Tanzer 8.5
Description
The Tanzer 8.5, designed by Johann Tanzer and built by Tanzer Industries in Canada from 1978 to 1984 with approximately 150 hulls produced, is a high-performance 28-foot cruiser-racer featuring a 9.5-foot beam, 23.75-foot waterline, and a 5.5-foot fin keel (or optional 4.0-foot shoal) carrying 3,000 pounds of lead ballast in a light 7,800-pound displacement for a lively SA/D of ~19.0 and PHRF ratings around 168–180. Its tall masthead sloop rig with 420 square feet of sail area delivers quick acceleration, excellent upwind bite, and planning ability downwind in 12+ knots, while the hand-laid fiberglass hull (solid below waterline, balsa-cored deck) and high-aspect spade rudder provide responsive handling and proven coastal/offshore capability. The spacious teak interior offers 6’0” headroom, sleeping 5–6 across a V-berth, quarter berth, and convertible saloon, plus a U-shaped galley, enclosed head with shower, and large nav station. Renowned for dominating 1980s MORC and PHRF fleets with racer-cruiser versatility and durable construction, the Tanzer 8.5 remains a coveted modern classic
Construction Details
| Designer | Johann Tanzer |
|---|---|
| Builder | Tanzer Industries, Canada |
| Length | 27.920 ft |
| LOA | 27.920 ft |
| LWL | 23.750 ft |
| Beam | 9.500 ft |
| Displacement | 7400 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.330 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 35.50 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 11.50 ft |
| p | 29.50 ft |
| e | 9 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35.50 ft | 11.50 ft | 29.50 ft | 9 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Tanzer 8.5 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 29.5 ft - (8992 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 9 ft - (2743 mm) |
| Leech | * 30.36 ft - (9254 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 30.54 ft - (9309 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 4 in - (102 mm) |
| Area | * 136.94 ft² |
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Tanzer 8.5 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 29.85 ft - (9098 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 15.39 ft - (4691 mm) |
| Leech | * 27.01 ft - (8233 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 120.61 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 13.87 ft - (4228 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 7.74 ° |
| Area | * 206.99 ft² |
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Tanzer 8.5 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 31.25 ft - (9525 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 14.25 ft - (4343 mm) |
| Leech | 27.75 ft - (8458 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 110 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 12.65 ft - (3856 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 9.43 ° |
| Area | * 197.72 ft² |
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Tanzer 8.5 - GENOA
| Luff | 33.75 ft - (10287 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 18.58 ft - (5663 mm) |
| Leech | 32 ft - (9754 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150.26 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 17.28 ft - (5267 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.58 ° |
| Area | * 291.66 ft² |
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Tanzer 8.5 - GENOA
| Luff | * 35.45 ft - (10805 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 18.78 ft - (5724 mm) |
| Leech | * 34.7 ft - (10577 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 155.57 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 17.89 ft - (5453 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * -0.23 ° |
| Area | * 317.08 ft² |
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Tanzer 8.5 - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | 36 ft - (10973 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 19.5 ft - (5944 mm) |
| Leech | 33.5 ft - (10211 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 526 ft² |
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Tanzer 8.5 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 35.45 ft - (10805 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 20.7 ft - (6309 mm) |
| Foot | * 20.7 ft - (6309 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 624 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.