Tartan 3500 Buyer's Guide
The Tartan 3500 is a Tim Jackett design that ran from its 1991 introduction through retirement in 2005, with more than 150 built across deep- and shoal-draft variants anchor. On the brokerage market it still draws sailors who want a performance-oriented family cruiser with genuine accommodations, and the known weaknesses are narrow enough to inspect with confidence. Cross-shoppers often look at the Sabre 362, Catalina 36, or C&C 110, but the 3500's two-true-double-cabin layout remains its distinctive card.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin arrangements are the more common on the used market, but both three-cabin and two-cabin versions appear, and ex-charter examples are common. The standard interior separates two true double cabins by the main saloon and galley: a forward V-berth with hanging locker and drawers, and an aft quarter-berth cabin with a full-sized double. The saloon seats four to six around a drop-leaf centerline table, with the galley and an aft-facing nav station to starboard and the head with separate shower to port. New-boat buyers could choose teak or cherry finishes; on many boats the saloon is cherry, which matters for inspection. The T-shaped cockpit, opening transom, and molded swim step are consistent across the class.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most used Tartan 3500s on the market carry a practical cruising suite: autopilot, chartplotter, radar, AIS, dodger, bimini, cockpit shower, inverter, and hot water are commonly fitted. For power and energy, an often-seen inverter pairs with solar and occasionally lithium banks as owner upgrades, while air conditioning and electric winches show up often but not universally. Sail handling commonly includes a gennaker on an often-seen basis, with furling main and asymmetric spinnaker as less common owner upgrades. Navigation is rounded out by commonly fitted radar and AIS, and an EPIRB is an often-seen safety addition. Comfort items lean on the commonly fitted hot-water cockpit shower, with heating and dinghy davits less commonly seen.
What to Inspect
A few 3500 owners note water slipping in around the forward hatch, and some also mention that the rudder bearings swell anchor. On more than one boat, surveyors found cherry interior trim that did not hold up to water dousings, with doors that would not close, poorly aligned joiner work, and wood rotted after only several years anchor. A three-year-old example showed raised moisture readings in the balsa deck core close to several through-deck fittings, so test deck cores around winches, tracks, and ports carefully. The cherry finish in particular warrants a close look for staining or softness.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The 3500 is found in the United States and Canada. For a buyer, the checklist is short and concrete: confirm deck-core moisture around fittings, check rudder bearing free movement, examine cherry joinery for water damage, verify forward hatch sealing, and prefer a deep-draft hull if performance matters. A clean, dry example with sound coring and honest interior joinery is the one to pursue.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Tartan 3500. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 11 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $74,900 | — |
| Jul 25 | 4 | $79,000 | +5.5% |
| Sep 25 | 1 | $139,000 | +75.9% |
| Nov 25 | 4 | $99,990 | -28.1% |
| Jan 26 | 4 | $89,495 | -10.5% |
| Feb 26 | 2 | $88,000 | -1.7% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $105,000 | +19.3% |
| Apr 26 | 5 | $98,000 | -6.7% |
| May 26 | 4 | $88,500 | -9.7% |
| Jun 26 | 4 | $110,000 | +24.3% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $93,620 | -14.9% |
Where they're listed
Tartan 3500 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 21 (84.0%), followed by Canada.
Country view
25 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $99,990 | 21 | 4 | 84.0% |
| Canada | $96,825 | 4 | 1 | 16.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
9 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tartan 3700 | 37' | $ 159,500 | 53 | 18 |
| Tartan 3500You are here | — | $ 98,995 | 26 | 6 |
| Tartan 4000 | 40.67' | $ 299,500 | 22 | 0 |
| Tartan 3400/345 | 34.42' | $ 179,900 | 19 | 8 |
| Tartan 30 | 29.92' | $ 9,950 | 18 | 7 |
| Tartan 4300 | 43.08' | $ 375,000 | 17 | 7 |
| Tartan 34-2 | 34.42' | $ 29,900 | 16 | 3 |
| Tartan 40 | 40.25' | $ 79,900 | 15 | 2 |
| Tartan 31 | 31.33' | $ 34,000 | 14 | 4 |