1985 Tartan Tartan 28

You can feel the classic Tartan DNA the moment you slide into the cockpit of this 28. The helm is light and predictable, and the wide coamings give you a secure perch whether you’re driving hard on the wind or easing along under jib alone. Down below, the warm woodwork and big opening ports keep the cabin bright, not cave-like, and the layout makes it easy to move from companionway to V-berth without gymnastics. She’s small enough that sailhandling is genuinely stress-free, but with the displacement and hull shape that let you shoulder through a chop when the afternoon breeze pipes up.

A Tartan 28 is a sweet spot for this area’s mix of skinny-water gunkholing and open-bay stretches. The boat’s moderate draft lets you sneak into protected anchorages and explore creeks that deeper cruisers avoid, yet the fin keel and balanced sailplan give you the pointing ability to work upwind efficiently when the breeze funnels down the channel. Ventilation is excellent for warm, sticky nights at anchor, and the compact size keeps slip fees, haul-outs, and maintenance manageable. For weekending, you get real cruising comfort without wrestling a big boat in tight fairways or crowded mooring fields.