W. D. Schock Corp also built 24 of the boats between 1964 and 1968 in their California plant to serve the US west coast market.

It has a masthead sloop rig, a raked stem, an angled transom, a keel-mounted rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed modified long keel with a cutaway forefoot and a retractable centerboard.

The cockpit was made longer in 1973, the bridge deck distance increased, and the interior decor changed to teak.

[2] In a 2010 review for Boats.com, Charles Doane wrote, "because of its relatively long waterline, the Tartan 27 does sail faster than you might otherwise expect, especially on a reach, but compared to much lighter, more contemporary boats it inevitably seems a bit slow.

"[17] Darrell Nicholson, writing for Practical Sailor concluded, "the 27 has its limitations: a cramped interior, 'age spots' such as scruffy gelcoat, possible deck delamination, centerboard wear, gas engines getting on in years, and, in an age of sailing performance, so-so speed.

Virtues and flaws balanced, however, the Tartan 27 strikes us as having most of what we would look for in an older small cruising boat from the standpoint of ruggedness, appearance, function, and equity."