Tim Jackett

Tim Jackett is a renowned American naval architect and yacht designer, best known for his over 40-year tenure at Tartan Marine (now Tartan Yachts) in Painesville, Ohio, where he served as Chief Designer and later Chief Operating Officer, creating nearly 30 production models that launched over 2,600 sailing yachts ranging from the 8-foot Tartan Tender to the flagship Tartan 5300. Joining Tartan in 1977 as a recent graduate (his first full-time job after a summer internship), Jackett rose through the ranks under founder Charlie Britton, contributing to iconic performance cruisers like the Tartan 3000, 33, 34-2, 40, and 412—designs praised for innovative features such as the Cruise Control Rig (self-tacking jib with pocket boom), epoxy-infused hulls, and balanced seaworthiness that earned multiple Boat of the Year awards from Cruising World and Sailing World. His portfolio expanded when Tartan acquired C&C Yachts in 1996, leading to successful models like the C&C 99, 110, 115, and 121 (over 400 built), which dominated one-design and handicap racing in North America, Europe, and Australia. Departing Tartan in 2011, Jackett founded Jackett Yacht Design and collaborated with Island Packet on the Blue Jacket 40 (2013 Cruising World Boat of the Year), before returning to Tartan in 2014 to lead Legacy by Tartan motor yachts sales and design the Legacy 32 and 356 with Mark Ellis. As of 2025, following Tartan's acquisitions (e.g., by Seattle Yachts in 2020 and Daedalus Yachts in 2025), the Erie, Pennsylvania-based Jackett—now in his late 60s—commutes daily to oversee operations, design (e.g., Tartan 455, 395), and production, embodying Midwestern resilience amid industry challenges; his philosophy emphasizes "performance cruising" hybrids that sail well, accommodate families, and prioritize livability without excess.