Beam 6 ft - 2 in.....................1.88 m

Draft 3 ft - 6 in......................1.07 m

Hi Bruce, My name is Craig McEwan and I've been getting emails from around the world congratulating me on my boat, and asking questions on building. I couldn't figure out how so many people found my web site so I asked how the had seen it and was told on the Bruce Roberts web site.

So I went looking and found it, the Roberts 19 "ARINAR" under new launchings. I'm absolutely stoked to see it here, and its Christmas Day, how cool is that. I thoughly enjoyed building it, love being out in it. Thank you for putting here and I'll send you a pic of her sailing. Merry Xmas, regards Craig

Here we see the profile and plan view of the ( Pilot house ) version B accommodation. Other layouts are possible and many builders make changes to suit their own particular requirements.

Greetings, Bruce. My name is Igor. I am a Russian architect. Excuse for the bad English as this is an electronic translation. I live in Siberia near to beautiful big lake Baikal. I very much wanted to construct a boat and 4 years ago I found on the Internet the description of your Spray 27.

You have sent me drawings by e-mail. I have a little changed the project. 2 years proceeded construction. The hull - metal, with a  wooden cabin. I have named her *Mobi Dick*. In August 2006 I and my wife of 2 weeks travelled across Baikal.

On travel the boat has very much liked me. She is reliable. She is not overloaded with sails. Allows me to operate alone. Long Keel is super. She goes against a wind! Many friends have become interested in this project and now 3 more hulls are in work. SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THIS BOAT IN STUDY boat plans PACKAGE. I want to thank you for the successful project. Best regards! Igor V.Logvanov.

Tom Thumb "Sisu" sailing on Lake Champlain

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 accommodation according to my requirements with mahogany work. I cruised over 1000 miles in this summer with her & I am totally satisfied & I am proud of her. I strongly recommend this perfect design for all the sailors that want to built their boat by themselves. Thanks and best Regards, Hakan GOKMEN

 Above we see the accommodation layouts for theTom Thumb 26

 Above we see the accommodation layouts for theTom Thumb 28

Above we see the accommodation layouts for the Tom Thumb 305 and Tom Thumb 330

I am now ready to move to something bigger and I think the Voyager Ds 440 in steel is the one for me. Is the anywhere I can get some idea of cost without labour to complete the build. I realise it’s a pretty dumb question and will depend on the quality of the fit  out and standard of equipment but any help you can give with this would be greatly appreciated.  Regards, Barry Murphy

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. 

Dear Bruce,  I bought a Roberts 28 from Lyn Baker of Ithica N.Y.in 1989. I trucked it to Rochester N.Y. and sailed it in Lake Ontario for several years then to East Port Maine, where I went to a boat building school for two years I then sailed "One Day" from Eastport Down the east coast to Cape Cod Stopping at number of ports on the way.

We managed to sustain 8.5 kts running beam to wind in 17 kts of wind. I think this proves that you know how to design an excellent smallish steel yacht. Jill and myself and Duncan Mason would just like to say thanks for an excellent design.

She is a great talking piece in our local marina in Cearnarfon north Wales. Ive enclosed a pic of here under sail on the test day. If you would like any other pics please let me know and ill send some. Best regards Duncan & Jill. We think that the magazine feature will put it in better words than we ever can.

As a shake down cruise a couple of us took the boat across the Irish Sea to Dublin. Whilst we expected force 5 winds, we did not expect to arrive in Ireland in a Force 9 and in the dark. The boat was fantastic, safe, secure and dry in the deep cockpit despite waves over the bow reaching the deck saloon windows on occasion! Regards David Newman