Design and Construction
The 4700's hull is an infused epoxy foam-cored laminate finished in a clear gelcoat that lets the structure be inspected for flaws, and the owner may choose the topside color from the paint shed. Above the waterline, the deck is a balsa-cored fiberglass-and-epoxy sandwich with solid aluminum plates embedded wherever hardware mounts, so fasteners are drilled and tapped into metal rather than bare core. A raised cabin house with oversize ports gives the interior panoramic light, and the massive bridgedeck that runs far fore and aft does a formidable job of keeping water from reaching the cabin below — a feature that reads as bluewater intent rather than cosmetic styling.
Rig and Handling
The boat sports what Tartan calls its Cruise Control Rig: a carbon-fiber mast, a sail-handling-friendly carbon pocket boom, and twin headsails set up solent style, with a self-tending hydraulically furled jib. Stays anchor next to the cabin top, giving tight sheeting angles and a clear path forward along the wide side decks. Edson rack-and-pinion steering at the oversize helm proved butter smooth in testing, and the boat tacked through slightly less than 90 degrees. Writing in Cruising World, the reviewer sailed her to windward through a mild chop on Biscayne Bay at 7 knots in 12 to 17 knots of true wind, while a separate sea trial closehauled her at 6.5 to 7.2 knots and reaching at 7.4. In stronger air, testers found she tracked well and came about without hesitation in over 20 knots, punching 8-plus knots on a close reach and shrugging off gusts even when the main was eased too slowly out of a gybe. Under power, the standard 75 hp Volvo with saildrive (a 110 hp Yanmar with three-blade folding Gori prop was fitted to the test boat) delivered 6.8 knots at 2,700 rpm and 7.8 at 3,200.
Accommodations
Below, cherry hardwood and paneling abound. The main saloon wraps a drop-leaf table with an L-shaped couch to port and a generously proportioned nav station and desk to starboard, beneath huge windows for watching weather. The companionway steps are sized for sound footing and the narrow passage down should stay secure in any sea, though one tester noted a lack of headroom under the hatch at the last step. The galley sits a step down and tucked against the forward bulkhead with deep storage, while a starboard cabin with bunk beds can instead be spec'd as a pantry or office. Forward, the owner's cabin holds a centerline island queen with ample stowage and a roomy shower; a third cabin all the way aft also has a queen, though a tester found the headroom above it cramped and an intrusive box covering the steering gear intrudes above the starboard pillow.
Cockpit and Deck
The aft cockpit is configured for sailing first and lounging second, with long bench seats correctly proportioned for stretching out, high coamings for back support, and a fold-down teak table for dining. A teak sole proved easy on the eyes and sure underfoot. The enclosable cockpit protects the crew from the elements as a bluewater boat should, and a small hinged swim platform set in the slightly reversed transom — incorporated into the stern pulpit tubing — eases boarding.
Known Issues
The galley's forward position, while spacious, makes serving guests or watch-standers in the cockpit difficult, and its distance from the companionway leaves it poor on natural ventilation. The massive bridgedeck, effective as it is at shedding water, extends so far that testers found companionway access tough with the dodger deployed. Seated visibility straight ahead is limited by the raised cabin top, and the aft cabin's steering-gear box is a genuine intrusion.
The Verdict
The Tartan 4700 is a boat that is both beautiful and easy on its crew, a solid offshore-capable cruiser with a thoughtfully engineered deck structure and a rig that makes short-handed sailing plausible. Jackett's design balances volume and performance, though a few layout compromises — galley isolation and bridgedeck bulk — temper the liveaboard ideal.
Pros
- Infused epoxy foam hull with inspectable clear gelcoat and aluminum-plated deck core
- Solent-rigged carbon rig with self-tending furled jib for manageable handling
- Strong light-air and gust performance with sure-footed tracking
- Bright raised saloon with private fore and aft staterooms and en suite heads
Cons
- Galley far from cockpit hurts serving and ventilation
- Bridgedeck complicates companionway access under dodger
- Aft-cabin headroom cramped with steering box intrusion
- Limited forward visibility seated behind cabin house
