Bruce[2].jpg (4158 bytes)

Bruce Roberts-Goodson

CONTACT BRUCE BY
 EMAIL
Bruce Roberts Yacht Design
Official BRUCE ROBERTS WEB SITE - DESIGN OFFICE FOUNDED 1966

METAL BOATS BOOK 2nd Edition 
DETAILS  ORDER
us$39.95- € 26 - £15

choosing.JPG (26072 bytes)
CHOOSING
CRUISING SAILBOATS
DETAILS  
 ORDER
us$39.95  


Gwenda Roberts-Goodson

HOME PAGE

SUPER STUDY PLANS -  up to THREE STUDY PLANS ON CD.  

These new study plans have lists of materials & equipment required to build and equip your boat ... these lists will help you to cost out the complete building project.
Each CD contains - ALL the drawings of your choices of ONE or TWO or THREE plans with up to 25 sheets per plan! Technical information and Performance graphs are included for many designs. PLEASE indicate the study plans you would like in the SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS BOX you will find on the order form.

FREE 300 page e-BOOK ... A boatbuilding e-book will be included FREE with your study plans on CD

CONSTRUCTION & COMPLETED BOAT PHOTOS ARE INCLUDED IN THE STUDY PLANS ON CD
INCLUDES LATEST PLAN & KIT PRICES  ... ORDER study plans now only $99 or 79  or  £55
 

Roberts TOM THUMB 24 or 26 or 28
This is one of my favourite designs. Long waterline length, enough displacement so that it won't be thrown around by waves and swell, shoal draft, strong and very economical to build. No wonder it is so popular. It can be built utilising frameless steel construction techniques, the object being to provide the undoubted strength of steel while allowing the construction to be kept relatively light. The plans for the Tom Thumb are only available for multi-chine steel or aluminium construction.

With a beam of  3.20 meters and headroom of 1.9 meters the interior is very large for a vessel this size. Her hull speed is a fraction over 6 knots. This vessel will take you anywhere you are capable of taking her. The large scale plans include full size frame patterns and you will find this boat an ideal first steel boatbuilding project.

 

TOM THUMB 24

TOM THUMB 26

TOM THUMB 28
L.O.A

7.26 m
23'   10"

7.92 m
25'  11"

8.53 m
28'  0"
L.W.L.

6.70 m
22'   0"

7.24 m
23'    9"

7.47 m
24'  6"
BEAM

2.92 m
9'   6"

3.20 m
10'    4"

3.05 m
10'-0"
DRAFT

1.22 m
4'  0"

1.22 m
4'    0"

1.37 m
4'   6"
DISPLACEMENT

3,590 kg
7,900 lb

4,082 kg
9,000 lb

5,103 kg
11,250 lb
BALLAST

1,194 kg
2,633 lb

1,360 kg
3,000 lb

1,700 kg
3,7250 lb

TOM THUMB 26

Dear Bruce, I built a tom thumb 26 as you can see the photo attached. I would like to thank you for this perfect design. I add a boomkin and a long bow also cutter rig. And I add additional 250 kg in keel because of larger sail area. Round shape and teak deck and mahogany works for traditional boat appearance.

She is cruising perfect and she can reach 6 - 7 knot easily in between 3-7 beufort with sails. I also change the accomodation according to my requirements with mahogany work. I cruised over 1000 miles in this summer with her and I totally satisfied. I proud of her.

I strongly recommend this perfect design for all the sailors that want to built their boat by themselves.

I can send to you more photos and sailing videos if you want.
Thanks and best Regards, Hakan GOKMEN

TOM THUMB 26

Several other sail & accomodation plans included with study plans and plans and patterns.

The TT 24, TT 26 and TT 28 are all included in the STUDY PLANS on CD.

 

STUDY PLAN PACKAGES ON CD GIVE ACCESS TO MANY step by step BOAT  CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS + PHOTOS OF COMPLETED BOATS ETC.
 SEE DETAILS  
ORDER STUDY PLANS

 

TOM THUMB 26

Profile of Tom Thumb 26 accomodation plan.

TOM THUMB 26

There are several alternate accomodation plans and sail plans on the Study plans on CD - this is one version of the TT 26

 

Tom Thumb 28 interior layout.

 

Hi Bruce,

Attached is a picture of "Margarita" crewed by my nephews, headed south again ...This shot is on Indian River in Cocoa Fla...They are headed for Bahamas and Turks...I launched this boat in 1990 and she looks like a newborn 20 yrs. later...and even better...Someday I might get her back  but in the meantime she is turning heads....Please use the pictures and script as you wish...Regards. John Larkum

TOM THUMB

Tony Fountain, ( former owner of Spray 33 and founder of Australian Spray Society ) recently purchased a Roberts Tom Thumb steel cutter called "Striking Viking"

Now re-named “Seerauber” Tony writes about his Tom Thumb She is fantastic sea boat- we certainly tried her out she handled like a dream and at one stage we were thumping along at 8.5 knots under reefed main and headsail. 5 knots came up easily and consistently-not bad for a little 24'er eh?
 

Some history about Tony's Tom Thumb

She was built in Lakes Entrance (Victoria) in 1996 and the gentleman I purchased her from, Mr Don Modra, sailed her back from there to Adelaide with his son. He was telling me that on the passage home, they had up to 25' waves (the coastline from Geelong to Warrnambool is not called "the wreck coast for nothing!) and she took them all in her stride. As I said earlier, a great little sea boat and correspondence I have had recently with Tom Thumb owners in Europe and America bear this out time and time again.

On the 6th May 2005, she had her sails run up in Sydney waters for the first time and she is now moored contentedly in Burraneer Bay, in the beautiful Port Hacking region of southern Sydney.

Tony is now setting off on some offshore voyaging in his Tom Thumb and we will keep you posted on his travels.

TOM THUMB

Interior of the Tom Thumb

 

Here is a picture of my Tom Thumb.
She is a delightful boat! Thanks again, John Larkum

 

Hi,
I just wanted to write a quick note regarding my Margarita, a Tom Thumb design built by my uncle; John Larkum.  I sailed her for over 5000 miles last year including Mexico, the Bay Islands of Honduras, the Rio Dulce in Guatemala (where the attached picture was taken), as well as Belize and the east coast of the states from virginia to the Florida Keys.  What a trip!!  I was gone for a little over 8 months.  I am currently in the eastern Carribean on another boat, but have definite plans to get back to Virginia, where Margarita is hauled out awaiting my attention.  You have two pictures of her already on your website, so I thought maybe we could add one more.  Cheers from St. Barths.

Richard Larkum
PO BOX 1281
Gloucester Point VA 23062

 

Another Tom Thumb hull almost ready for launching.
 

Tom Thumb "ARION"

Tom Thumb "Sisu" sailing on Lake Champlain

Australian built Tom Thumb "ARION"

Dear Bruce, A friend took the photo in October 1996 sailing in Queensland waters just south of Gladstone.  The hull and deck were professionally built there for a friend who could not finish it so I bought it and fitted it out myself with the very best of everything.  It is a fantastic little sea-boat.  I sail alone most of the time and never steer. The fully battened main and other sails from a top racing loft helps performance too. 

However, I like alternative rigs - I have a friend with a junk rigged Tom Thumb, \"Minke\", and have sailed in company for hundreds of miles, comparing the rigs.  I walk away from \"Minke\" in light head-winds and smooth seas.  In boisterous open sea conditions to windward I always fall off onto a very close reach (45 degrees apparent) and then there is very little in it. 

Downwind we are evenly matched.  I can creep away at times because I have no inboard engine and do not drag a propeller, but if we have to throw in a gybe or two to clear a reef etc, "Minke" gets ahead while I am running around changing headsail poles from one side to the other and resetting guys etc. 

If you want to direct Australian clients to have a look at "Arion" you would be welcome, I keep the boat at the Breakwater Marina, Townsville, and won't be off cruising again for a couple of years or so.  Graham Cox  Townsville QLD 4810 Australia,  Cheers  Graham Cox 

EMAIL     -      ORDERS     -      HOME / INDEX PAGE