Tartan 37 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The hull was hand-laid in fiberglass and molded as a single unit. Its end-grain balsa core tapers to solid glass around the engine bed, mast step, shroud terminals, thru-hulls, and keel sections. Tartan used unidirectional roving in high-stress areas. Gelcoat quality is very good, although some roving print-through and hard spots are visible outside the hull.

The deck has the same balsa-cored construction, along with molded-in non-skid. Hull and deck meet at a bedded, mechanically fastened lap joint that has proven strong and dry. An aluminum plate glassed to the inward flange stiffens the joint, which is through-bolted across the transom.

All thru-hull fittings sit flush with the hull skin, and those below the waterline have bronze ball valves. Practical Sailor’s survey rated the interior finish among the best its reviewers had seen, citing exceptionally neat fillet bonding and the absence of raw fiberglass edges.

Keel, Rig, and Sailing Performance

The underbody combines a cutaway forefoot, long fin keel, and skeg-hung rudder. In its original configuration, the Tartan 37 was a keel-centerboarder. Most boats ordered through the early 1980s had the centerboard. A few deep-fin versions with tall rigs went to racers, and by 1985 buyers could choose among three keel shapes: centerboard, deep fin, and Scheel shoal keel.

The masthead sloop carries 625 square feet of sail. The optional inboard genoa track is worth having for anyone serious about windward performance. Owners describe the boat as well-mannered under sail. Writing in Cruising World, reviewers found its performance to weather excellent and ranked its offwind speed among the best. The skeg-hung rudder provided great control on full-sail reaches and runs. Several Tartan 37s have also posted respectable results in the Marion/Newport-Bermuda race.

Accommodations

Below, teak veneer and trim dominate beneath a white Formica overhead. Practical Sailor concedes that the effect is dark and cave-like.

The forward cabin is genuinely comfortable for a boat of this size, with drawers, hanging lockers, and separate access to the head. Its louvered door limits privacy, however, and wouldn’t survive a careless blow in a seaway. The head itself is secure enough for offshore use, and the shower drains into a dedicated sump rather than the bilge.

In the main cabin, the starboard settee makes a good sea berth, while the port settee converts to a double. A dinette layout was standard. The pilot berth disappeared by 1986, replaced by shelves.

Aft, the quarterberth converts to a double—a feature not often found on a boat of this length. At the base of the companionway, the galley lies to starboard, opposite a large navigation station. Ventilation is generous, with eight opening ports, three hatches, and four vent fans.

Machinery and Tankage

Most Tartan 37s carry the 32-hp Universal 40 diesel; the Universal 50 was optional. Early specification lists also identify a Westerbeke 4-107 as original equipment on some hulls. The standard 47-gallon fuel tank provides coastal motoring range.

The centerboard pennant rises through the mast. This arrangement required a complex mast step, with transverse floors and a massive beam to handle compression—a detail to respect during rig work.

Known Issues and Refit Considerations

The cored deck is the main concern. It’s prone to water damage, and repairs can be expensive, so a survey should probe carefully for soft spots. Many hulls left the factory with a poorly bedded toerail, providing a route for leaks into the same core.

The cockpit drains are above the waterline and have no shutoff valves. That’s fine at rest, but they remain open and become submerged while the boat is sailing. A shutoff provision would be the careful owner’s addition.

The icebox sides are well insulated, but the tops received less careful treatment. The engine box was also only partially insulated at the factory.

Bronze seacocks, backed deck hardware, and through-bolted pulpits point to a structure that ages on its own terms, provided it’s kept dry.

The Verdict

The Tartan 37 is a thoughtfully conceived S&S cruiser-racer. Its balsa-cored shell, careful interior joinery, and versatile keel program continue to reward owners four decades on. It sails cleanly both to weather and offwind, and its berth plan is unusual for a boat of this length. Tartan built enough of them to keep spares and knowledge in circulation. The cored deck and toerail bedding are the prices of admission.

Pros