Bruce Roberts Offshore 38

[Travis McGee]

It's not a "Spray" it's a greatly modified Roberts 434. In fact, all I used from the plans were the frame patterns, but I changed them from 44" centers to 46" centers, made her flush deck forward and changed the transom angle from 30* to 45* to match the bow. All told, it turned the rather squat (IMO) 434 into a 48'er. A wide radius section instead of a hard chine makes her prettier, and more "professionally yard-built" looking. All done in a field, by myself.

The keels are twin fins with bulbs, with lead cast into each bulb. All fabricated on site...but I had a lot of boatbuilding and welding and fabricating experience before hand. Very robust keel roots with extra framing inside. The hull is 3/16, the deck 1/8, but the keel roots are 1/4" plate 2' X 10'. And extra very stout intercostal framing etc etc.

She has an integral 180 gallon diesel tank, and can motor for 2 straight weeks at 5 knots.

She has twin 400 gallon fresh water ballast tanks, also integral of course, and with one full and one empty, she heels 10* at the dock. In practice, I let the water run by gravity to the low tank before tacks on the ocean. That 10* ballast heel makes a big difference going to windward, when you are short tacking up a channel you don't switch ballast, and you really can feel the difference.

It took us two months from Guam to California with 4 aboard, and we were taking solar showers at will all the way. In practice on long transits I leave with about 600 gallons of water, and eat into my ballast with all the water anybody needs. In dry islands, I can give water away to folks on boats with limited tankage, which is always welcome. I even have a welded and enameled bathtub, the outboard side is the hull, the bottom is above the waterline so it drains like a sink. It's also great catch-all for wet towels and foulies on passages.

(The thing between the fin keels is the pile of sandblasting sand that I let out of the bottom of the hull via a small temporary hole.)

[capttman]

Ah the naysayers, saying be cautious of home builds. 80% of the home hilts are twice as strong as production builds.
My 434 is a super boat there were two 38's I've run across and they were steel good boats.
Do a good survey and go sailing

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by capttman

Ah the naysayers, saying be cautious of home builds. 80% of the home hilts are twice as strong as production builds.
My 434 is a super boat there were two 38's I've run across and they were steel good boats.
Do a good survey and go sailing

The three best boats I have ever surveyed were home built steel boats.
The three worst boats I have ever surveyed were home built steel boats.

[thruska]

I'm looking for any info on The Ryan Boat Works. Possibly a new york yard, a professional builder, supposedly did some steel builds....
Any info would be appreciated.

[cooper]

Me and my self built Roberts 38 offshore are still going fine : )

[thruska]

Any pics of her?

[thruska]

Originally Posted by Travis McGee

It's not a "Spray" it's a greatly modified Roberts 434. In fact, all I used from the plans were the frame patterns, but I changed them from 44" centers to 46" centers, made her flush deck forward and changed the transom angle from 30* to 45* to match the bow. All told, it turned the rather squat (IMO) 434 into a 48'er. A wide radius section instead of a hard chine makes her prettier, and more "professionally yard-built" looking. All done in a field, by myself.

The keels are twin fins with bulbs, with lead cast into each bulb. All fabricated on site...but I had a lot of boatbuilding and welding and fabricating experience before hand. Very robust keel roots with extra framing inside. The hull is 3/16, the deck 1/8, but the keel roots are 1/4" plate 2' X 10'. And extra very stout intercostal framing etc etc.

She has an integral 180 gallon diesel tank, and can motor for 2 straight weeks at 5 knots.

She has twin 400 gallon fresh water ballast tanks, also integral of course, and with one full and one empty, she heels 10* at the dock. In practice, I let the water run by gravity to the low tank before tacks on the ocean. That 10* ballast heel makes a big difference going to windward, when you are short tacking up a channel you don't switch ballast, and you really can feel the difference.

It took us two months from Guam to California with 4 aboard, and we were taking solar showers at will all the way. In practice on long transits I leave with about 600 gallons of water, and eat into my ballast with all the water anybody needs. In dry islands, I can give water away to folks on boats with limited tankage, which is always welcome. I even have a welded and enameled bathtub, the outboard side is the hull, the bottom is above the waterline so it drains like a sink. It's also great catch-all for wet towels and foulies on passages.

(The thing between the fin keels is the pile of sandblasting sand that I let out of the bottom of the hull via a small temporary hole.)

Nice job! Any more pics?

[Travis McGee]

http://http://enemiesforeignanddomes...mages/EP10.jpg

Originally Posted by thruska

Nice job! Any more pics?

Some more pics.

[Travis McGee]

http://http://enemiesforeignanddomes...mages/EP10.jpg

[Travis McGee]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

The three best boats I have ever surveyed were home built steel boats.
The three worst boats I have ever surveyed were home built steel boats.

That sounds exactly right and reflects my experience, not as a prof'l surveyor but as a welder, boat builder and cruiser.

Which means there are some great deals to be had out there, for the sailor who can discern the critical aspects of their construction.

[thruska]

Thanks, but I cannot get the link to work. Is it correct?

[thruska]

Its ok travis, I got it !
Thanks