41 ★
102 s/nm
Catalina 400
102 s/nm
Cc 41
—
Columbia 41
180 s/nm
Coronado 41
138 s/nm
Swan 411
87 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Tartan 41 ★
17.1
Catalina 400
18.9
Cc 41
—
Columbia 41
13.7
Coronado 41
14.2
Swan 411
17.0
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Tartan 41 ★
51.5 %
Catalina 400
40.0 %
Cc 41
45.7 %
Columbia 41
41.5 %
Coronado 41
—
Swan 411
40.8 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Tartan 41 ★
28.0
Catalina 400
23.8
Cc 41
—
Columbia 41
36.5
Coronado 41
35.0
Swan 411
37.9
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Tartan 41 ★
1.88
Catalina 400
2.06
Cc 41
—
Columbia 41
1.65
Coronado 41
1.68
Swan 411
1.66
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Tartan 41 ★
228
Catalina 400
190
Cc 41
211
Columbia 41
279
Coronado 41
—
Swan 411
281
Hull Speed
Tartan 41 ★
7.7 kts
Catalina 400
7.9 kts
Cc 41
—
Columbia 41
7.6 kts
Coronado 41
7.5 kts
Swan 411
7.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Tartan 41 ★
2.4
Catalina 400
3.1
Cc 41
—
Columbia 41
1.6
Coronado 41
1.7
Swan 411
1.9
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