Tartan Fantail 26 Buyer's Guide
The Tartan Fantail 26 on the used market is a 2011-onward Tim Jackett design built by Tartan Yachts as a 26-foot daysailer series in three versions — Daysailer, Weekender, and Self-Trainer — all sharing the same hull, cockpit, and sailplan. A buyer is really choosing a trim and accommodation level rather than a different boat, which keeps the used fleet mechanically consistent and easy to compare.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Daysailer carries flush deck and cuddy cabin with teak topside trim and sitting headroom below, while the Weekender adds a cabin house and foredeck for more headroom, a 6' 5" V-berth, alcohol stove, sink, and a real head with holding tank. The Self-Trainer omits brightwork and some comforts for sailing-school duty. Because the hull, cockpit dimensions, and sailplan are identical across all three, a used-boat inspection should focus on version-specific wear: teak on the DS, cabin-house seals on the WE, and institutional abrasion on the ST.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Commonly fitted equipment on the used fleet includes a self-tacking jib, an autopilot, and a short-handed setup that keeps all sail controls in the cockpit. For a buyer, the self-tacking jib means easy upwind work without a crewmate on the foredeck, and the autopilot extends singlehanded range at anchor or on a lazy reach. Tartan's own options worth noting are a wind generator or solar panels for the 24-volt and 12-volt systems, and a double-axle trailer that makes the 8-foot-5-inch beam boat simple to haul. A carbon-fibre single-spreader mast and laminate sails were listed performance options, meaning a few used boats may carry factory race-oriented rigs.
What to Inspect
The Fantail's epoxy-infused balsa-core hull and deck are covered by Tartan's 15-year structural nonblistering warranty anchor, so confirm transferability and remaining term on any used example. Check the opening aft-deck well that houses the Torqeedo Cruise 2.0 electric outboard for water intrusion and seal condition anchor, and verify the 24-volt lithium-ion battery and separate 12-volt house bank charge correctly through the built-in GPS controller panel anchor. The retractable carbon sprit and furler for the asymmetric spinnaker should be cycled to confirm smooth deployment. Inspect the studs near the balance point used for gin-pole haulout anchor if the boat has been yard-stored.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The Fantail 26 is typically found on the market in the United States. For a shopper, the takeaway is straightforward:
- Pick the version by intended use — DS for day fun, WE for weekends, ST for bare training hull
- Verify the electric drive battery health and well seals before purchase
- Confirm the structural warranty status and look for factory carbon or laminate upgrades
- Prefer boats with the commonly fitted self-tacking jib and autopilot for shorthanded ease
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Tartan Fantail 26. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | 1 | $125,000 | — |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $109,000 | -12.8% |
| May 26 | 3 | $119,000 | +9.2% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $109,000 | -8.4% |
Where they're listed
Tartan Fantail 26 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 5.
Country view
5 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $119,000 | 5 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornish Crabbers 26 | 26.21' | $ 98,541 | 12 | 3 |
| Tartan Fantail 26You are here | — | $ 119,000 | 6 | 1 |