Over this winter, Tartan Yachts in Ohio, which celebrated its 60th year in business this year, was bought by Seattle Northwest Yachts and began a new life under this well financed and well managed dealership. Despite the fact that sailboat building in the United States has been a precarious business since the Great Recession, Tartan’s future looks brighter than it has in many years. Tartan still builds attractive, sensible cruising boats that are extremely well built and fitted out with heirloom-quality joinery. It is not unreasonable to think that if you bought a new Tartan today, your grandkids could be sailing it in 50 years.
The new Tartan 365 is the latest Tim Jackett design to join the Tartan fleet. Not so long ago, 36 feet was considered the ideal size for a couple or a young family who want ease of handling and comfortable accommodations in a relatively affordable package. The Sabre 36 is the boat that launched that company and the Catalina 36 was a mainstay for Catalina for 25 years. The new Tartan 365 fits right into that sweet spot.
The boat was designed for superior sailing performance. The hull is narrower than her sister ships and it has a very long waterline and a tall rig. The infused hull is immensely strong but still, at 13,160 pounds of displacement, it is quite light. It has a displacement-to-length ratio of 164, which indicates it will be slippery and quick. The sail area-to-displacement ratio for the full main and fractional, self-tacking jib is 20.8, which puts it into the performance-cruiser category and with the 150% reacher rolled out that ratio goes of to 29.6 or warp-speed mode.
The 365 has a modern but still Tartan-yachts look with a fairly plumb bow, an attractive curve to the sheerline and a forward raking transom. The cabin has a fairly low profile and fits neatly onto the hull.
The cockpit has twin wheels on low pedestals and a fold-down transom that makes a good swim platform. The cockpit table has folding leaves and will seat four comfortably for al fresco meals. The mainsheet runs to a traveler on the cabin top so it is out of the cockpit and all sail control lines run to line stoppers and winches on either side of the companionway. Reacher and spinnaker sheets run to primary winches beside both helms. The 365 will be easy to sail singlehanded which is often the way couples handle their boats so one can be in the cockpit while the other tackles other boat jobs (or reads a good book).
One of the qualities that sets a Tartan apart from the fleet of volume production boats is the fit and finish of their yachts. The moldings for the hulls and decks are impeccable and stand up to the ravages of weather incredibly well. The interior joinery is maple or walnut and built with solid wood trim and raised panel doors and cabinet fronts. When you step below, you know you are on a proper yacht.
The 365’s layout has a V-berth in the fore peak and a large double berth in the starboard quarter cabin. The head is to port and, surprisingly, has quite a large shower stall. The galley has a two-burner stove and oven, drawer-style fridge and freezer and an acre of counter space. The sink is on the boat’s centerline so it will always drain freely even when heeled over. The saloon table has folding leaves and will seat six for meals. The bench settees are long and wide enough to serve as bunks for an overflow of crew.
With three overhead hatches and eight opening ports, the interior will have plenty of natural light that will add to the warmth and ambience, plus, the cabins all will have ample ventilation. As in all Jackett designs, the interior has interesting and innovative shapes to the benches, tables and counters so you know at once you are on a Tartan and aboard something special.
With a new start under new management, the new 365 will be a great addition to the cruising fleet and will set the stage for Tartan’s future as one of America’s premier sailboat builders. Read more here.