Bruce Roberts 44 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The Roberts 44 was offered in multiple cockpit and interior configurations from the plans, and this variety follows the boat into the used market. The most commonly encountered arrangement is the aft-cockpit layout with a three-cabin interior — typically a forward double, a main-saloon convertible, and an aft stateroom — which makes the boat practical for couples or small families. Centre-cockpit versions also appear, and these tend to attract buyers wanting a more distinct aft cabin with privacy from the rest of the boat. Rig configuration adds another layer of variation: sloop, cutter, and ketch rigs were all plan-valid options, and you will find all three represented among used examples. Ketch-rigged boats are a meaningful subset of the fleet and appeal particularly to shorthanded offshore sailors who value the divided sail plan. The plans also allowed fiberglass or steel construction, with fiberglass round-bilge and steel multi-chine both represented on the market.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Because many Roberts 44s have spent years as liveaboard or bluewater passage-makers, used examples are commonly fitted with the kind of cruising kit that builds up over an extended offshore life. Solar panels, a bimini, and a dodger are among the most widely seen additions. Dinghy davits are common on boats that have been used as motherships for extended cruising. Autopilots are almost universal across the fleet — essential for a heavy-displacement passage-maker on long ocean legs — and a freezer is a frequent fixture for crews planning extended time away from provisioning ports.

Owner upgrades reflect the liveaboard character of the fleet. Lithium battery banks and inverters appear as a relatively common upgrade on boats that have passed through the hands of technically inclined owners wanting to run larger electrical loads. Wind generators are a frequently seen complement to solar on boats that have cruised higher latitudes or spent time at anchor in low-sun seasons. Navigation electronics including chartplotters, radar, and AIS are widely fitted, with safety equipment such as EPIRBs and life rafts commonly aboard given the offshore backgrounds of many examples. Bow thrusters and electric winches turn up on some boats as dockside-comfort upgrades, while a gennaker or asymmetric spinnaker is a notable addition on sloop- and cutter-rigged examples whose owners wanted to improve downwind performance.

What to Inspect

The amateur-build variable is the central risk in any Roberts 44 purchase, and a pre-purchase survey from a surveyor experienced with owner-built vessels is not optional — it is the entire foundation of the buying decision. The design draws praise for leaving very little to the builder's imagination, with detailed plans and profuse construction drawings, but execution quality across the fleet varies enormously.

On fiberglass hulls, pay close attention to the laminate schedule and glass-to-resin ratio. Owner-built fiberglass boats sometimes show inconsistency in lay-up quality, and areas around bulkheads, keel attachments, and chainplates deserve particular scrutiny. The hull's displacement to length ratio of 339 places it firmly in the heavy end of the cruising spectrum, meaning structural integrity under load matters enormously. On steel examples — which are also well-represented in the fleet — corrosion inspection is the primary concern. Interior rust, especially behind liners or in inaccessible bilge areas, can be advanced before it is visible from the outside. Check frames, floors, and keel-to-hull welds methodically. Steel hulls have genuine advantages in impact resistance and can be repaired almost anywhere in the world, but they demand diligent maintenance.

Examine engine installation carefully. The plans specified a range of diesel inboard power, and the quality of engine beds, shaft alignment, and through-hull fittings will reflect the original builder's competence. On older examples, standing rigging, chainplates, and any owner-fabricated hardware should be treated as suspect until confirmed. The capsize screening value sits at a comfortable margin for offshore work, but that safety margin only holds if the boat is properly ballasted and the keel attachment is sound — verify both.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Roberts 44 enjoys a genuinely global footprint. Used examples appear most consistently in North America — particularly the United States and Canada — as well as Australia, reflecting the countries where the plans sold most actively and where offshore amateur-building culture was strongest. The design's longevity, having been in continuous plan-sale circulation since the late 1970s, means the fleet spans a wide age range, with boats still completing major voyages decades after they were laid down.

For the right buyer — patient, mechanically capable, and willing to invest in a thorough survey — a well-built Roberts 44 is a rewarding bluewater platform. For buyers who cannot easily assess build quality or who need predictability in condition and systems, the owner-built nature of the fleet demands extra caution.

Buyer's checklist:

• Commission a surveyor experienced with owner-built and amateur-constructed vessels
• Specify hull material inspection appropriate to the construction type (fiberglass laminate quality or steel corrosion assessment)
• Verify keel attachment, ballast, and chainplate integrity regardless of rig type
• Inspect all through-hulls, engine beds, and shaft alignment as independent items
• Confirm rig configuration matches your intended use (sloop, cutter, or ketch)
• Review all owner-installed systems — electrical, plumbing, and safety gear — for quality of installation, not just presence
• Assess tankage (fuel and water) condition and capacity against your passage-making plans
• Research the build history wherever documentation exists