Tartan 3500
Built ?–2005 by Tartan Marine
About the Tartan 3500
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- ?–2005
- Builder
- Tartan Marine
- Designer
- Tim Jackett
- Length
- 35.17 ft
- Beam
- 11.75 ft
- Draft
- 6.5 ft
- Ballast
- 4,200 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass-cored
- Hull / keel
- fin keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 25 gal
- Water
- 72 gal
- Number built
- 152
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- varies by year
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 25 gal
“The aluminum fuel tank holds 25 gallons” — review, sailingmagazine.netNo builder source was found; Sailing Magazine agrees with our earlier figure of 25 gal.
-
Water 72 gal
Only a spec database gives a figure, 72 gal; a SpinSheet magazine review and a sale listing couldn't be checked.
-
Water heater unknown
Sailing Magazine and SpinSheet used-boat reviews don't mention a water heater.
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 varies by year
“Earlier 3500s had cable-to-quadrant-style steering with later models using a Whitlock tie rod system.” — search excerpt, spinsheet.comWheel steering throughout: early boats have pedestal chain and cable to a quadrant, later boats a Whitlock rod and tie-rod system (listed here as rack and pinion). The change year isn't given, and the only source found is one secondary article (SpinSheet); production ran 1991/93-2005.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on first year, displacement, waterline — left blank rather than guessed.
Hull is partly balsa-cored (Baltek) with solid glass at the deck flange, through-hulls, chainplates and keel attachment, plus a vinylester skin coat and a five-year blister warranty. Deck is balsa-cored; hull-deck joint uses stainless fasteners tapped into aluminum plates molded into the hull flange. External keel on stainless bolts; 3-inch stainless rudder stock. Shoal 'beaver tail' keel option: 4.83 ft draft, 13,200 lb, 4,900 lb ballast. Sailing Magazine: 152 built, retired 2005; start year, displacement and LWL are disputed (see disputed). 25-gal aluminum fuel tank. Good engine access under the companionway.
Engines fitted
-
Yanmar 3GM30F — 27 hp, diesel, single
standard
Installed in a box under the companionway steps.Sources: sailboatdata.com · listingsport.com
Known problems for this model
-
Moisture in balsa deck core at fittings deck
A surveyor found elevated moisture in the balsa deck core around several fittings on a three-year-old boat, suggesting hardware bedding was less careful than hull penetrations.spinsheet.com
-
Quality-control detail lapses other
The reviewer felt attention to detail on newer Tartans had slipped compared with the builder's earlier standard, though construction remained sound overall.spinsheet.com
Engines & parts
Yanmar 3GM / 3GM30F parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Yanmar 3GM30F”
Very popular (used 3GM30Fs sell for $3,000+) and supported by a strong parts network. Cylinder head overhauls (valve seals, lapping, injector service) are a common, parts-supported repair.
Parts sources: Mack Boring & Parts (Yanmar distributor), HDI Marine (stainless exhaust elbows), Parts4Engines
Common problems (2)
-
Overheating at cruise rpm cooling
The 3GM30F has a known overheating tendency linked to its heat exchanger; owners also trace it to coked elbows, worn impellers, scaled heat exchangers or air in the raw water circuit. Some heat exchangers were replaced under warranty.forums.sailboatowners.com
-
Mixing elbow corrosion exhaust
OEM elbows corrode internally and should be inspected or replaced with stainless versions before they let water into the engine.practical-sailor.com · facebook.com
Maker’s service schedule (2)
| Fuel filters & water separator | 250 hrs | “The normal replacement interval for the element is 250 hours ... Filter cleaning First time 50 hours Filter element repl” — manufacturer, c320.org |
| Air filter / intake silencer | 250 hrs | “Washing period Every 250 hours” — manufacturer, c320.org |
Service part numbers (10)
| Oil filter | Yanmar 119305-35170 Replaces 119305-35151, 119660-35150 |
“3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 119305-35170 1 FILTER ASSY, D68XL65” — dealer, oldportmarine.com · “Maintenance kit Yanmar 2GMF, 2GM20F, 3GMF, 3GM30F ... Yanmar 119305-35170 Oil Filter” — dealer, marinedustrie.com |
| Fuel filter | Yanmar 104500-55710 | “Fuel Filter Element 1 104500-55710 / Fuel Filter O-Ring 1 24341-000440” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 104500-55710 1 ELEMENT, FUEL FILTER” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller Japan-built 3GM / 3GM30(F) (serial not starting with E) |
Yanmar 124223-42092 | “Impeller 1 124223-42092 / Impeller Gasket 1 124223-42110” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 124223-42092 1 IMPELLER, PUMP” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller European-built GM-YEU (serial starting with E) |
Yanmar 128990-42570 Replaces 128990-42200 |
“(Supersedes part number: 128990-42200) ... 3GM30-YEU, 3GM30C-YEU 3GM30F-YEU, 3GM30FC-YEU” — dealer, palmerpower.com · “It fits Yanmar 2GM20F, 2YM15, 3GM30F, 3GM30FC, 3TN30F, 3YM20, 3YM30, 3YM30AE engines. Cross Reference: 128990-42200” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com |
| Drive belt | Yanmar 25132-003700 | “Alternator Belt 1 25132-003700” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 25132-003700 1 V-BELT, A37” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Drive belt | Yanmar 104511-78780 | “S/W Pump Belt 1 104511-78780” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 104511-78780 1 V-BELT, M/19” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Air filter | Yanmar 128270-12540 | “Air Filter Element 1 128270-12540” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 128270-12540 1 ELEMENT, AIR CLEANER” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Zinc / anode raw-water 3GM / 3GM30; also sold for the F (heat-exchanger) versions |
Yanmar 27210-200300 | “27210-200300 Yanmar Engine Zinc Anode For 2GM(D), 3GM(D), 2GM20, 3GM30” — dealer, zincsforboats.com · “It fits Yanmar 2GM, 2GM20F, 2GM15, 2GM20, 3GM30F, 3GMF, 3HMF, 3GM30H engines.” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com |
| Thermostat 3GM30F / 3GMF (fresh-water cooled) |
Yanmar 121750-49800 | “Thermostat 1 121750-49800 / Thermostat Gasket 1 129350-49541” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “Thermostat for Yanmar 2GMF, 3GMF, 3HMF, 2GM20F, 3GM30F, 3HM35F / REC121750-49800” — dealer, marineparts.eu |
| Thermostat 3GM / 3GM30 (raw-water cooled) |
Yanmar 105582-49200 | “Replaces Yanmar Marine 105582-49200 ... 1GM, 2GM, 3GM, 1GM10, 2GM20, 3GM30” — dealer, repowermarine.com · “1GM10, 2GM20 & 3GM30 Thermostat to fit raw water cooled engine versions ... equivalent to 105582-49200” — dealer, parts4engines.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.
Model sources (6)
sailboatdata.com · spinsheet.com · sailingmagazine.net · goodoldboat.com · cruisersforum.com · listingsport.com
Other Tartan models
- Tartan 27 1961–1980
- Tartan 30
- Tartan 34C 1968–1978
- Tartan 37 (S&S) 1976–1988
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.