1980 Tartan 37

The interior design of the Tartan 37 emphasizes safety, comfort, and traditional seaworthiness over modern "apartment" volume, with a highly functional, classic offshore layout. Overhead clearance sits at a comfortable 6'2", giving the cabin an airy, uncramped feel without compromising the boat's sleek, low deck profile on the exterior. Virtually every visible surface – from the bulkheads and cabinet doors to the louvered locker faces – is crafted from rich, genuine hand-joined teak, underfoot by a traditional teak-and-holly cabin sole, with a textured vinyl headliner trimmed in teak battens that softens interior acoustics and adds insulation.

The layout flows logically from the forward V-berth stateroom, aft through the private head, into the main salon with its L-shaped settee and pilot berth, then aft again past the U-shaped galley and dedicated navigation station to the quarter berth just behind, offering a traditional six-berth offshore layout throughout.

Interior Styling and Additional Features:

·      Rich, hand-joined teak joinery throughout

·      Teak-and-holly cabin sole (1/16" veneer over plywood)

·      Textured vinyl headliner with teak battens

·      Louvered teak cabinet doors for airflow and mildew prevention

·      Spacious 6-berth layout: V-berth, dinette double, pilot berth, quarter berth

·      Dedicated navigation station with room for electronics expansion

MAIN SALOON

Stepping down the companionway, the main salon opens up with a warm, rich ambiance thanks to extensive hand-crafted teak joinery, solid teak-and-holly cabin soles, and a light-colored headliner that keeps the space from feeling dark. To port, a deep L-shaped settee wraps around a large teak dining table that drops down to convert the area into a spacious double berth for guests. On the starboard side sits a straight, full-length settee that pulls double duty as an excellent sea berth, with a highly prized traditional pilot berth outboard and slightly elevated above it – widely considered the best place to sleep while the boat is heeled over on a tack at sea.

·      L-shaped port settee converts to double berth

·      Starboard settee doubles as a sea berth

·      Elevated pilot berth outboard of the starboard settee

·      Bulkhead-mounted drop-leaf teak dining table

·      Teak storage cabinets and louvered lockers above and behind settees

MASTER STATEROOM

Located forward of the main salon and private head, the master stateroom offers a bright, well-ventilated, and remarkably comfortable retreat, finished in traditional hand-rubbed teak.

·      V-berth with filler cushion converts to a large double bed

·      Deep hanging locker to starboard

·      Built-in teak drawers under the berth

·      Large opening overhead hatch and multiple opening ports

·      Solid teak privacy door to forward head for en-suite access

Master Head

Positioned between the main salon and the forward master stateroom, offset to port, the head compartment is exceptionally well laid out, with dual teak privacy doors granting direct access from the master stateroom while doubling as a convenient day head for guests from the main salon.

·      Dual access – private master en-suite and salon day head

·      Hot/cold pressurized shower with pull-out wand and teak floor grate

·      Manual marine toilet plumbed to holding tank

·      Molded fiberglass vanity with stainless sink and teak medicine cabinet

·      Opening privacy portlight and overhead solar vent

GUEST CABIN

The Tartan 37 excels at accommodating guests or additional crew with a versatile layout that prioritizes comfort both at anchor and while underway. The aft quarter berth and convertible salon provide excellent secondary sleeping quarters with a distinct focus on offshore safety.

·      Private aft quarter berth – excellent guest berth or secure sea berth for off-watch crew

·      Main salon dinette converts to a generous double berth

·      Elevated starboard pilot berth with dedicated storage cabinetry

·      Excellent ventilation and cockpit communication via companionway proximity

·      Dedicated reading lights and storage, quick access to the main cabin's hanging lockers

The U-shaped galley is a chef's delight at anchor and a secure, functional workspace at sea. Positioned safely out of the cabin walkthrough, the layout enables the cook to brace securely against the countertops on either tack.

·      Deep teak fiddles on all countertops prevent items sliding underway

·      Gimbaled Force 10 propane stove and oven with stainless crash bar

·      Deep stainless-steel centerline sink for drainage on either tack, hot/cold pressurized water

·      Massive insulated top-loading icebox (often retrofitted with 12V DC refrigeration)

·      Dedicated dish organizer, slide-out dry-good bins, and utensil drawers

·      Excellent ventilation at the base of the companionway

NAVIGATION STATION

Located to the starboard side of the companionway steps, the dedicated navigation station on the Tartan 37 serves as the vessel's communication and tactical command center. Facing outboard, it is strategically positioned to allow the navigator or watch captain to communicate instantly with the helm without entering the main salon walkthrough.

·      Full-sized outboard-facing teak chart table with lift-top lid

·      Dedicated, secure navigator's seating

·      Expansive electronics bulkhead for VHF, 12V outlet, and reading light

·      Master switch panel with 12V DC and 110V AC breakers, battery monitors, and tank gauges

·      Custom teak pencil trays, storage cubbies, and dedicated charts drawer

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

A capable Garmin/Raymarine electronics suite covers navigation, autopilot, and instrumentation for confident coastal and offshore passagemaking.

·      Garmin Chartplotter 740

·      Raymarine Autopilot (2019)

·      Raymarine ST40 Wind

·      Raymarine ST40 Depth

·      Raymarine ST40 Speed

HULL

The hull construction of the Tartan 37 is highly respected in the cruising community for its robust, over-engineered build quality. The hull's shape and underwater profile – designed by Sparkman & Stephens – strike a perfect balance between traditional heavy-weather stability and modern handling.

·      Solid, hand-laid fiberglass (GRP) hull shell using polyester resin

·      No core below the waterline – eliminates risk of core rot or delamination

·      Heavy-duty hull-to-deck joint: aluminum backing plate through-fastened with machine screws

·      Cutaway forefoot for smooth wave-splitting and straight tracking

·      Skeg-hung rudder shields the blade and prop shaft from grounding damage

·      Keel/centerboard versatility – 4'2" board up / 7'9" board down

·      7,500 lb internal lead ballast, 15,500 lb displacement

·      Bottom pulled and zincs replaced annually, painted every other year (2025)

DECK

The deck of the Tartan 37 was engineered to be exceptionally rigid while keeping the boat's center of gravity as low as possible. The deck layout is clean, highly functional, and optimized for safe foot traffic during blue-water passages.

·      Balsa-cored sandwich construction for stiffness, insulation, and sound-dampening

·      Solid fiberglass backing at hardware mounting points (cleats, winches, tracks)

·      Molded diamond-pattern non-skid deck

·      Integrated fiberglass anchor locker with heavy bow casting and anchor roller

·      NEW bow roller (2022)

·      37 lb anchor with 20' chain and 150' rode

·      Stainless bow pulpit and robust toe rails

·      Wide, unobstructed side decks

·      Full-length teak handrails and structural teak toe-rail

COCKPIT

·      Deep, seaworthy T-shaped cockpit layout

·      High molded fiberglass coamings with teak-trimmed storage cubbies

·      Centerboard pendant winch on cabin top/coaming

·      Deep sail locker to port, lazarette storage aft

·      Original teak cockpit bench

·      Destroyer-style steering wheel with captain's chair for tiller insert

MAST AND RIGGING

·      Classic masthead sloop rig

·      Keel-stepped aluminum spar

·      52' air draft – clears standard 55' fixed bridges (ICW-friendly)

·      1x19 stainless wire standing rigging, through-bolted chainplates (age unknown)

·      Single-spreader rig

·      Forgiving shroud geometry allows squaring the boom for downwind runs

·      Adjustable backstay tension for mainsail/genoa shape control

SAILS AND WINCHES

·      Mainsail (2022), serviced every season

·      Headsail – 130% genoa, age unknown

·      Mast-track system (Tides Marine/Strong Track style) with sail pack/cover

·      Heavy-duty cockpit traveler and rigid mechanical boom vang

·      (2) Lewmar #48 self-tailing primary winches (original)

·      (2) Anderson #12 self-tailing secondary winches (2019)

·      Lewmar #16 self-tailing halyard winches, port and starboard at the mast

·      Storm tack system at mast (2022)

·      Dedicated centerboard winch with cascading block purchase

ENGINE AND MECHANICAL

The mechanical heart of SPIRIT II is her premium, recently installed 2022 Beta Marine 38 HP marine diesel engine (350 hours). Built on a rugged, globally recognized 4-cylinder Kubota tractor block (V1505), this naturally aspirated propulsion system delivers exceptionally smooth, quiet power with minimal vibration compared to older 3-cylinder models. Because it completely bypasses the obsolete parts and reliability headaches of a forty-year-old original engine, this 2022 repower serves as an incredible value-add for long-distance cruising. The engine is configured with a traditional, robust straight-shaft drive system, situated centrally beneath the galley counter and companionway steps for optimal hull balance.

·      2022 Beta Marine 38 HP diesel, Kubota V1505 block – 350 hours

·      Straight shaft drive, centrally mounted for balanced trim

·      360-degree serviceability via removable companionway housing and access panels

·      Sound and thermal acoustic foam insulation in engine compartment

·      Dual-stage fuel filtration: Racor fuel/water separator plus secondary engine filter

·      Bronze raw water strainer with sight glass

·      Water-lock muffler with high-rise exhaust elbow

PLUMBING AND TANKAGE

SPIRIT II is heavily outfitted for extended coastal cruising and blue-water passages. The factory-installed tankage layout places heavy fluids low and center to maximize stability and maintain proper sailing trim.

·      47-gallon aluminum fuel tank

·      Two baffled freshwater tanks, 90 gal total, beneath the cabin sole and settees

·      12V DC hot/cold pressurized water plus manual foot pump backup in the galley

·      Kuuma 6-gallon water heater (2025)

·      10-gallon fiberglass holding tank beneath the V-berth, with Y-valve diversion

·      Deep centralized bilge pocket – primary electric pump on float switch, secondary manual diaphragm pump at the helm

·      5-gallon propane tank

·      Fuel polished and tanks cleaned (2024)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

·      Dual-bank 12V DC system – separate engine start and deep-cycle house batteries

·      110V AC shore power, 30-amp inlet with full distribution panel

·      Master switch panel at nav station with volt meter and ammeter

·      Multiple 110V AC GFCI outlets throughout salon, galley, and stateroom

·      Automatic marine battery charger/converter

·      Heavy-duty rotary battery selector switches with emergency parallel combine

·      All new batteries, Spring 2026 – (4) 6V house, (1) 6V starter

·      No heat; no air conditioning aboard

AUDIO/VISUAL AND ENTERTAINMENT EQUIPMENT

·      Boss MR1525UI CD player

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

·      Airhorn

·      (3) Orange life-vests

·      Flares

·      Fire Extinguisher

BROKER’S COMMENTS

Spirit II offers a rare chance to own a true Sparkman & Stephens classic with the peace of mind of a brand-new engine. The keel/centerboard configuration that made the Tartan 37 famous among Chesapeake and Bahamas cruisers is on full display here, backed by fresh rigging hardware, a new furler, and meticulous maintenance records dating back to 1987.

Tartan built nearly 500 of these boats between 1976 and 1988, and they remain some of the most sought-after classic-plastic cruisers on the market for good reason – solid construction, a mannerly helm, and enough interior volume for real long-range living. Spirit II is ready for her next owner to pick up where four decades of careful ownership left off.

·      Rare S&S pedigree paired with a barely broken-in 2022 repower

·      Well-documented maintenance history since 1987

·      Ready for coastal cruising or offshore passages alike

REVIEWS

·      Practical Sailor ("Timeless Tartan 37"): called the design attractive, fairly racy, and functional, noting nearly 500 hulls had been built by 1987 on continued strong demand.

·      SpinSheet ("Tartan 37 Used Boat Review"): called the shoal centerboard draft nearly perfect for cruising the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com