Two versions were built—the original 31 and the later “Piper” revision. The original design displaces 9,030 pounds, with 3,900 pounds of lead in an external keel and a 43 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio. Waterline length is 26 feet, and beam is 10 feet 11 inches.
Design and Construction
The hull has plenty of flare amidships and a broad, powerful stern. A distinct turn at the bilge reduces wetted surface in light air and adds stability as the wind rises. The boat may feel a little tender at first, but the flare provides a substantial stability shoulder once the heel angle passes 10 degrees.
Practical Sailor’s survey found that the hull is hand-laminated with alternating layers of chopped-strand mat and unidirectional E-glass. Behind the NPG/ISO gelcoat, a layer of vinylester resin provides what so far appears to be the best osmotic blister protection available.
Because of the 31’s small size, Tartan limited its balsa end-grain coring to the deck. The hull-to-deck joint runs the length of the boat, secured by stainless-steel bolts spaced every six or seven inches. These pass through a solid teak toerail into a molded-in, quarter-inch aluminum backing strip, with 3M 5200 adhesive further reinforcing the connection.
Seven three-quarter-inch stainless-steel bolts secure the keel, with thick bedding around them. Both appendages have elliptical trailing edges.
Rig, Sailing and Handling
The standard rig is a double-spreader masthead sloop carrying roughly 507 square feet of sail: 266 square feet in the foretriangle and 241 square feet in the fully battened mainsail. The standard jib is 135 percent.
Bob Perry’s design review noted dramatic prebend in the spar. This allows the boat to use a smaller, lighter mast section, even though the mast is consequently more flexible. The Piper later adopted swept-back spreaders and eliminated the babystay.
Tartan led all sail-control lines aft to winches mounted on the housetop. Inboard shrouds leave the side decks clear and allow tighter upwind sheeting angles. The boat moves nicely to windward, particularly in a breeze, and handles well dead downwind. Owners describe the balanced rig as very forgiving. Like other Tartans, however, it is least effective on a broad reach as the seas build.
Under PHRF, the Tartan 31 rates between 141 and 153, with an average rating of 150.
Keel Options and the Piper Revision
The first Tartan 31s had a Scheel keel drawing 4 feet 4 inches. Both versions were also offered with a six-foot deep fin, although most owners chose the shoal-draft option.
In 1992, Jackett “Piperized” the model. The revised Piper brought a new interior and Jackett’s own shoal-draft keel design, called the Beaver Tail. It retains the same 4′4″ draft but uses NACA foil sections for greater lift, along with a somewhat flattened bulb intended to create an endplate effect.
By concentrating weight lower, the Beaver Tail provides the same righting moment with 300 fewer pounds of ballast. Ballast drops to 3,600 pounds and the ballast-to-displacement ratio to just under 40 percent, without making the boat noticeably more tender.
Accommodations
The original Tartan 31 has a large double berth forward and another double aft. Angled bulkheads help make effective use of the available space, although some people find them visually disorderly.
The galley is a squat U-shape, while the chart table is generously sized. Teak covers the bulkheads, furniture and cabinets, offset by an off-white partial liner. The cabin sole is varnished teak and holly, and the settees have six-inch-thick cushions. Standing headroom measures 6′2″ in the main cabin and 6′ in the forecabin.
The Piper layout increased stowage. Tartan removed the port pilot berth and replaced it with cabinets and shelves, moved the settee berths outboard, and placed the table on the centerline to make room for a second door to the head.
At 7′ x 5′, the quarter berth is the most comfortable sleeping space. Several owners find the V-berth cramped as it narrows forward and prefer sleeping aft or amidships.
Engine access is another practical strength. The companionway stairs swing aside, an arrangement widely praised by owners for making the engine easy to reach.
Known Issues
Several Tartan 31 owners have complained about mast leaks. One owner also reported that her tie rod wasn’t secured, although she attributed the oversight to her dealer rather than the builder.
Some Piper owners have bemoaned the lack of handy stern chocks. These remain isolated, owner-reported complaints rather than systemic defects.
Verdict
The Tartan 31 is a thoughtfully engineered small cruiser-racer that favors all-around competence over extremes. Jackett’s flared hull and stability shoulder, combined with the prebent spar and inboard shrouds, produce a boat that may feel tender initially but stiffens predictably, points well and remains forgiving for short-handed crews.
The Piper revision broadened the boat’s shoal-draft appeal without sacrificing righting moment. Below, the genuine teak finish gives the interior a traditional feel, while the revised layout adds stowage without losing the comfortable quarter berth.
Pros
- Flared topsides and a substantial stability shoulder stiffen the boat beyond 10 degrees of heel
- Prebent mast permits a lighter spar section while retaining a forgiving rig
- Shoal-draft Beaver Tail keel preserves righting moment with 300 pounds less ballast
- Easy engine access through swing-aside companionway stairs
- Quality deck gear from Harken and Lewmar, an Offshore Spars mast, and Edson wheel steering
Cons
- Some owners report mast leaks
- The forward V-berth narrows considerably and feels cramped to several owners
- Some Piper owners report a lack of handy stern chocks
- Least effective on a broad reach in building seas
