Tartan 37

[liquidaddiction]

Hi All. I am scratching my head and wondering about buying a Tartan 37. I currently have an Alberg 30 which I am totally in love with, but I am now two on board, and as a liveaboard I find the Alberg a little too intimate (particularly when the in-laws are in town). Sailing quality is enormously important, so I'd love to hear any testimonials people can offer me. Centreboards are new territory for me. But the boat looks good and perhaps I just need to hear some good stories to tip me over the edge. I'll be living aboard in Brisbane for a few years while I'm studying, then cruising around Melanesia and SE Asia.

Cheers,
David.

[roverhi]

One made a circumnavigation and was written up in a book. IIRC, they did it without the center board installed. Tartan and S&S are a very good pedigree for any boat from the US. Boat may have a balsa core hull. A survey by a well qualified surveyor would be a good investment. Coring in itself has lots of advantages but you have to be assured of the integrity of the sandwich. Not aboslutely certain that the hull is cored, just know that they did build some boats with cored hulls. I seriously thought of buying one but saw no easy way to get rid of the wheel as the rudder shaft comes up in the lazarette. I won't own another boat with a wheel, abominations.

[liquidaddiction]

Cheers Roverhi. Yur comment on the wheel is astute. I am not keen on wheels either, and this is certainly a stumbling block in the Tartan. I am under the impression this hull is not cored. It is hull number 9, and so early in the class' production. I have followed a thread on this forum which suggests some hulls may not be cored. At any rate they all seem to have held up well. My main concern about the boat is whether it will be enjoyable to sail. It's a sacrifice so often made as yachts get bigger. But I will wait for those better qualified than myself to comment.

D

[liquidaddiction]

Another query: has anyone had problems with the sheeting position being so far forward on the boom? It's not a feature I admire.