Tartan 30 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used Tartan 30 means looking at a Sparkman & Stephens-designed 1970s racer-cruiser that still numbers an estimated 500 afloat. Built between 1972 and 1979 with two interior plans, she rewards a buyer who knows the weak points below the waterline and around the mast step. The solid reputation of the rig and the accessible engine make many examples worth restoring, but the class carries specific leak and corrosion histories that decide whether a given hull is a bargain or a project.
Layouts on the Used Market
Two accommodation plans reached production: a side-galley arrangement with twin quarterberths and a convertible double in the main cabin, and an aft-galley version that drops a quarterberth for a starboard settee berth. Both sleep six, with 6-foot-1 headroom and berths at least 6 feet 5 inches long. The head is enclosed and the interior is solid teak with an oil finish. The engine box sits forward in the saloon—intrusive but giving rare service access. The aft-galley boat appeals to those who dislike quarterberths; the side-galley keeps more sea berths for a racing crew.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Biminis and autopilots are commonly fitted, while spinnakers and chartplotters often appear, and solar, dodgers, and simplified short-handed rigging show up as owner upgrades. For a buyer, the consequential cluster is sail-handling and power: a spinnaker and a 150-percent genoa matter in light air, and an autopilot reduces tiller fatigue on longer reaches. At a viewing, check whether the boat has substituted babystays for the forward lower shrouds, a common rig modification. A Yanmar 2GM20 diesel has been dropped into the standard engine box without changes, so a diesel conversion is a realistic upgrade over the original Atomic 4.
What to Inspect
The companionway sill on these boats sits too low to keep a flooded cockpit out of the cabin, so check the sole and quarterberths for past water stains and musty smell anchor. Chainplates are prone to leaking; trace the bulkhead fastenings for discoloration and lift the cabin trim to feel for damp. Because water past the mast partner corrodes the step and butt, inspect the keel-stepped mast base and the fiberglass tabbing at the principal bulkhead plus the tie rod between deck and step. Groundings or bad storage loosen floor timbers and keel bolts and can flex the hull; a misaligned engine or a gap at the deadwood signals bilge trouble. Most owners report gelcoat crazing, voids, and chalking, and the teak cabin sole draws the most complaints, so probe both for softness. The fuel tank rusts and the Atomic 4 may have taken exhaust backflow; confirm the tank and exhaust run, and weigh the Farymann diesel option’s scarce parts before preferring it.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Tartan 30s typically turn up in the United States and Netherlands. For a viewing, run this short list:
- Check the chainplate bedding for leaks and staining.
- Inspect the mast step and partner for corrosion.
- Feel the cabin sole and teak toerails for softness.
- Confirm engine alignment and keel-deadwood contact.
- Test the cockpit sill against past flooding marks.
- Verify winch capacity against the original shortfall.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Tartan 30. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 13 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25 | 1 | $5,000 | — |
| May 25 | 1 | $6,800 | +36.0% |
| Jun 25 | 2 | $5,000 | -26.5% |
| Jul 25 | 1 | $23,000 | +360.0% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $10,000 | -56.5% |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $15,000 | +50.0% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $9,500 | -36.7% |
| Jan 26 | 5 | $14,500 | +52.6% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $3,000 | -79.3% |
| May 26 | 4 | $9,900 | +230.0% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $16,000 | +61.6% |
| Jul 26 | 3 | $8,900 | -44.4% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $3,500 | -60.7% |
Where they're listed
Tartan 30 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 18.
Country view
18 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $9,950 | 18 | 7 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 30 (Mauric) | 29.36' | $ 80,304 | 43 | 11 |
| Pearson 30 | 29.79' | $ 7,000 | 21 | 6 |
| Tartan 30You are here | — | $ 9,950 | 18 | 7 |
| Tartan 34 C | 34.42' | $ 19,900 | 18 | 5 |
| Sparkman & Stephens 30 | 30.5' | $ 62,500 | 8 | 0 |