Tartan 4600 Buyer's Guide
The Tartan 4600 is a Tim Jackett-designed 46-foot performance cruiser built by Tartan Marine in the United States from 1990 to 2001, offered on the used market in three keel configurations that dictate where a given boat can berth. Shopping the brokerage fleet means weighing the deep fin keel against the bulb and centreboard versions, and noting which of the two diesel options a particular boat carries.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 4600 was built with two cabins and 4+2 berths, a galley, and a toilet facility, plus a 150-gallon fresh-water tank and 182-liter waste-water capacity. Keel choice defines the practical layout of the boat's draft rather than its interior: the fin keel draws 8.89 to 9.19 feet and enters only major marinas, the fin-with-bulb draws 5.51 to 5.81 feet, and the stub/centreboard draws 4.79 to 5.09 feet for shallow access. A used buyer should match keel to intended cruising depth before considering anything else.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used Tartan 4600s commonly carry a bimini, dodger, cockpit shower, air conditioning, inverter, electric winches, radar, chartplotter, autopilot, furling main, AIS, and life raft, with refrigeration-level gear such as a freezer and hot water often seen. Solar, a swim platform, spinnaker, bow thruster, and teak decks are also often seen rather than universal. The auxiliary was either a Westerbeke or Yanmar diesel at 63 horsepower, and the rigging schedule shows 42.1-meter halyards at 14 mm and a 35.2-meter mainsheet at 16 mm for those planning running-rigage renewals.
What to Inspect
The surveyed authority material records no structural defects, flooding paths, or systemic failures for the Tartan 4600. The only documented variables a survey should confirm are the keel type and its loaded draft, and which diesel engine make is installed, since auxiliary power was provided by either a Westerbeke or Yanmar diesel engine with 63 horsepower. Verify the keel-to-hull joint corresponding to the declared option and confirm the engine spares path before purchase.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical market for the Tartan 4600 is the United States. A used-boat checklist: confirm keel type and real-world draft; identify Westerbeke vs Yanmar for spares; check the 150-gallon water and 70-gallon fuel capacity against tank condition; review the masthead rig's halyard and sheet dimensions if renewing gear; and match fitted equipment tier (commonly fitted vs often seen) to your own cruising needs.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Tartan 4600. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 9 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25 | 2 | $ 192,450 | — |
| Aug 25 | 2 | $ 165,000 | -14.3% |
| Sep 25 | 2 | $ 182,450 | +10.6% |
| Nov 25 | 2 | $ 224,900 | +23.3% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $ 165,000 | -26.6% |
| Feb 26 | 2 | $ 224,900 | +36.3% |
| Apr 26 | 3 | $ 199,900 | -11.1% |
| May 26 | 3 | $ 199,900 | 0.0% |
| Jul 26 | 3 | $ 224,900 | +12.5% |
Where they're listed
Tartan 4600 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 14.
Country view
14 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $ 212,400 | 14 | 3 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hylas 46 | 46.25' | $ 420,000 | 57 | 19 |
| Tartan 3700 | 37' | $ 159,900 | 44 | 13 |
| Tartan 4100 | 41.25' | $ 169,500 | 35 | 10 |
| Swan 46 | 47.08' | $ 150,000 | 24 | 3 |
| Tartan 4600You are here | — | $ 212,400 | 18 | 7 |
| Tartan 4300 | 43.08' | $ 375,000 | 15 | 5 |
| Tartan 4400 | 45' | $ 349,000 | 14 | 7 |
| J Boats J/46 | 46' | $ 287,000 | 10 | 1 |
| Peterson 46 | 45' | $ 69,900 | 10 | 4 |
| Tartan 3800 | 38' | $ 129,000 | 10 | 5 |
| Moody 46 | 46.13' | $ 256,990 | 6 | 1 |