Blue(ish) water Tartans?

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vtsailguy

vtsailguy

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Aug 3, 2010
88
Oday 28 Malletts Bay, Lake Champlain
Hi all,
I couldn't see a Tartan forum so I thought I'd post in all sailors about a boat specific question.

I am looking at buying a tartan T34c, early 70's that's in very nice condition. Right now I am lake sailing but am looking ahead to getting a boat that I'd be able to take down to the Caribbean in a few years.
I have seen lots of references to Tartans being quite good blue water boats, but it seems (to me) unclear which models are being referred to. Was the T34C a strong off shore boat? It seems odd to have a centerboard for offshore sailing.
 
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FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,238
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
vtsailguy said:
Hi all,
I couldn't see a Tartan forum so I thought I'd post in all sailors about a boat specific question.

I am looking at buying a tartan T34c, early 70's that's in very nice condition. Right now I am lake sailing but am looking ahead to getting a boat that I'd be able to take down to the Caribbean in a few years.
I have seen lots of references to Tartans being quite good blue water boats, but it seems (to me) unclear which models are being referred to. Was the T34C a strong off shore boat? It seems odd to have a centerboard for offshore sailing.
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Given that the Tartans have always been built strongly to good designs, and given that the Tartan 37 is a well-proven offshore racer and cruiser for many decades - most were centerboard models - my guess is that it would be just fine.
Only caveat, and that applies to any make of boat with some decades of use on it, is that CB systems need maintenance just like all the other systems on a boat.
So, it really depends on the survey.
 
vtsailguy

vtsailguy

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Aug 3, 2010
88
Oday 28 Malletts Bay, Lake Champlain
Right, caveats etc etc


I didn't realize the 37 was a centerboard too......
 
S

Sanfelice

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Jan 21, 2009
260
Catalina 30 Lake Perry, KS
The hull etc. is OK for blue water. I recall reading somewhere that many owners beefed up the rigging and added a baby stay. Try googling that.
 
WayneH

WayneH

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Jan 22, 2008
1,121
Tartan 37 287 Pensacola, FL
Yeah, the T34 was on my list of upgrade boats BUT the admiral declared that she didn't want an engine in the middle of HER salon. So we got a T37, instead. :)

You didn't find a forum here because the T34 group already has a website.
http://t34classic.org/ The original website which has been superseded by

http://tartan34classic.org/
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,736
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
The Caribbean has been a destination of a lot of boats not as well founded as a Tartan. CB would not be a big deal to me, and in fact would be a plus as you will gain access to a lot of anchorages off limits to deeper draft boats.
 
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