Design and Construction
The Tartan 28 carries a solid fiberglass hull finished by an American yard with a long S&S pedigree. Her numbers describe a balanced small racer: a ballast ratio of 43 percent and a displacement-length ratio of 266, which places her among the "moderate racers" rather than either extreme of the cruiser-racer spectrum. With a length-to-beam ratio of 2.88 and a Motion Comfort Ratio of 22.1, she is proportioned for responsive motion rather than condo-like volume, while a capsize screening value of 2.01 speaks to a stability profile suited to coastal and moderate offshore use. The fin keel draws between 4.89 and 5.19 feet depending on load, shallow enough to tie up in modest marinas without a centerboard complication.
Rig and Handling
Her masthead rig carries a recommended reference sail plan with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.1, rising to 20.3 with a 135 percent genoa — a meaningful jump that tells the buyer how much light-air performance is hidden in the foretriangle. Standing and running rigging dimensions are thoroughly documented: the mainsail, jib/genoa, and spinnaker halyards all run 26.8 meters at 8 mm diameter, while sheets scale from 8.6-meter jib and genoa sheets to a 21.5-meter mainsheet and 18.9-meter spinnaker sheet, both at 10 mm. Control lines such as the cunningham, kicking strap, and clew outhaul are specified at 6.9 meters or less. Under power, the calculated maximum speed is about 5.6 knots, and the theoretical displacement hull speed is 6.5 knots, figures that frame her as a handy pocket cruiser with enough engine to make a marina exit in a calm.
Accommodations and Intended Use
The published record gives no interior arrangement beyond the hull's physical behavior, but the immersion rate of about 793 pounds per inch and a wetted surface near 258 square feet describe a boat that sits at a sensible waterline and resists being overloaded. A 23.25-foot waterline and 9.9-foot beam yield a compact but purposeful footprint, and the moderate racer categorization suggests a layout biased toward seaworthiness and sail balance over maximal berth count.
Refits and Ownership
The boat may be equipped with an inboard Yanmar 2GM diesel, a small and well-regarded auxiliary that suits her displacement. Because fewer than 200 were built, owners live in a small community where shared knowledge of rigging specs and keel behavior is the practical support network. Original halyard and sheet lengths let a new owner re-rig to specification without guesswork.
The Verdict
The Tartan 28 is a thoughtfully proportioned S&S design that delivers moderate-racer agility in a sub-200-production run fiberglass hull. She rewards an owner who values documented sail-plan math and a known stability envelope over cabin square footage.
Pros
- Sparkman & Stephens design with a clear moderate-racer displacement profile
- Fin keel with load-dependent draft under 5.2 feet for accessible cruising
- Fully specified rigging lengths for straightforward re-rigging
Cons
- Fewer than 200 built, so a thinner used-market support base than mass-produced peers
- Auxiliary limited to a small inboard diesel suited to calm exits rather than sustained motoring
