The Tartan 3500 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with acceptable motion comfort for coastal passages, and respectable in club racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 30.0′, the Tartan 3500 tops out around 7.3 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √30.0′ LWL = 7.3 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
117s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
SA / Displacement
19.6
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
39.5%
Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.
Displacement / Length
188
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
21.0
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Capsize Screening
2.09
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
1lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
21.0
Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
2.09
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Tartan 3500 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Tartan 3500
117s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
Island Packet 35
180s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
3.1 |
4.0 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.8 |
4.8 |
5.4 |
5.6 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.7 |
5.9 |
6.6 |
7.1 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.3 |
5.4 |
6.1 |
6.6 |
| Run150–180° |
3.4 |
4.4 |
4.9 |
5.1 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.3 kts),
SA/D (19.6), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Tartan 3500 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–18 kts
18–26 kts
26+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–26 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
26+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Tartan 3500.
|
Tartan 3500 |
Bavaria 350 |
Island Packet 35 |
Niagara 35 Encore |
S2 35 |
X 362 Classic |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
35.2 |
35.3 |
35.3 |
35.1 |
35.2 |
35.1 |
| LWL |
30.0 |
29.9 |
30.0 |
26.7 |
28.3 |
30.4 |
| Beam |
11.8 |
11.8 |
12.0 |
11.4 |
11.5 |
11.4 |
| Displacement |
11 |
11 |
17 |
14 |
13 |
12 |
| Ballast |
4 |
3 |
8 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
| Sail Area |
618 |
510 |
640 |
598 |
596 |
665 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
117 |
— |
180 |
— |
— |
— |
| SA/Disp |
19.6 |
16.5 |
15.3 |
16.5 |
17.1 |
20.0 |
| Bal/Disp |
39.5 |
36.0 |
45.7 |
— |
— |
— |
| Comfort |
21.0 |
20.1 |
31.3 |
28.9 |
26.2 |
23.4 |
| Capsize |
2.09 |
2.13 |
1.85 |
1.90 |
1.94 |
1.98 |
| Hull Speed |
7.3 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
6.9 |
7.1 |
7.4 |