Design and Construction
The 395 is built at the Tartan factory in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, to ABS standards, with a hull resin-infused using modified epoxy vinylester resin around closed-cell foam coring above the waterline and a void-free laminate that is exceptionally stiff, strong, and lightweight anchor. The deck carries an end-grain balsa core and is secured to the hull with both hardware and adhesives, producing a rigid, lightweight structure. Tartan eschews the iron ballast many builders use in favor of good old lead, and the rudder shaft is made of carbon fiber thanks to the company owning its own autoclave, which also yields a carbon rig. The wiring is tinned, color-coded, and encased within conduits to prevent chafe, the plumbing is neat, well-secured and easy to reach, and through-hull fittings are Marelon. Three lead bolt-on keels are available: a deep 6-foot 2-inch fin, a 4-foot 10-inch Beavertail, and a 4-foot 3-inch keel/centerboard for true shoal draft, allowing the 395 to match any cruising ground.
Rig and Handling
Tartan’s Cruise Control Rig makes sailing easier without sacrificing performance, built around a double-headsail layout with a self-tacking jib on an inner stay and a code-zero reacher on the outer stay, set off a light double-spreader carbon-fiber spar that is half the weight of typical aluminum rigs anchor. A German-style mainsheet is double-ended port and starboard to big winches within easy reach of the driver, and the mainsail aboard the tested boat flew from a Leisure Furl boom that worked perfectly. Wide twin helms create clear sightlines and an easy center walkway to the transom platform. Test sailors found her helm response light but positive, and an initial tenderness stiffened up as the boat leaned over to moderate heel angle and stayed there. Close-hauled under main and self-tacking jib she easily pointed to within 35–40 degrees of the true wind and returned 6.5 knots, while reaching in a Chesapeake Bay norther she sailed at an effortless 7 knots. Under power, a four-cylinder 40 hp Volvo diesel saildrive with a fixed two-blade prop fits snugly beneath the cabin steps; full throttle yielded 2,900 rpm and 7.4 knots, a 2,400 rpm cruise produced 7.1 knots, and the turning circle is very small—no more than a boatlength—with backing, stopping and turning predictable and precise, though the spade rudder calls for a firm hand on the wheel.
Accommodations
Below, the 395 shows the builder’s reputation for superior joinery with handcrafted cabinetry from select North American hardwoods, offered in maple, cherry, or teak, and solid raised-panel doors that create a refined interior rarely found in production sailboats anchor. The tested boat showed honey-toned solid maple with a traditional teak-and-holly cabin sole. There are two cabins and seven berths: a second double cabin aft to starboard and a second double cabin all the way forward with pretty wood hull ceilings, while comfortable settees flank a central dining table in the main saloon. A generous shower stall and head is to port with a separate enclosed shower, and the forward-facing navigation station to port near the companionway has enough space for a laptop and a cruising guide, complemented by a full-sized chart table at a traditional station. Light and air come from 12 house-side portholes, 2 cockpit portholes, 7 deck hatches, 2 dorade vents, and eight opening ports overhead.
Known Issues
The deep fin, Beavertail, and centerboard variants carry different displacement and ballast figures—16,000 lb and 5,500 lb, 17,000 lb and 6,500 lb, and 17,300 lb and 6,800 lb respectively—which alter the feel described above. The spade rudder demands a firm hand in close-quarters maneuvering.
Refits and Ownership
The 395 came fitted with Harken hardware, Edson steering, Raymarine electronics, and LeisureFurl in-boom furling as standard sailing givens, and a polished stainless-steel chain, stainless anchor, and big windlass made for a beautiful anchoring system anchor. A third pedestal forward of and between the helms houses engine and lighting controls and a Raymarine chart plotter. With 40 gallons of fuel and 100 of water, plus a 24-gallon holding tank, she is equipped for extended cruising, and the fold-down transom step accesses a modest swim and boarding platform.
The Verdict
The Tartan 395 is a sweet sailboat straight from the American heartland that answers the European mass-market cruiser with traditional profile, gentle sheer, stout coamings, and a deep cozy cockpit, wrapped around a modern infusion-built hull and carbon rig. Jackett’s design rewards the cruising traditionalist with refined joinery, predictable handling, and a versatile double-headsail rig.
Pros
- Resin-infused epoxy hull with closed-cell foam and carbon rudderstock for stiffness without weight
- Double-headsail Cruise Control Rig with self-tacking jib for effortless shorthanded sailing
- Refined hardwood joinery and separate enclosed shower rare in production boats
- Three lead keel options spanning 4 ft 3 in to 6 ft 2 in draft
Cons
- Spade rudder requires a firm hand in tight maneuvering
- Not as beamy as some 2019 fleet competitors despite high interior volume
- Saildrive engine access is snug beneath the cabin steps
