Tartan 28 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull type

Monohull · fin

Rig

Masthead Sloop

LOA

28.25' · 8.61 m

Displ.

7,450 lbs · 3,379 kg

First year

1984

The Tartan 28, introduced in the mid1980s, represents a pivotal moment in the lineage of Tartan Yachts. As the successor to the legendary Sparkman & Stephensdesigned Tartan 27, the 28 was tasked with modernizing the brand’s entrylevel cruiser without sacrificing the "heirloom quality" reputation established by its predecessor. Designed by Tim Jackett—his first solo design for the company—the Tartan 28 moved away from the fullkeelandcenterboard configurations of the 1960s in favor of a more contemporary underbody, featuring a fin keel and a spade rudder. This transition allowed the boat to offer significantly more interior volume and sharper performance, bridging the gap between a traditional coastal cruiser and a more spirited club racer. Produced between approximately 1985 and 1990, the model served as a blueprint for the "modern Tartan" aesthetic that would later define the 31 and 37foot models of the 1990s.