Hull Form and Design Philosophy
Jackett began the 3700 with a clear mandate: pack the accommodation and performance of the larger Tartan 4100 into a hull four feet shorter. The solution shaped every dimension of the design. The bow entry angle is not as fine as the 4100, allowing more space forward, and the entire hull is rounder, producing more interior volume. Maximum beam reaches 12 feet 8 inches and beam at the stern is nearly 11 feet — an aggressive carry-aft strategy that trades wetted surface for stability and cockpit volume.
Robert Perry, reviewing the design on its release, noted that the beam-aft approach delivers real benefits but carries tradeoffs. A wide, low-deadrise stern coupled with short aft overhang can cause a transom that drags and gurgles when heeled, and the geometry can force the boat to roll bow down as it heels, producing a demanding helm. Perry acknowledged that most of these issues can be handled with prudent design, but it's tricky. The displacement-to-length ratio of 210 and a range of positive stability of 125 degrees place the hull in textbook performance-cruiser territory — comfortably above the 120-degree minimum most bluewater authorities consider prudent.
Three keel configurations are offered: a 7-foot 3-inch fin, a 5-foot beavertail with a flat wide-tailed bulb, and a 4-foot centerboard version. All use lead ballast, and the rudders are efficient, high-aspect-ratio spades — a choice that sharpens steering response but demands attention to rudderstock condition over time.
Construction
Tartan built its reputation on construction practices that diverge meaningfully from volume production norms. The hull is hand laid-up, solid fiberglass below the waterline and cored with Baltek balsa above it, with alternating layers of strand mat and unidirectional E glass vacuum-bagged into the laminate. Isophthalic polyester and vinylester resins are used to resist blistering. The hull-deck joint follows the company's 20-plus-year practice of bedding the seam with 3M 5200 and fastening with stainless steel bolts through an aluminum bar — a belt-and-suspenders approach.
Below, rather than using fiberglass pans or molded liners, bulkheads are constructed of pressure laminate and tabbed to the hull with mat and roving. Practical Sailor described this as a superior building method, noting that Tartan is one of the few production builders left to use built-up wood interiors — a distinction it shares with semi-custom houses like Hinckley and Morris.
Rig, Deck, and Handling
The rig is a very standard masthead, two-spreader sloop type with a slight sweep angle to the spreaders — simple, strong, and easy to tune. The spreader sweep allows narrow sheeting angles to improve upwind performance. The mainsail overlaps the backstay by about six inches, and the SA/D of 18.2 provides enough drive without pushing the boat into high-maintenance sail management territory.
Deck layout rewards shorthanded crews. Sail controls are led aft, Harken winches are predominantly two-speed self-tailers, and deck organizers lead mainsail control lines aft to the cockpit. A rigid vang is standard — Practical Sailor flagged this as an important safety feature in lieu of a topping lift. Side decks are 24 inches wide and movement about the deck is unimpeded. Chainplates are positioned inboard near the cabin sides to support the close sheeting angles. The 3700's T-shaped cockpit places the helmsman outboard when necessary, though the cockpit centerline length of 56 inches is noticeably shorter than the 4100's 78 inches.
Ventilation is treated seriously: 12 opening ports line the cabintrunk alongside large hatches over living spaces, and Dorade vents are positioned forward of the mainsheet traveler. Perry's observation that you can never have too much ventilation reads as endorsement of a design feature that pays dividends in tropical anchorages.
Accommodations
Jackett's stated rule — every inch of extra space found goes into the main cabin and galley — shapes the interior more than any single layout decision. The saloon measures approximately 8.8 by 6.7 feet with 6 feet 4 inches of headroom in the main cabin. Settees run to 70 inches in length, and the dining table, with folding leaves raised, reaches approximately 44 by 34 inches.
The joinerwork reflects fine craftsmanship, with cherry wood surfaces smooth and nicely varnished. Fore and aft staterooms each carry queen-sized berths; the aft cabin comes with a solid door, teak and holly sole, vanity, cedar-lined cabinets, opening ports, and standing headroom exceeding 6 feet. Forward cabin headroom reaches 6 feet 2 inches.
The galley sits to starboard with an L-shaped layout and a centerline island that provides a counter where the cook can work at a pivot point of the boat when heeled. Tartan places sinks closer to the centerline to separate clean up from meal prep. A Force 10 three-burner stove is standard. Perry noted that the galley arrangement, while generous, results in sinks with no adjacent counter space — a persistent Tartan layout quirk. The head at 67 inches long and 48 inches wide exceeds Jackett's own minimum shower dimension of 26 inches square, and features a folding shower door that attaches out of the way to the hull when not in use.
Known Issues and Construction Concerns
Two construction details deserve particular attention on used examples. The rudder construction — foam-cored fiberglass with 304 stainless steel rudderstocks — is common on production boats but creates a vulnerability: different coefficients of expansion between fiberglass and steel make it difficult to keep water out. Practical Sailor noted that 316 stainless would be preferable to 304, and that composite rudderstocks represent a better long-term solution for new builds. Inspecting rudder bearings and checking for water intrusion in the stock is a standard pre-purchase task on any 3700.
The deck is balsa-cored, and windows where deck hardware and stanchions will be installed are solid fiberglass — a proper precaution, but one that makes finding previous deck hardware holes essential during survey. The teak toerail and teak cabin handrails require regular attention; budget for teak touch-ups on the handholds and toerails is practical advice from Practical Sailor. The port cockpit seat lockers on boats with the aft cabin are only 12 inches deep because the cabin consumes the space behind them, limiting storage to shared use with heater, battery charger, and bilge pump.
The Verdict
The Tartan 3700 succeeds at the difficult task Jackett set for himself: delivering legitimate performance-cruiser capability in a 37-foot package without gutting the interior. The construction quality is above the production norm, the rig is uncomplicated and sea-kindly, and the accommodation compresses very little relative to boats four feet longer. Its personality rewards sailors who value upwind efficiency and craftsmanship over raw cockpit space or light-air glide, and who are prepared to maintain a wooden interior to the standard it deserves. The demanding helm that can develop in a fresh breeze is the honest cost of the beam-aft hull form — not a defect, but a design decision worth understanding before purchase.
Pros
- Three keel options cover shoal and deep-draft needs without compromising ballast-to-displacement ratio
- Hand-laid, vacuum-bagged hull with built-up wood interior sets construction apart from most production competitors
- Masthead sloop rig is simple to tune and maintain; close-sheeting spreader geometry rewards upwind sailing
- Generous ventilation with 12 opening cabintrunk ports and Dorade vents
- Aft and forward staterooms both carry queen-sized berths with standing headroom
- Inboard chainplate placement supports tight sheeting angles
Cons
- Wide, low-deadrise stern can produce a heavy, demanding helm when well heeled in a breeze
- 304 stainless rudderstock construction is vulnerable to water intrusion and corrosion over time
- Cockpit is noticeably shorter than sistership 4100; port seat lockers have shallow usable depth
- Galley sinks lack adjacent counter prep space
- Teak toerail and cabin handrails require consistent maintenance
- Beamy hull adds wetted surface that can make the boat feel sticky in light air
