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Bruce Roberts-Goodson
 EMAIL BRUCE

BUILD FOR LESS WITH
BRUCE ROBERTS

You can build a NEW boat for less than the cost of a USED one !
Check out our study boat plans for costing information.

Gwenda Roberts-Goodson
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ROBERTS 434 B   
Radius Chine Steel, MC Steel, Fiberglass, Aluminum or Wood Epoxy.

SEE ROBERTS 434 C

This design has appealed to many serious cruising sailors, and is another in our range of medium displacement, fast performance cruisers which can be built in either multi chine or radius chine STEEL or ALUMINUM, in round bilge FIBREGLASS or in round bilge WOOD EPOXY. Full size frame patterns as well as cut to size steel kits are also available for this design.

The Roberts 434 can be rigged as either a Cutter, Sloop or Ketch and the many different versions give you the choice of either a low profile aft cockpit, a center cockpit version and also a pilot house version.  Already several versions of this design have made complete circumnavigation's - one was sailed single handed around the world in only 218 days. (Article printed below) Several others have taken part in round the world rallies. Many are being constructed in yards around the world with the pilot house version currently being one of our most popular designs.

You can purchase Study boat plans, Complete boat plans and Patterns, Pre-cut steel kits, Hull and Deck packages or complete boats built to this design. Please email for additional information 
L.O.D. 13.20 m 43'   4"
L.W.L. 11.18 m 36'   8"
BEAM 4.10 m 13'   6"
DRAFT (Deep) 1.83 m 6'   0"
  (Shoal) 1.50 m 5'   0"
DlSPL. (FG or Alu or W/E) 11,567 kg 25,911 lb
  (Steel or Copper-Nickel) 13,330 kg 29,859 lb
BALLAST 3,996 Kg 8,809 lb
AUX.PWR   33 - 60 hp
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ROBERTS 434
Version B

The Roberts 434 boat plans come with a variety of sail boat plans including CUTTER (shown) sloop and ketch. Other rigs are possible to suit your personal preference.

 
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r434b-05[1].gif (8379 bytes)		 ROBERTS 434
Version B

The Roberts 434 boat plans and full size frame patterns package includes alternative keels options.  All these options are also shown on the study boat plans on DOWNLOAD or on CD - YOU CHOOSE DOWNLOAD OR CD. . .

 
r434b-04[1].gif (10277 bytes) ROBERTS 434
Version B

The Roberts 434 boat plans and full size frame patterns package includes alternative accommodation options.  All these options are also shown on the study boat plans on DOWNLOAD or on CD - YOU CHOOSE DOWNLOAD OR CD. . .

 

ROBERTS 434

Tony Marcelonis R434 which was built using Airex core for the hull and balsa sandwich for the deck You will note that Tony has used the transom shape from the New York 46

Tony Marcelonis writes: "I was very impressed with you boat plans and office staff as I progressed through building my Roberts 434. As you can see from the photos I used the transom from your New York 46. I have a great boat! The boat was built using Airex core for the hull and balsa sandwich for the deck. The accommodations fall line with your New York 46. I can't say enough about your designs. We have three Roberts designs at the American Yacht Club in Newburyport Ma, a Roberts 28, Roberts 39 and my Roberts 434. Great boats. I hope you like the pictures." Signed Tony Marcelonis

 

 

 

ROBERTS 434

SINGLE HANDED SAIL AROUND THE WORLD.
Dear Mr Roberts,  A quick note to let you know that I have finished my circumnavigation in the Roberts 434. She took 218 days and 8 hours sailing time to cover the 27,000 miles, In terms of elapsed time this is the fastest E-W ever by any kind of sailing vessel, but of course we do not get the world record as Guinness work on average speed and she was half a knot slower than the "Ocean Bound" (David ScottCowper) nevertheless not bad for a backyard building job.

She is in excellent condition and could go around again given a bit of sail repair. She is very fast for a heavy boat (3 tons of stores). She often reached 10 knots and could sustain 9 knots for hours on end. Her best day's run was 210 miles without current assistance.

Her directional stability is excellent and in good conditions to windward she can hold her heading unaided for up to 20 minutes. I had one knockdown to 90 degrees and a few bad broaches but she picked herself up without difficulty. She is a superb boat, indeed she has to be to bring an incompetent single handler like me home safely.

Best wishes to you and many thanks for a fine design. I am starting to think about something in the 60-65' range.  Yours,  Signed, Pat Garnett.=

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Roberts 434 small portion of a very large interior.

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Wood Epoxy B Version under construction.

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ROBERTS 434
Radius chine steel or aluminum version

The radius chine technique shown here makes it easy for any person capable of welding to achieve a beautiful and fair metal hull and this is an ideal method to build the new Roberts 410

The STUDY boat plans on DOWNLOAD or on CD - YOU CHOOSE DOWNLOAD OR CD. . .
show step by step photos on building your radius chine sailboat hull.

SEE ALSO Roberts 434 C

Hello Bruce Just thought you might be interested to know we were paying customers on a 44' Bruce Roberts design boat in Iceland this year.  Our skipper Ashley Woods had built the boat, 'Bold Explorer' himself.  Bold Explorer felt extremely seakindly and safe, and was simple but fun to sail.  She has a large deck saloon which allows you to see the horizon from inside the boat, a great boon on the colder days.  We felt confident sailing her around the wild and beatiful North West
coast of Iceland up to the Drangajokull glacier.  I think Ash is intending to go back to Iceland this year, and also to Norway, perhaps to the Lofoten Islands.  (We have no financial arrangement with Ashley, we were just happy with the trip). Yours Lesley Whitfield and Paul Brittain    Ashley's website is: www.boldexplorer.com

Many of our boats are built to various commercial regulations, all are designed to meet most Classification Society rules ... the Roberts 434 shown meets all these rules and operates as world wide charter boat.  If you would like to charter BOLD EXPLORER you can contact the owners at  www.boldexplorer.com

Built to Codes of Practice for the Safety of Small Commercial Sailing Vessels.
Category "0". Unrestricted World Wide operation. This is a requirement of the British Department of Transport, governing Commercial Vessels. It covers stability, construction, machinery, operation and manning; and it's suitability for World Wide operation. The vessel has been constructed under the careful scrutiny of YBDSA surveyors to ensure its proper construction and compliance with Category "O", as a Sail Training Vessel.

www.sailuk.net/index.htm

She was designed by Bruce Roberts-Goodson.
About 16 tonnes displacement.
Loa. 44'9"
Lwl. 36'0"
Beam 13'6"
ROBERTS 434 TO ICELAND: Hello Bruce Just thought you might be interested to know we were paying customers on a  Roberts 434 sailboat in Iceland this year. Our skipper Ashley Woods had built the boat, 'Bold Explorer' himself. Bold Explorer felt extremely seakindly and safe, and was simple but fun to sail. She has a large deck saloon which allows you to see the horizon from inside the boat, a great boon on the colder days. We felt confident sailing her around the wild and beatiful North West coast of Iceland up to the Drangajokull glacier. I think Ash is intending to go back to Iceland this year, and also to Norway, perhaps to the Lofoten Islands. (We have no financial arrangement with Ashley, we were just happy with the trip). Yours Lesley Whitfield and Paul Brittain Ashley's website is: www.boldexplorer.com

ROBERTS 44 OWNER: Bruce   I have owned a Roberts 44 for over 10 years. The boat was built in Hong Kong, the original owner was Halsey. "Andale" is her name, when I bought her she was suffering form a bad case of neglect. I repaired and refitted her over a period of 5 years. We lived in Sausalito aboard her for 6 years, then sailed her to Mexico, where we have have sailed her in Mexican waters for the past few years. We have sailed her in all kinds of conditions, some a little rougher than we like, but she has always come through. I want to thank you for designing a boat such as her. In most all the anchorage's, she is always the most beautiful. We get a lot of compliments, she makes you feel good just looking at her. Any information you might have it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you again for designing a boat such as Andale'
Tom Sanford & Crew S/V Andale'

RAPID RESPONCE: CHEERS BRUCE,  I Received your study boat plans some time ago,But I haven't had time to Thank you for your rapid response. So thanks Bruce, the boat plans are a good carrot for me to chew on while I start to save for Boat Building . My choice of boat would be the Steel hulled 434,There's a couple of my Diving Buddy's at work on their 434's as I write this E-mail Today. Both boats look pretty impressive, I can't wait to start on my baby.    Thanks  S.J.Robinson.
MOVING BULKHEADS: Good-Day BRUCE  On the Radius chine 434 version C that I am building I noticed that there are a number of bulkheads that need to be fitted. Are all of them required as I would like to have a more of an open plan interior. At present I have completed the frames and fitted them to the strong-back and should have the stringers fitted by end of May. I did not realize that boat building could be so simple. Lastly I must congratulate you on the quality a simplicity of the boat plans they are easy to read. Regards, Johan Boes

ROBERTS 44 built in Poland: We recently had a letter from Andrzej Povsko who built a Roberts 44 in Poland.... Andrzej writes: In 1985 I built a boat in Poland, the plan was a Roberts 44 (your design). I sailed a few seasons in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. In 1989 I sailed from Europe to the USA. The yacht is absolutely perfect, strong, fast, seaworthy and very dependable. I felt very secure in the boat and very satisfied. Sincerely,  Andrzej Povsko

ANOTHER ROBERTS 434: Dear Sir, A customer of yours named Lou Hunter built a 434 in Alameda, CA and they left for Mexico and points south in Nov. 1998.You'll be glad to know that Lou did a beautiful job, the boat was comparable to what very top quality professional yard would do. I haven't heard from him since he left, but he was an experienced cruiser and no doubt he and his wife, a very nice lady (whose patience I have great admiration for), are enjoying themselves greatly. He said the boat was very fast but was very comfortable and felt very secure. The name of the boat is "Tin Can", if you hear anything about a boat by that name you can bet it's Lou's 434 because I don't there's anyone else in the world who'd give their boat a name like that!!! Some day I'm follow Lou's example, although I may opt for a larger boat. Regards, Paul Braga  Note from Bruce.....If you see this boat or any other Roberts 434.....let us know....we would like to hear from you.
OWNER / BUILDERS COMMENTS:   Dear Bruce  I have owned a Roberts 44 offshore for the last few years and its has proved itself to be a great boat. This year it gets a new set of sails however I do not have a set of sail boat plans for it and I am wondering if they are still available.The boat is cutter rigged but sailed mostly as a sloop. Any information on any upgrades to the sail plan to improve performance would be appreciated as well.Great web site.Keep up the good work.            Bruce Winpenny

COMMENT ON R434 boat plans: Dear Bruce, I received the Roberts 434 boat plans and reviewed them thoroughly. They are very detailed and I am very pleased with them. I'm sorry I haven't e-mailed sooner; my computer has been down for two weeks. Meanwhile, I have been constructing a shed and a gantry for the project. I hope to progress quickly with the beginning phases of construction. I have finally found a steel supplier that has low-carbon steel. They are Tull Metals in Atlanta, Georgia. In your book, you recommend sticking to one paint manufacturer through all of the finish. Can you recommend any paint manufacturer who supplies primer(like Sigma-weld), as well as finish paint? I plan to blast and pre-prime the steel as you suggest, so I need to think about a primer that will be compatible with the final finish. Thanks again for the awesome boat plans. I'm sure I will have more questions in the future  Thanks again, Andrew Flips

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