Design Brief & Intent
The primary mission of the Tartan 27-2 was to serve as a high-quality coastal pocket cruiser capable of thin-water navigation and occasional offshore jumps. Unlike the lighter, fin-keel production boats that began dominating the market in the late 1970s, the Tartan 27-2 stayed true to its Cruising Club of America (CCA) heritage, featuring a full keel with a cutaway forefoot, a keel-hung rudder, and a retractable centerboard 3.
This updated version addressed the cramped interior of the original design by eliminating the stepped cabin trunk in favor of a sleeker, taller coachroof that dramatically increased headroom forward 4. Inside, the cabin layout felt less like a spartan racer and more like a proper yacht. It featured rich teak joinery, a functional starboard-side L-shaped galley, a comfortable salon with opposing settees, and a private V-berth forward 6. In terms of build quality and premium materials, it stood out from mass-market competitors of the era, offering the robust offshore security of a Cape Dory with a more versatile draft arrangement.
Variations & Configurations
While the underlying hull shape remained unchanged throughout its production, the Tartan 27-2 was built with a few distinct configuration options. The vast majority of the 64 hulls were rigged as masthead sloops, providing a simple, easily managed sail plan. A very small number of hulls were built as masthead yawls, featuring a small mizzen mast stepped aft of the tiller to appeal to traditionalists looking for the self-steering and balance benefits of a split rig.
Under the cockpit sole, engine options varied. Earlier and budget-conscious builds came equipped with the 30-horsepower Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine, which provided abundant power but carried the inherent safety concerns of carrying gasoline onboard. Later models were often ordered with the single-cylinder Farymann diesel engine. While the diesel offered better fuel economy and enhanced safety, this "one-lung" Farymann was notorious for excessive vibration and was widely considered underpowered for the boat's substantial displacement.
Sailing Performance & Handling
With a displacement of 7,400 pounds and a short 21.42-foot waterline, the Tartan 27-2 possesses a displacement-to-length ratio of 336.14. This heavy-displacement profile, paired with a comfort ratio of 28.05, gives the boat an incredibly smooth and predictable motion in a seaway. It handles rough chop with ease, resisting the jarring, jerky accelerations common in lighter, modern flat-bottom designs.
Its capsize screening formula of 1.77 indicates a highly stable hull form with excellent offshore righting characteristics. Under sail, the sail area-to-displacement ratio of 17.4 provides respectable performance, but the hull is easily driven and prefers to be sailed "on her feet". Because of the slack bilges typical of S&S designs of this era, the boat will heel quickly to about 20 degrees before stiffening up and locking in. The centerboard is the key to its versatility; with the board fully raised, the draft is a mere 3.17 feet, allowing the boat to navigate shallow inlets. When pointing upwind, lowering the board to its maximum depth of 6.33 feet significantly reduces leeway and allows the boat to claw to windward far better than standard full-keel cruisers.
Market Snapshot & Economics
Because only 64 hulls of the Tartan 27-2 were ever built, the model is relatively scarce on the brokerage market compared to the hundreds of original-generation Tartan 27s. It commands a modest premium over the older, stepped-deck models due to its modernized styling, increased interior volume, and the fact that it represents the final, most refined iteration of the line.
From an investment standpoint, the engine configuration dictates much of the boat's value. Hulls with the original, raw-water-cooled Farymann diesel are often priced lower because sourcing replacement parts for these legacy engines has become nearly impossible. Conversely, hulls that have already undergone a professional repower with a modern small diesel, such as a Beta Marine or Yanmar, command a premium and represent the most economically sound long-term purchases.
Known Issues & Triage
The most critical area of concern on any Tartan 27-2 is the centerboard assembly. The original centerboards were made of fiberglass-encapsulated steel plates. Over time, water can penetrate the fiberglass skin, causing the internal steel to rust and swell. This swelling causes the board to jam inside the keel trunk, preventing it from dropping. Buyers should always verify that the board drops and raises smoothly during a sea trial or haul-out. Additionally, the wire uphaul cable that controls the board passes through a pipe in the bilge and is highly prone to corrosion and sudden snapping.
On deck, the balsa core must be thoroughly checked with a moisture meter, especially around chainplates, stanchion bases, and the cabin trunk organizer leads. The keel-stepped mast is another area requiring triage. Water running down the inside of the mast often pools at the step in the bilge, leading to corrosion of the aluminum mast heel or rot in the wooden support block underneath.
Modernization & Upgrades
For owners looking to cruise the Tartan 27-2 long-term, the most popular modernization is an engine repower. The Beta 14 diesel has become the industry-standard replacement for both the Atomic 4 and the Farymann, as its footprint fits the tight engine compartment well and provides smooth, reliable, and highly efficient propulsion.
The original wiring on these boats is often past its prime. Modern refits typically involve completely rewiring the DC system, installing modern circuit breaker panels, and upgrading to compact Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery banks, which maximize storage capacity without adding excess weight. Upgrading the deck layout by leading halyards and reefing lines aft to the cockpit is another highly recommended modification that transforms the boat into an incredibly easy single-hander. Finally, replacing worn-out steering components with a new, high-quality laminated mahogany and ash tiller restores the crisp, responsive helm feel that S&S hulls are famous for.
The Verdict
The Tartan 27-2 is an exceptional, heavily built pocket cruiser that successfully blends classic, sea-kindly aesthetics with improved modern accommodations. While its under-the-water configuration represents an older school of naval architecture, its offshore safety, smooth motion, and shallow-draft capability make it an incredibly relevant and capable pocket voyager for the modern cruiser.
Pros
- Extremely gentle, comfortable motion in rough seas due to heavy displacement and high comfort ratio.
- Shallow-draft capability with the centerboard up, allowing access to thin water and small creeks.
- Excellent upwind performance and reduced leeway when the centerboard is fully deployed.
- Beautiful classic styling with a modernized, spacious cabin compared to the original version.
- Highly robust construction with a solid fiberglass hull and high-quality teak interior joinery.
Cons
- Scarcity on the used market makes finding a well-maintained hull difficult.
- The original Farymann diesel engines are underpowered and suffer from non-existent parts availability.
- Centerboard trunk and uphaul systems require regular maintenance and are prone to jamming or snapping cables.
- Slack bilges cause the boat to heel quickly in light air, requiring early reefing to avoid heavy weather helm.
