Tim Jackett designed the 4400, and Tartan Yachts began production in 2002. The 45-foot hull displaces 24,000 pounds and has a 14-foot-1-inch beam, reaching its maximum width just aft of the mast. Those proportions put volume where it counts while retaining the sea-kindly lines of a 37.5-foot waterline.
Design and Construction
The 4400 stands apart in its class for its vacuum-bagged and oven-baked epoxy-resin and ATC Core-Cell hull. Resin impregnation produces a consistent 65:35 glass-to-resin ratio.
Tartan paired that hull with a balsa-cored deck. At every through-deck penetration, solid glass replaces the balsa, removing the usual path for rot where hardware breaks the skin.
Forward, a self-draining chain locker sits ahead of the forepeak, with a watertight crash bulkhead below it. This straightforward but effective arrangement provides a barrier against flooding from a parted anchor rode.
Below the waterline, the 4400 has a beavertail keel and spade rudder. Its 9,000 pounds of lead ballast produces a 37.5 percent ballast-displacement ratio for a boat of this size.
Rig and Handling
The standard rig is a lightweight carbon stick with 90-degree double spreaders, selected for keep-it-simple cruising. A quick-release inner forestay is supported by running backstays when the wind builds.
Sail controls are concentrated in the cockpit. A double-ended mainsheet runs through a traveler forward of the companionway, then leads aft to self-tailing Harken 42 winches on the coaming. Harken 56s sit just aft for the jib sheets.
Wide side decks and inboard shrouds allow the jib to sheet flat. An 18.0 sail-area-to-displacement ratio gives the 12-ton Tartan a measured turn of speed, although its displacement and moderate SA/D limit light-air acceleration compared with lighter rivals. Substantial 2 1/4-inch teak toerails and 30-inch lifelines complete the deck-security arrangement.
Accommodations and Machinery
Below, the raised cabin shapes a warm cherry interior. Its large center window opens to bring a breeze into the main saloon.
The layout includes two staterooms and two heads. To port of the companionway is a head and shower with a vanity sink. Two steps down to port, the U-shaped galley has a huge athwartship refrigerator/freezer. Opposite the galley is the larger head, with a separate shower. Forward, the master cabin has a queen-size centerline berth.
A turbocharged 75-horsepower Yanmar 4JH3, driving a three-bladed prop, sits amidships beneath the raised cabin sole. This location provides excellent access for servicing.
Deck and Equipment
An electric ram lowers the through-transom swim platform, providing a quick step to the water or dinghy. Two beefy rollers and an electric windlass handle the working anchors. Six heavy-duty 12-inch cleats, paired with ample chocks, take dock and spring lines.
Tankage includes 200 gallons of water and 80 gallons of fuel, supporting extended coastal or offshore stretches without constant replenishment.
The Verdict
The Tartan 4400 is a thoughtfully engineered deck-saloon cruiser. Its vacuum-bagged epoxy hull, crash-bulkhead chain locker, and centrally located engine address important structural and ownership concerns. At the same time, the carbon rig and flat-sheeting jib geometry keep it a sailor’s boat rather than a condo afloat.
Pros
- Epoxy/Core-Cell hull with a controlled glass-to-resin ratio and consistent oven cure
- Watertight crash bulkhead below the self-draining chain locker
- Solid glass at all through-deck penetrations to prevent core rot
- Standard carbon rig with simple 90-degree double spreaders and an inner forestay
- Centerline queen berth in the master cabin, two heads, and an athwartship freezer in a cherry interior
- Amidships engine beneath the raised sole, providing excellent access
Cons
- Balsa-cored deck, although solid glass replaces the core at penetrations
- 12-ton displacement and moderate SA/D limit light-air acceleration compared with lighter rivals
