Tartan 27
Built 1961–1980 by Tartan Marine
About the Tartan 27
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1961–1980
- Builder
- Tartan Marine
- Designer
- Sparkman & Stephens
- Length
- 27 ft
- Waterline
- 21.42 ft
- Beam
- 8.62 ft
- Draft
- 3.17 ft
- Ballast
- 2,400 lb
- Hull / keel
- centerboard
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 20 gal
- Water
- 30 gal
- Number built
- 712
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- tiller
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 20 gal
No builder source was found; only Wikipedia and its copies, drawing on a spec database, give 20 gal. Practical Sailor notes that several different fuel tanks were fitted over the production run (most boats have the gasoline Atomic 4), so 20 gal may not apply to every boat.
-
Water 30 gal
Only Wikipedia and its copies, drawing on a spec database, give 30 gal.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster unknown
No source mentions a bow thruster.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Nothing was found either way; our earlier figure of none has no source.
-
Steering tiller
“Tiller steering was standard on T27s.” — review, goodoldboat.com · “In the words of the Tartan 27 Handbook, "Perhaps the weakest point on the Tartan 27 is the tiller head fitting."” — review, practical-sailor.comA tiller was standard (Good Old Boat), confirmed by Practical Sailor citing the owners' Tartan 27 Handbook on the tiller-head fitting as the weak point. No wheel option was found.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on displacement — left blank rather than guessed.
Production began in 1961 (early boats built by Douglass & McLeod; W.D. Schock built 25 under license 1965-68). Practical Sailor gives 712 built, none in 1972 due to a factory fire. Ballast was changed from external to encapsulated in the mid-1960s (sailboatdata says 1967, PS says 1966). A 1977-79 update (about 64-65 boats, sometimes called the 27-2) raised the sheer and redesigned the deck and interior. Keel/centerboard: 3.17 ft board up, 6.33 ft down. Displacement is disputed (see disputed). Atomic 4 fitted to about 85% of boats; Farymann 12 hp diesel offered from about 1975. Yawl rig was available. Deck is balsa-cored; hull coring not mentioned by sources. Hull material (solid vs cored) not stated by sources read; deck is balsa-cored.
Engines fitted
-
Atomic 4 (Universal) — 30 hp, gas, single
standard
Wikipedia: Universal Atomic 4 gas inboard of 30 hp. Single source.Sources: en.wikipedia.org
- Atomic 4 (Universal) — gas standard
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Known problems for this model
-
Balsa deck delamination at chainplates deck
The most-cited problem is water getting into the balsa-cored deck, especially around poorly bedded chainplates; it is hard to repair once widespread.practical-sailor.com
-
Rotted wood under mast step hull
Many boats have wooden supports under the mast step that rot from partner leaks and can let the step collapse; nearby bulkheads can also be water-damaged.practical-sailor.com
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Centerboard pivot wear and pennant chafe hull
The glass-encapsulated steel board can wear at the pivot and hang only on its pennant, and the pennant can chafe through its tube, weakening the wire and causing a leak.practical-sailor.com
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Rudder post wear and tiller head fitting steering
There is no bearing between rudder post and tube, so wear causes slop and noise; the tiller head fitting can wear or crack.practical-sailor.com
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Leaking fuel tanks fuel
Various fuel tanks were fitted over the years and some leak, which is serious on a gasoline boat.practical-sailor.com
2 more
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Aging Atomic 4 / costly Farymann parts engine
Check Atomic 4s for low compression, leaks, electrical corrosion and cracked mounts; the Farymann diesel is dependable but parts are expensive and its vibration loosens mounts and fittings.practical-sailor.com
-
Outward hull-deck flange and rubrail damage deck
The outward-turned hull-deck flange is harder to repair if damaged and the teak rubrail breaks often, though the joint rarely leaks.practical-sailor.com
Engines & parts
Universal Atomic 4 parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Atomic 4 (Universal)”
Tens of thousands were built (sources say from 40,000 to 50,000). Despite being out of production for decades, the engine is well supported: Moyer Marine sells parts, rebuilt engines, fuel pump rebuilds and exhaust parts, and hosts an owners' forum; Old Lyme Marina and others also supply parts, and electronic ignition upgrades are available.
Parts sources: Moyer Marine
Common problems (3)
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Raw-water cooling scale and corrosion cooling
Most Atomic 4s are raw-water cooled, so the block scales up and corrodes, especially in salt water; cranking without starting can also flood the engine with seawater through the exhaust.goodoldboat.com · moyermarineforum.com · keelindex.com
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Gasoline vapor fire/explosion risk fuel
Gasoline vapor is heavier than air and settles in the bilge, so ventilation, blower use and shutting the fuel valve (a stuck carburetor float can overflow) matter.goodoldboat.com
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Ignition and fuel system faults electrical
Points, condenser, cap and wires, plus gummed carburetors and contaminated fuel, are the most common reasons an Atomic 4 won't run well.keelindex.com · goodoldboat.com
Maker’s service schedule (9)
| Engine oil & filter change | 50 hrs | “3. FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Using sump pump, remove all oil from crankcase. Refill with a good grade oil as specified in Tabl” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 50 hrs | “e. Clean fuel pump strainer.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Heat exchanger & oil cooler cleaning | 50 hrs | “b. Inspect oil cooler and remove any accumulation of grit or dirt.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Clean flame arrestor | 100 hrs | “b. Inspect flame arrestor to be sure air passages are clean and free from oil. If dirty remove and wash with kerosene.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Check clutch (reverse gear) adjustment | 100 hrs | “4. ONE HUNDRED HOUR CHECK ... c. Check adjustment of clutch.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Valve clearance check / adjust | 150 hrs or 1 yr | “5. ONE HUNDRED FIFTY HOUR CHECK a. Check valve tappet adjustment.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plugs inspect / replace | 150 hrs | “b. Remove, clean, and reset spark plugs.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Transmission fluid change Universal V-drive unit (V-drive installations only; the standard reverse gear shares engine oil) | 500 hrs | “(2) After the first 50 hours of operation, drain unit and refill ... (3) Change lubricant every 500 hours of operation.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Complete overhaul | 3,000 hrs | “At the end of three thousand hours of operation the engine should be completely overhauled.” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
Service part numbers (8)
| Oil filter optional add-on oil filter (not standard equipment) |
Universal 276236 | “2 Element or Cartridge 1 276236 (Oil Group, Oil Filter, Not Standard Equipment)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Raw-water impeller Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 replacement raw-water pump (Universal pump 295625) |
Oberdorfer 6593 | “5 Impeller 6593 6593 6593 6593 6593 1 (N202M, N202M-03, N202M-07 parts list)” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Impeller : Catalog # 6593, Impeller” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Raw-water pump kit Oberdorfer N202M-03 / N202M-07 raw-water pump |
Oberdorfer 10725 | “REPAIR KIT N202M N202M-03 N202M-07 10725” — manufacturer, pumpsandpartsonline.com · “Catalog # 10725, Repair Kit, includes O-Ring, Snap Ring, Impeller, 2 x Lip Seal” — dealer, pumpagents.com |
| Drive belt alternator belt (Prestolite and Motorola alternators) |
Universal 239387 | “19 Belt 1 239387 (12 Volt - Motorola 51 Amp Alternator)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Spark plug | Universal 273276 × 4 | “8 Spark plugs, champion 4 273276” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat late style, from 1967 / serial #79476 (Holley 145 F, on cylinder head) |
Universal 200206 | “12 Thermostat Kit 1 200206 consists of 262278 and 261601” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Thermostat Dole type, before serial #79476 (on manifold) |
Universal 200207 | “13 Kit, Thermostat (consists of 275965 & 261144) 1 200207” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
| Zinc / anode fresh-water-cooled engines only (Universal heat-exchanger kit) |
Universal 299760 | “23 zinc pencil 1 299760 (Cooling, Fresh Water System, after serial #79476)” — manufacturer, westerbeke.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Sources disagree on first year, last year, number built — left blank rather than guessed.
Model sources (4)
sailboatdata.com · practical-sailor.com · en.wikipedia.org · goodoldboat.com
Other Tartan models
- Tartan 30
- Tartan 34C 1968–1978
- Tartan 3500 ?–2005
- Tartan 37 (S&S) 1976–1988
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.