This solid-fiberglass monohull displaces 28,000 pounds and carries 8,500 pounds of lead ballast. With a 14.33-foot beam and a 39.6-foot waterline, it is a beamy, moderately loaded cruiser rather than a stripped-out racer. Even so, its numbers place it among the quicker boats in its size class.
Design and Construction
The fiberglass hull’s 8,500 pounds of lead ballast produces a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 30.36 percent. That figure edges ahead of roughly a quarter of comparable designs, giving the 4600 a sure footing without crossing into lead-laden bluewater extremes.
Its displacement-length ratio of about 201 places it among “moderate racers,” and two-thirds of similar sailboats are heavier. Wetted surface is about 688 square feet. An immersion rate of roughly 1,978 pounds per inch means the boat sits sensibly to its load.
The hull was offered with three keel alternatives:
- A fin keel drawing roughly 8.9 to 9.2 feet
- A fin keel with bulb drawing 5.5 to 5.8 feet
- A stub/centreboard arrangement drawing about 4.8 to 5.1 feet
That allowed the same deck mold to serve both deep-draft sailors and those who needed access to shallower water.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The 4600 has a masthead-sloop rig carrying a reported 1,014 square feet of sail between main and jib. That area is split almost evenly between a 508-square-foot main triangle and a 506-square-foot foretriangle.
An I measurement of 59.5 feet and J of 17 feet, along with a forestay near 61.9 feet, describe a tall rig with moderate overlap. Reviews comparing the 4600 with peer boats found that it carries more rig than 42 percent of similar sailboats, suggesting that it is slightly underrigged.
The performance indices support that assessment. Its sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 17.1 with the reference sail and 20.1 with a 135 percent genoa. In light wind, it is quicker than about 27 percent of similar designs. The theoretical displacement-hull speed is 8.4 knots, with a calculated maximum near 6.9.
Its capsize screening value is 1.86 to 1.89. With a motion comfort ratio of about 30.9, the 4600 is a steady, seakindly cruiser rather than a featherweight.
Accommodations and Tankage
Below, the 4600 has two cabins and 4+2 berths, along with a galley, a toilet facility, and comfortable crew accommodations. The 14.33-foot beam is put to good use: reviews found the interior compares favorably: it is roomier than most comparable boats, with more space than 73 percent of similar sailboat designs. That room is a real advantage for extended liveaboard use or family cruising.
Fresh-water capacity is 150 gallons, while waste capacity is 182 liters. Its motion comfort ratio also exceeds those of 42 percent of comparable designs.
Engine and Cruising Specifications
Auxiliary power comes from a 63-horsepower diesel—either a Westerbeke or a Yanmar—driving directly. Fuel capacity is 70 gallons.
With a length-to-beam ratio of 3.22 and a comfort ratio of 30.03, the 4600 balances cruising stowage and steadiness against the performance bias Jackett built into the hull.
Verdict
The Tartan 4600 is a Jackett-era cruiser-racer that trades absolute light-air pace for interior volume, steadiness, and a useful choice of keels. Its three keel configurations make the design suitable for both deep- and shallow-water cruising grounds, while its accommodations provide more room than most comparable boats.
It isn’t a featherweight flyer, but its numbers describe a capable, well-mannered 46-footer.
Pros
- Three keel options—fin, bulb-fin, and stub/centreboard—suit different cruising depths
- Interior is more spacious than those of 73 percent of comparable designs
- Steady motion-comfort and capsize-screening figures provide offshore confidence
- 63 hp diesel and 70-gallon fuel capacity support serious cruising range
Cons
- Slightly underrigged compared with its peers, with a modest light-wind speed ranking
- Deep fin-keel draft of nearly 9 feet limits marina access unless one of the shoaler options is chosen
