Design and Construction
The 335 measures 33 ft 6 in overall, with a 29 ft 2 in waterline and a 10 ft 11 in beam. Jackett’s hand shows in the boat’s proportions as clearly as it does in her structure.
The hull is resin-infused using multi-axial E-glass and closed-cell foam coring, producing a void-free laminate that is exceptionally stiff, strong, and lightweight. Tartan has long built hulls and decks with vacuum-infused, all-epoxy composite technology, creating structures that are light but almost immortal under normal circumstances. The 335 continues that approach.
A cast lead keel with a low center of gravity provides the stability needed to carry a generous sail plan. The boat is available with either a deep fin keel or a shoal beavertail keel, allowing owners to choose between performance and access according to their preferred cruising grounds. The fin-keel version displaces 9,000 lb and carries 3,350 lb of ballast; the shoal version displaces 9,200 lb and carries 3,550 lb. Bridge clearance is 52 ft 2 in.
Rig and Handling
The 335 comes standard with a carbon spar. Its all-carbon mast and boom weigh roughly half as much as a traditional aluminum rig. That weight saving lowers the center of gravity, reduces pitching, and increases sail-carrying ability. Writing in Cruising Compass, the reviewer also noted that the lighter rig enhances hull stability and reduces pitching in a head sea.
Tartan’s Cruise Control Rig combines a self-tacking jib with a furling masthead reacher. The jib simplifies upwind work, while the 155 percent reacher provides plenty of horsepower off the wind. Sail area is 601 square feet upwind and 845 square feet downwind.
Twin wheels improve sightlines and cockpit flow while opening a clear route to the swim platform. Together with the manageable sail plan, they should make the boat a cinch for a lone watchkeeper to handle.
Cockpit and Accommodations
The cockpit is arranged primarily for a couple, but four or five people still have enough room to function during an evening race. A molded well in the center provides stowage for folding bikes, roll-up dinghies, or SUPs.
Below, the 335 has one cabin and four berths. The forward owner’s cabin contains a commodious V-berth, with hanging lockers and storage all around. In the salon, the settees can serve as guest bunks or, with lee cloths, as sea berths. Six large opening portlights and four opening deck hatches provide light and ventilation.
The head includes a semi-stall shower. Just aft of it is a true wet locker for foul-weather gear. In the galley, lightweight composite countertops are finished with Granicoat. A two-burner cooktop sits above a drawer-style fridge, while a deep pull-out pantry on stainless steel drawer slides is fitted forward of the stove. An optional stainless steel drawer refrigerator adds conveniently located cold storage.
Power and Capacities
A 20 hp diesel saildrive—specified as a Nanni N3.21 21 hp diesel with saildrive—provides auxiliary power. Fuel capacity is 25 gallons, and water capacity is 40 gallons.
The cockpit arrangement, twin wheels, and manageable sail plan support the builder’s claim that the 335 works as both a wonderful daysailer and a weekend cruiser for a couple with a child or two.
The Verdict
The Tartan 335 distills Jackett’s modern-classic idiom into a 33-foot cruiser that is genuinely manageable short-handed, yet roomy enough for a couple to live aboard on weekends. The epoxy-composite hull and carbon rig aren’t merely styling exercises: they lower the center of gravity and help keep the boat stiff and quiet in a head sea. Meanwhile, the Cruise Control Rig removes much of the friction from sailing solo or as a pair.
Pros
- Carbon spar weighs half as much as aluminum, lowering the center of gravity and reducing pitching
- Self-tacking jib and furling reacher make short-handed sailing straightforward
- Vacuum-infused epoxy-composite hull is exceptionally stiff and durable
- Deep and shoal draft options suit different cruising grounds
- Thoughtful, couple-oriented layout with a true wet locker and molded cockpit stowage
Cons
- Single-cabin, four-berth plan limits privacy for more than a couple and a child
- 25-gallon fuel and 40-gallon water capacities are modest for extended cruising
