Tartan Marine (USA)

Tartan Marine, founded in 1960 in Grand River, Ohio, by Charles Britton, quickly became a benchmark for American performance cruising sailboats, blending Sparkman & Stephens elegance with rugged Great Lakes build quality. Starting with the iconic Tartan 27 (600+ built), the company produced ~6,000 hulls through the 1980s, including the Tartan 34 (C • Cruising World Boat of the Year), Tartan 10 (largest U.S. one-design keelboat class), and Tartan 37—a bluewater favorite with 400+ circumnavigations. Known for hand-laid fiberglass, balsa-cored decks, and teak interiors, Tartan emphasized moderate displacement, balanced helm, and offshore capability. In 1998, longtime designer Tim Jackett acquired the brand, relocating to Painesville, OH, and evolving it into Tartan Yachts with epoxy-infused hulls and modern cruisers like the Tartan 4600. Still family-owned and thriving in 2025, Tartan continues to win Boat of the Year awards while its vintage models remain cherished for durability and timeless performance.