FEEDBACK FROM BUILDERS OF OUR BOATS.
We have received THOUSANDS of feedback letters from our customers - here are just a very few of these RECENT ONES ... 2008

ROBERTS 345

Hi Bruce,
Here are the Picture of my ROBERTS 345 Sailboat I'm very Proud of, everywhere I go other sailor and a lot of people ask me what is the brand of your sailboat? I tell them its a Bruce Roberts and then they all finish with that phrase "what a beautiful sailboat'' ,,, the hull shape the lines,  its a real sea vessel strong stable fast and beautiful. THANK YOU .. Francois

ROBERTS 53   ROBERTS 532   VOYAGER 542  These are more or less the same design.

Hi Bruce,  We are the happy owners of a Roberts 53G built in a Gawler SA Australia engineering workshop many years ago.  Its our boat Enzio has admired and he wants to build his own, on similar dimensions to ours.  We recently spent 46 days safely crossing  NZ to Chile three storms and mostly confused seas, our beautiful Roberts excelled in the conditions. -regards Eoin aged 63 and Susan aged 61

NORFOLK 43 - MODS.

Bruce, Many thanks for answering in person and so soon and thank you for the updated design – I will now study this against the original drawings that I have to start working out what is involved / required to make the keel / rudder modification.  And thank for you invitation to contact you directly for more information, as I may need to take you up on this offer further down the track, once I get into the actual details of the modification.

Your personal support in this matter is most appreciated.

Best regards,  John Casey

SERVICE !

Hi Bruce:  Well your email is right on time as I expected it would be.  When I entered the order I was waiting for an area to scribble in which designs I needed, but before I knew it, the order had been placed without the info.  So I thought to myself......"Oh well, Bruce will send me an email in due course."

I've moved away from the NY designs since I will more than likely go with a kit and as you explained previously at some point, kits are not (were not) available for the NY's.  I need the following: 1. Voyager DS 440 2. Voyager 495 3. Voyager DS 544 Thanks for your help, Robert
 

Hi everyone!
Thanks for the quick response to my SOS.  FYI, was able to resolve 'fuzzy' image issue by trying a different software.
It's nice to know that help is just a few keystrokes away. Thanks again. More power to you!  Joel Aton
 

Thank You Bruce for your advice, I recalled that you were very easy to work with back in the late 70's when I built my Offshore 38.  I see that same persona still exists.  Thanks your for the advice on boat selection.  Regards Glen

Good day, I just received the study plans for the Trader 65 and I'm impressed. It looks like a fine vessel and perfect to my needs.
I was wondering if you can recommend  any yards on the west coast of the U.S that's familiar with building from your kits?
Much appreciated. Sincerly, Curtis P. Bray

Dear Bruce,
Finally some pictures of her sailing! I have had a few trips up and down the coast from Fujairah and as always she behaves well. I am lifting her out later this month for antifouling and I am using Cuprotect System as it is guaranteed 5 years and purported to be a 10 year plus treatment. I will let you know how I get on with that. She now has davits on the back with a Niccollslite NN10 nesting dinghy hanging from them. On long trips I can put the dinghy nested on the foredeck. The watermaker is on the way Ultra Whisper 600 from Sea Recovery.  

I would just like to say how pleased I am with the Spray 370 and thank you for all the support you and Hal have given me during the build. Best regards Bill Wigan, Dubai.  NOTE: THE LATEST SAILING PHOTOS OF THIS SPRAY 370 ARE INCLUDED IN THE STUDY PLAN PACKAGE.

January 2008:  Waverunner 52
Hello, Bruce!  It's Mike. I've received my E-book & I'm processing to study of information. Thank you so much for interesting and useful knowledge. I hope on the further dialogue. Best regards, Mike.

12th January 2008 A feedback about the Voyager DS440 plans:
Norbert Toth has sent us a number of photographs of the Voyager DS 440 for use in the  study plan pack and for use in my forthcoming book Illustrated CUSTOM BOATBUILDING ... Norbert writes:

Hi Bruce, Now we have some experience with your Voyager DS440 plans. We always read on your site (mostly in the newsletters, builders feedback) that your kits fit together nicely. I think we have better than average possibilities creating the steel parts. We only had the cutting files, and we did cut the kit from steel sheets. Now that we have something assembled, we can say that the parts fit together like a charm.

The plans are extremely accurate, we occasionally have to pull the parts together,  but only a few milimeters. Not bad at all, considering the sizes of the DS440! Excellent plans, thank you very much!  

Best Regards,  Norbert and Tamás Tóth
 

Roberts 434 wood / epoxy version

Thanks for the advice, I have taken it on board and revised my opinion on the straight transom – now I will put a slight curve on it.  As for the rudder stock and Bearing, that is great to know thank you very much.  I will change my transom plans accordingly so that I can now put step, life raft, Swimming platform and “Windows” in it.  The problem I had before was that the rudder stock went through any useable space I had so this will certainly help.  Finally I have completed the turn over and here is the first photo I have of “Laeticia” the right way up.  Hopefully she will stay this way up for many years to come !

All the best Phil

Hi Bruce,
Here are some pictures from launching of our Trawler Yacht 43  in Norway.  Everything went well, and the boat sits in the water perfectly.  We are very pleased.
Best regards Geir Fossan

Dear Bruce,
Thanks for the skeg plan, you are the best.
Neville James Hartmann.

Hi Bruce,  Hope you are well.  The Kit arrives on Tuesday 30^th October, I have to say. Edgar is an amazing guy to deal with. We have made some changes and sorted all the cut-outs, stern gear etc.I have also extended the swim platform by 500 mm to aid entry when parallel moored on a pontoon, also gives me a handy gas storage area and have added a second hatch on the transom,

I cant wait to get started. Currently levelling the RSJ frame as its on what was a lawn.  See our boat progress day by day ... http://deboet.blogspot.com   Think cork man saying “the boat”…! Haven’t named it its just for fun. Talk soon. Dirk.

WOOD EPOXY 434 BUILDER.

Hi Bruce,

Here is an update on my boat construction of your 434.  The more I get into this project the more I am admiring your skills as a navel architect.  I just realized that the engine can be made to easily be pulled up thru the cockpit floor without damaging the rest of the vessel.  Fantastic!  When I attended the Chicago boat show last winter, I did not see that at all on the factory models; in fact the engine compartment was so compact, I pitied the mechanic that had to work on it.

Have a Spiffy Good Day!   Earl

REPORT ON ANOTHER ... EURO 1200 ... October 4th 2007

Hi Bruce, I spoke to the owner who’s very happy with the way she handles and sails, stability perfect, manoeuvring great. 

He cruised for about 100 hours on her in 2006 (inland and coastal waters only) but did not get her up to full engine power. She does 9.5 kn on 2800 rpm and he estimates she will do 10 to 10,5 kn on full throttle.

He had some trim tabs fitted as advised by someone in Poland but had these removed as no noticeable effect.  

He hopes to receive around Euro 300.000,= and will then start building another boat, perhaps the Atlantic40.

Regards, Edgar

TY 52O LAUNCHED       DATE - 9TH October 2007 ...

DEAR BRUCE,  IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE OUR LAST COMMUNICATION. WELL IT HAS BEEN VERY BUSY INDEED  BUT FINALLY OUR TY 520  "ANEMONE"  JOINED THE SEAS  ON 28TH OF AUGUST AND WE SAILED DOWN TO BODRUM FM ISTANBUL IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING HER EVER SINCE, WE ALREADY HAVE MORE THAN 2000  MILES ON OUR LOG !

SHE IS A FANTASTIC BOAT, STEADY, WELL BALANCED, VERY COMFORTABLE , SEAWORTHY AND BEAUTIFUL. EVERYWHERE WE GO PEOPLE COME AND EXPRESS THEIR ADMIRATION.

"ANEMONE" IS  A  GREAT TRAWLER,  FIRST OF ALL SHE IS A REAL TRAWLER; EVERYWHERE WE GO PEOPLE COME AND ADMIRE  HER, ASK FOR OUR PERMISSION TO TAKE PHOTOS.

SHE IS NOT ONLY BEAUTIFUL BUT ALSO A VERY TRUSTWORTHY BOAT IN ALL RESPECTS.  WE  WENT INTO FORCE 7  WINDS AND SEAS, NO PROBLEM  SHE CAN HANDLE MUCH MORE VERY EASILY.

WE EXTENDED THE FLY BRIDGE PRO RATA WHICH ENABLED  US TO PARK OUR TENDER  (  4,30  MTRS ) AND A VERY COMFORTABLE SITTING CORNER FOR  MORE THAN  6  PEOPLE.

I PLACED A VERY SUFFICIENT KITCHEN ON THE BRIDGE THUS  THE LIVING BECAME ENORMOUS, NEARLY 20 SQM. I ALSO ADDED  A  HUGE  STORAGE BOX ON THE FORE DECK, IN FRONT OF THE PORTUGUESE BRIDGE  WHICH IS ALSO A VERY COMFORTABLE SETTEE.

UNDER THE DECK WE MANAGED  TO PLACE 1 MASTER CABIN AND 2 REASONABLE GUEST CABINS  ALL WITH ENSUITE HEADS AND SHOWERS. 

THE  ENGINE ROOM IS THE SAME AS ORIGINAL PLANS SIZE WISE. BUT WE HAVE 2 TWIN VOLVO ENGINES 265  HP EACH AT 2300 RPM. WE HAVE A CRUISING SPEED OF 10 KNOTS AT 1800 RPM  AND  MAX. SPEED IS 12 KNOTS. THE FUEL CONSUMPTION IS ABOUT. 50-60 LITRES PER HOUR.  WATER TANKS ARE IN THE ENGINE ROOM, ABOUT 5500  LITRES. GREY AND BLACK WATER, 500 LITRES  EACH. THERE IS ALSO A DRINKING WATER TANK OF 700  LITRES UNDER THE AFT DECK. EVENTUALLY A  WATER MAKER  CAN BE INSTALLED AND EXISTING WATER TANKS CAN BE USED FOR FUEL FOR LONG PASSAGES. THE ENGINE ROOM HAS  ACCESSES FROM THE AFT VIA A HATCH ON THE AFT DECK OR THE WATERPROOF DOOR ON THE TRANSOM. UNDER THE EXTENDED AFT DECK WE PLACED  A VERY COMFORTABLE CABIN FOR THE CREW WITH TWO SEPARATE BEDS AND ALSO A BATHROOM.  WE  STILL HAVE LOTS OF STORAGE SPACE . WE HAVE AN ONAN 17KWA GENERATOR AS WELL AS 2  x   3000 KV INVERTERS, 2 BATTERY CHARGERS,2 ISOLATION TRANSFORMERS 22  (TWENTY-TWO )  200  AH   GEL BATTERIES.  A  SEPARATE EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEM ETC.

THE  FIRST PLATE WAS TACK WELDED ON AUGUST 3, 2006  AND WE SLID HER DOWN TO THE SEA ON THE 18TH OF AUGUST 2007.

SO IT TOOK US 1 FULL YEAR TO FINISH HER COMPLETELY I.E. ALL SYSTEMS INSTALLED, ALL FINISHING DONE.

THANKS ONCE MORE FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND  BEING SUCH A GREAT DESIGNER.                       KIND REGARDS, ALI

Roberts Spray 28 “Gypsy” 

Built 1984  Steel hull & deck, insulated above the waterline. Length: 28’ 6”  Beam: 10’ 6”   Draft: 3’ 6”

NOW SOLD.

Subject: Re: SPRAY 28 listing

Well our boat has sold and I need to post this on the Bruce Roberts' sight under our 28ft Spray SOLD!  Thanks.  Pat Muller

SPRAY 58 BUILDER: 

Dear Bruce,

THANKS! This time the usual "Hi" does not feel right, because I am so grateful and impressed both by the job you have done for me (and for others all over the world), and your regular way of being so helpful, that I have to show it with a personal address !

 Best regards Arni

SPRAY TRAWLER YACHT 475 - TURKEY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2007

Hi Bruce,   

I think I have been a little late sending the pictures to you. Sorry. 

We sailed in Gokova for three weeks while Burkut ( my son ) was attending his first sailing school at the Gokova Sailing Club.

We had a wonderful trip and no regrets whatsoever for choosing and building your 475 TY. KARA 1 is just the boat I dreamt for and for three days 14 (fourteen) of us lived

aboard with no problems.  

Thanks again BRUCE!!!!!!

P.S Some friends of mine are seriously thinking of building their own family cruisers and I suggested them your Coastworker 35/37 and Euro 1000 Coastworker designs.

As I am part of the BRUCE ROBERTS club

TRAWLER YACHT 43 KIT ... September 2007

Hi Bruce, We have now ready to launch the boat.  Everything has gone very well.  The kit was great to work with. I have no complains whatsoever. 

We will try to send you some pictures when we transport it to the quay.

Best regards  Geir Fossan
 

VOYAGER  KIT BUILDER

In deciding what type of material to build the boat from, steel was the clear choice for me. Steel is well regarded as one of the strongest materials to make a boat from. The only two drawbacks are it weight and more recently its price.

     In choosing a yacht designer, I scoured the internet for months looking at the various designers. Bruce Robert's name came up again and again. As it turned out he now lives in Ireland. Having bought the design and having received the steel, I'd like to say I am delighted with the service Bruce Roberts has provided. The steel was cut and marked perfectly, and of the 300 pieces, we have yet to find one missing. All of his emails are answered within the day, if not within the hour. Thanks Bruce & Edgar.

The hull is constructed entirely of steel alloy. The electronic plans are received on a cd and can then be sent off to a steel yard where the plates are cut with NC plasma cutters. We choose to have Bruce Roberts cut the steel and arrange its transport which worked out quite reasonable compared to some of the steel yards in Ireland.

Hi Bruce,  Attached are 2 more photos of my V542, as of Jul29  (last month).  we're currently working on putting the radius plates in place.

We've been very happy with how the kit comes together and your quick replies to my email questions. Regards,  Manuel

Hi, Bruce:
I am sending you a few more pictures of the Euro 1200 that Mr. Abella and his company, CVA Argentina, are building here in Buenos Aires. Everyone here is very happy with the boat design and the way the work is progressing. Kind regards, Jorge Sanviti

Hello Bruce,
Appreciate the quick response from you and your company; I received the CD study disc very promptly in Dubai, four days after placing the order, quite unique for the Middle East, I wait with awaited breath for the remaining part of the order to arrive, anyway enough of my piffle.

The more I study your plans, my requirements are definitely more toward the New Voyager DS 542 model featuring the more modern rounded ‘deck salon’, sheerline and incorporating the safety skeg.  Regards, Jim Bowie

August 4th 2007

Hi Bruce, Thank-you so much for the advice to use an old handsaw for fairing in the hull.  It worked beautifully and was a real life saver.  I am sure it cut my sanding by 75% or more.  I will send a photo as soon as I paint.  Thanks again!  Have a Great Day!  Earl Rentmeester

Centennial SPRAY 45
We ordered preliminary plans for the Spray from Bruce and started adapting our layout to the 45 foot hull. When Bruce released his round bilge version, the we were convinced this was the perfect hull for us. The hull characteristics were a major for our layout without compromising the sailing characteristics. We sent our deck and cabin layout to Bruce and contracted with him to do a set of drawings using them.

A wonderful thing happened when working with Bruce; we had originally drawn the deck with a doghouse over the companionway. He, faithfully, had a doghouse in the drawings that he did for us, but he also made a slightly different version of the cabin which used a pilothouse with a steering station on a platform on the starboard side. He sent this alternate design to us as a gift.

We so much like the idea of the open pilothouse creating a bright open space out of the saloon and galley that we adopted it. We were able to take the general concept and implement it in the final design. Regards Ben Smith ... NOTE: Ben Smith uses his boat to run successful charters.

Centennial SPRAY 45
Dear Bruce, I can tell you my own impression of sailing the Centennial Spray 45. I made a trip cross the Baltic sea. She steering herself really, just need to carefully put sails on right position. I did not touch the steering wheel for more than 20 minutes, just look at compass. Excellent performance, just nice. Thank you very much for smart design. Best Regards, Victor V. Tchaburko

Hi Bruce, First good sail was 120 nm ocean. We had only been out for 2 hrs sailing previously, though we had been motor testing / system testing for a few hrs as well prior to the trip.  Less than 14 hrs from point to point!!  Happy as I am! Had varying winds (5 to 17 knots) from 40 degrees apparent to about 200 degrees on the port side 90% of the time.  Smooth seas with a 3 metre swell. Will keep you informed and will send you some photos . Have only some on boat photos and am awaiting some more to be emailed.  Komeova is great and I could not be happier!! 
Great design!  Kind regards,  Ray Crake

Coastworker 25
HI Bruce, I ordered a set of plans for my best friend for Christmas, here it is 1month later & we are going to start putting the bottom on her today. The planing hull design is excellent. She's a weekend project because both of us have full time jobs. We can't wait to christen her "Keel Estate". Some pictures & updates are soon to follow....Regards John Dunn

Coastworker 25
Hello Bruce its some time since I gave you an update on my Coastworker, the boat is now finished and on the water. It lives on a mooring on Loch Lomond in Scotland. I have attached some photos for you, I am very pleased with the results, I have had some minor problems which included some leaking windows along with a fuel problem which I now have under control.

Good luck  Kind regards  David Wren Liverpool England + 44 (0)201-207-0023 Work

Roberts TY40/42 owner reports:
"I launched this boat in June of '97 at Michigan city, IN. Shakedown cruise got a perfect 10. I just completed a cruise to Florida via the Tenn-Tom to Tampa where I completed the interior. I returned via the Intercostal, East coast, Hudson, Erie Canal and the Great Lakes. 
This vessel performed beyond my wildest expectations !
Fuel economy 10, handling 10, speed 9+ pitch stability 9+, roll stability 8 I used no ballast "  (Designers note: We recommend ballast in all of our trawlers). Robert J. Wouda

COMMENTS from CANADIAN TY 43 builder ... Maggie Mais:
Hi Bruce. Sorry its taken so long to reply. Life is hectic. 2 kids, 2 puppies, 2 birds, 1 unfinished boat and mother nature has kicked in with a vengeance. Winter is here all too quickly and we have paint to apply. The project is going well. Peter is going to start the paint on Sunday!!! The interior is 90% complete with the exception of engine hook-up, plumbing, batteries and engine room completion. We are so pleased with the quality of woodwork our shipwright has done.
 

The interior is done in maple, ceilings are tongue and groove pine. The windows and doors are in (diamond sea glaze). The galley is unbelievable. I love to cook, and my galley is used hard. The room with which to work was very spacious. So abundant it was, I had a kitchen cabinetry business in our local area design and build and install the galley. All we had to do was slide the fridge in and mount the gimballed stove. Countertops are Corona (TM), double sinks are recessed and we designed a bar area directly across from the galley, beside the circular steps leading to berth area. I must say, given our years of boating experience, we have designed and customized our vessels layout, far better than our land based home.  Fondly, Maggie A Mais.

COMMENTS from Australian builder of  Trawler Yacht 43
Numerous professionals have been coming in to see our TY43 build and all are amazed or surprised at the quality of workmanship and the fairness of the hull (thanks to your kit). One was the shipwright who will be doing the fit out. He comes from the timber boat building industry and his comments were "I've never seen anybody achieve this with steel.

FROM PROFESSIONAL BUILDER:
Hi Bruce,  Thought I would e-mail you a couple of pictures of the 43' Voyager TY. Things are going well, and should be setting side shell later this week. Will be setting keel and rudder tomorrow. Altogether we have about 60 hours in at this point, not bad considering we only have had 1 man working steady on it!!  Rumor has it there is a 57' possibly looking for a construction site from Colorado. We are having so much fun we'd love to build some more!!! Could you add us to your Metal Boat newsletter as a West Coast assembly company??? It would be great if you could. Well, Bye for now, back to welding! Bart Samaduroff.

TY 43 and Voyager 495 - KOREA
Hi Bruce, Together with your designs, firstly trawler43 and Voyager495 were launched on March 2, 2007 at Mokpo, Korea. Trawler 43, Perkins 180HP @2100 rpm for main engine- max speed 10 knots, wing engine Perkins65hp 6 knots, Generator 8kw Northern Lights and Mastervolt DC equipment, air conditioner main air, Windlass Muir Thruster side power 6kw, paint as per Awl-grip coating scheme. Water maker 30l/hr marine village USA

CENTENNIAL SPRAY 38
Hi Bruce, We finally, we have taken time off doing the interior jobs to do a sailing sea trial! A sedate and gentle sail of around 40 nm over 2 days, and our yacht performed wonderfully. In a steady 20 knots, we didn't bother to run the mizzen and and even partly furled the main, just to "get a feel" for how she handles. Just off the breeze we were easily able to achieve 6 knots, even making 7 knots and better at times. We had the full main set for an hour or so, and our yacht was well balanced and sailing with very little heel just off the breeze. Regards Rob McGill and Nina Morissette

We spent two full seasons cruising the Med and in September 2000 departed Portugal for the Cape Verde Islands via the Canary Islands. December the 1st found us leaving Mindelo/Cabo Verde and bound for Barbados. We still didn't have any self steering fitted, but then again neither did Slocum. No problem. Blue-Belle took 16 days to make the 2037 mile crossing, that's an average of 127 miles per day. Her best days run being 147 miles. For a heavily laden cruising boat with a 28 ft water line she could certainly turn in a decent passage time. We were delighted with her. We also found that running downwind she didn't roll as much as other boats I'd sailed under similar conditions.

We find the Spray to be a wonderful sea boat, and is a lot faster than she looks. When running in gale force conditions we find that our heavy weather staysail, sheeted flat amidships (a technique used by Slocum in his book) works well. The bow showing no tendency to dig in despite all the weight we carry up forward. One mistake we made in the early years was in reefing her down too early; the boat is very stiff and sails well in heavy weather. In storm conditions when it is more prudent to stop and we either heave to or lie to a parachute anchor streamed from the bow and attached to a bridle led back to a cockpit winch. In this manner we feel safe and secure.
So, would we part with our Spray? Would we change her for something else? No - not ever. After 8 years and 35.000 miles we finally have our ultimate cruiser.
Thanks Bruce, you gave us a great boat.
Kindest regards,
Derek & Hulya  S/Y Blue-Belle Park Kemer Marina Kemer Antalya/Turkey

Hi Bruce, This is Aaron, Tom's son writing to you.  I've been checking his email for him.  They left yesterday morning and were running in 20 foot seas, he said that the boat handled great.  I talked to them last night and everything was still going fine (calmed down to 5 footers).  Thanks,   Aaron Springer  

Hi Bruce, We finally got the boat home on the 19th of October. She is beautiful and performed well on the trip from Nova Scotia. Attached are a couple of pictures. She is beautiful and we are very pleased with her design. I intend to invite Hal up to see her when her systems are in order. Regards, Tom & Patty Springer.

Hi Bruce .  I just wanted too drop you a line and tell you that I went to see your 62 ft trawler  "Sorcery" is in the water now and is a beautiful yacht .  I met Mr Ralph Elliot ( BUTCH) and his lovely wife and was invited aboard for a look around. Beautiful. Butch and his wife Janice were very nice inviting us aboard.....Thank you Harold Metcalf