Tartan 4600 Buyer's Guide
The Tartan 4600 is a 46-foot Tim Jackett design built by Tartan Marine in the United States from 1990 through 2001, a solid-fiberglass performance cruiser offered with three keel choices. For a buyer scanning the brokerage market, the key is matching keel configuration and installed equipment to intended cruising, since the same model spans deep-draft and shallow-draft versions.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every 4600 shares the same Jackett deck mold and interior plan: two cabins, 4+2 berths, a galley, and a head, with 150 gallons of water and about 48 gallons of waste capacity. The meaningful difference is underbody. The fin-keel version draws near 9 feet and suits deep-water sailors; the fin-with-bulb holds about 5.5 to 5.8 feet; the stub/centreboard sits at roughly 4.8 to 5.1 feet and reaches shallow marinas. A shoal keel alone does not make a boat a coastal weekender — but on the 4600 it determines where you can dock without a travel lift.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats on the market carry a practical cruising kit. Climate control and power systems are commonly fitted: air conditioning, an inverter, and electric winches reduce crew workload and extend cabin comfort. Navigation and safety gear typically includes radar, chartplotter, autopilot, AIS, and a life raft. Canvas is well represented with bimini, dodger, and cockpit shower. Often-seen additions lean toward self-sufficiency — solar, a freezer, hot water, a swim platform, a bow thruster, teak decks, and a spinnaker. A furling main is common, simplifying short-handed sail handling. For a buyer, the electric winches and bow thruster signal an easier-to-singlehand vessel; solar and freezer point to off-grid intent.
What to Inspect
The 4600 is a 1990s solid-fiberglass Tartan. Inspection should follow normal pre-purchase practice for this era: keel-bolt integrity specific to the chosen underbody, engine service history for the Westerbeke or Yanmar diesel, and confirmation of the stated keel draft against the hull number.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The 4600 appears in the United States market. For a shopper, the short checklist is: confirm which of the three keels is fitted and whether it matches your cruising grounds; verify the diesel is the 63 hp Westerbeke or Yanmar with documented service; check that commonly fitted gear (inverter, electric winches, autopilot, AIS) is present and functional; and inspect teak decks or bow thruster if fitted, as often-seen upgrades carry their own maintenance. A well-equipped shoal-keel example makes a roomy, steady coastal and offshore cruiser.
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 15.
Country view
15 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $224,900 | 15 | 2 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tartan 3700 | 37' | $ 159,700 | 52 | 17 |
| Hylas 46 | 46.25' | $ 420,000 | 48 | 8 |
| Tartan 4100 | 41.25' | $ 169,500 | 30 | 6 |
| Swan 46 | 47.08' | $ 147,199 | 24 | 6 |
| Tartan 4300 | 43.08' | $ 362,500 | 18 | 7 |
| Tartan 4600You are here | — | $ 224,900 | 16 | 3 |
| Tartan 4400 | 45' | $ 349,000 | 14 | 4 |
| J Boats J/46 | 46' | $ 287,000 | 10 | 2 |
| Peterson 46 | 45' | $ 69,900 | 10 | 5 |
| Tartan 3800 | 38' | $ 129,000 | 10 | 4 |
| Moody 46 | 46.13' | $ 262,911 | 6 | 2 |