Jackett gave the boat a beam carried well aft with minimal taper. That shape enlarges the cockpit and quarter-berth volume, though it also extends the wetted surface. The result is a performance cruiser rather than an out-and-out racer, with dimensions, stability, and keel choices suited to coastal and offshore cruising.
Design and Construction
The Tartan 3700 measures 37 feet overall, with a 32.5-foot waterline and a beam of 12 feet 7 inches. Displacement is 15,950 pounds, including 6,000 pounds of lead ballast. Those figures produce a length-to-beam ratio of 2.92 and a displacement-to-length ratio near 210 for the beavertail-keel model.
The hull is solid fiberglass below the waterline, while the deck is balsa-cored. Construction follows the Tartan tradition of a robust hull-to-deck union. A solid teak toerail accents the sheerline.
Three keel configurations were offered from the start:
- A 7-foot 3-inch fin
- A 5-foot beavertail, with a flat, wide-tailed bulb
- A 4-foot centerboard version
These choices let owners match the boat’s draft to their cruising grounds without changing the core hull. The beavertail model provides the displacement basis for the published D/L figure, while the centerboard trades a little simplicity for access to shoal water.
The listed range of positive stability is 125 degrees, the same figure given for the larger Tartan 4100. It’s a meaningful datum for a boat presented as a capable coastal and offshore cruiser.
Rig, Power, and Handling
The 3700 carries a standard masthead, two-spreader sloop rig with a slight sweep to the spreaders, set on a 56-foot mast. The mainsail overlaps the backstay by about six inches.
The sail-area-to-displacement ratio is given as 18.2, although sources differ on the underlying sail-area figure. What isn’t disputed is that the rig is conventional rather than radical. Combined with the moderate SA/D and the beam carried well aft with minimal taper, it places the 3700 firmly in the performance-cruiser category.
Auxiliary power comes from a direct-drive, 40-horsepower Yanmar diesel. The engine box sits beneath the companionway, an arrangement that defines the access and service layout rather than indicating a failure mode.
Deck and Accommodations
The enlarged cockpit benefits from the boat’s broad afterbody. On the foredeck, there’s an anchor well.
Below, the same wide, low-taper afterbody creates one of the layout’s defining features: a huge double quarter berth. The rest of the accommodation plan is roomy, but the galley comes with a practical drawback. The sinks have no adjacent counter space, which can complicate everyday meal preparation.
Ventilation and natural light are well covered. The deck plan includes opening hatches in every living space and twelve opening ports in the cabintrunk. Together with the teak toerail and clean lines, these details reflect the marque’s fitted-boat sensibility without overstating it.
Known Issues and Ownership Considerations
The clearest everyday shortcoming is the lack of counter space beside the galley sinks. The engine box beneath the companionway also shapes service access rather than easing it.
On centerboard boats, owners must account for the usual trunk and trunk-seal considerations inherent in that configuration. More broadly, keel choice is the principal ownership variable: the fin, beavertail, and centerboard versions offer different draft and simplicity trade-offs while retaining the same core hull.
The Verdict
The Tartan 3700 is a purpose-built Tim Jackett performance cruiser. It trades some galley practicality for a genuinely large aft berth, while its hull form balances performance with cruising stability and reach. Three keel choices and a listed 125-degree range of positive stability give it a credible offshore profile within the 37-foot class.
Pros
- Three keel configurations—fin, beavertail, and centerboard—offered from the design’s launch
- Huge double quarter berth created by the beam carried aft with minimal taper
- Listed positive-stability range of 125 degrees
- Opening hatches in every living space, plus twelve cabintrunk ports
Cons
- No adjacent counter space beside the galley sinks
- Engine box beneath the companionway defines, rather than eases, service access
