Design Brief & Intent
The primary mission of the Roberts 36 was to provide an affordable, seaworthy platform capable of crossing oceans with a shorthanded crew, typically a couple or a small family. Roberts engineered the hull with a focus on load-carrying capacity and stability, prioritizing safety over flat-out speed. Unlike mass-production boats of the era, which were often optimized for dockside living and light-wind coastal sailing, the Roberts 36 was conceived as a true blue-water voyager.
The interior character of the Roberts 36 is highly dependent on who finished the vessel. While some amateur builds feature rustic, rough-sawn cabinetry, others completed by professional joiners or meticulous owners rival the finest semi-custom yards of the era. Standard internal arrangements emphasize safety at sea, featuring deep handholds, secure U-shaped galleys that keep the cook secure on either tack, and an athwartships head layout. Solid woodwork, typically utilizing teak, mahogany, or local hardwoods like Tasmanian Myrtle, dominates the interior of well-executed builds, creating a traditional, warm, and highly functional living space that excels during long periods at anchor or on passage.
Variations & Configurations
Because the Roberts 36 was sold primarily as a set of plans or a kit, it exists in an extraordinarily wide range of configurations. The hull design accommodated multiple building techniques: multi-chine steel or aluminum, round-bilge fiberglass (often constructed using the C-Flex or Airex foam core systems), and cold-molded wood-epoxy. Draft options varied accordingly, ranging from a shallow-draft four-foot configuration utilizing lead ballast to a deeper configuration when builders opted for cheaper scrap-steel ballast encased in resin.
Rig choices were equally diverse, with plans outlining cutter, ketch, sloop, and even junk rigs 1. The cutter and ketch configurations are the most common on the brokerage market. The cutter rig, with its dual headsails, is highly favored for offshore work as it allows for progressive sail reduction while maintaining balanced steering. Accommodation layouts were split between a traditional aft-cockpit configuration and a highly sought-after center-cockpit version. The center-cockpit model provides an impressive aft master stateroom with exceptional headroom, though it sacrifices some cockpit space compared to the more conventional aft-cockpit version, which appeals to those who prioritize outdoor living and easier access to the steering gear.
Sailing Performance & Handling
In terms of sailing dynamics, the Roberts 36 behaves like a classic heavy cruiser. With a displacement-to-length ratio of approximately 277, the hull falls firmly into the heavy displacement category, which translates to a predictable and seakindly motion. This is supported by a motion comfort ratio of nearly 30, indicating that the boat will not subject its crew to the quick, jerky motions typical of modern, light-displacement hulls. On the helm, she feels steady and tracks exceptionally well, a characteristic of her long keel with a cutaway forefoot. This tracking ability makes the boat highly compatible with windvane self-steering systems, a critical asset for short-handed cruisers.
However, this heavy, high-volume hull does have performance trade-offs. In light winds of under twelve knots, the Roberts 36 can feel sluggish and struggles to point closely to windward, often making ninety degrees or more from tack to tack 6. The boat truly comes alive in fifteen to thirty knots of breeze, where her moderate sail area provides enough drive to push the hull to its theoretical maximum speed of just over seven knots. Under these conditions, particularly on a reach or broad reach, the vessel is a stable, dry, and reassuring passage-maker.
Market Snapshot & Economics
On the brokerage market, the Roberts 36 occupies a unique and somewhat volatile niche. Because the design is a specification rather than a standardized factory product, individual examples do not trade within a narrow, predictable price range. Instead, values are highly sensitive to hull material, build quality, and system provenance. Professionally built fiberglass models generally command a premium due to their easier maintenance and lower risk of structural degradation.
Steel models, while representing incredible value on a volume-per-dollar basis, are often discounted by the market because of the high labor demands associated with preventing corrosion. Buyers must understand that a cheap Roberts 36 can be a false economy. Backyard builds with poorly welded plates, raw iron ballast, or amateur-grade wiring will require refit investments that can easily exceed the initial purchase price. Conversely, finding a well-constructed, properly insulated, and professionally finished model represents one of the most cost-effective routes to acquiring a capable, blue-water cruiser.
Known Issues & Triage
The primary areas of concern for any prospective Roberts 36 buyer are structural integrity and the quality of the original build. For steel hulls, internal corrosion is the single greatest threat. Moisture from condensation can collect under the cabin sole, behind built-in cabinetry, and in the bottom of the bilge, leading to localized rust that is difficult to detect without removing the interior joinery. Ultrasonic hull testing is an absolute necessity during a pre-purchase survey of a steel model to verify plate thickness, especially around the waterlines and the keel.
For fiberglass models built using the C-Flex system, surveyors must check for void spaces and dry glass fibers. If the resin did not fully penetrate the C-Flex rods during construction, moisture can migrate through the hull laminate, causing systemic delamination or severe osmotic blistering over time. Additionally, because many of these boats were fitted out by amateur owners, the electrical systems rarely conform to modern standards 8. Prospective buyers should budget for an electrical overhaul, as original wiring often consists of non-marine grade copper and chaotic, undocumented routing.
Modernization & Upgrades
Many current owners of the Roberts 36 are focusing their refit budgets on upgrading the vessel's electrical and propulsion systems to modern cruising standards. Replacing heavy lead-acid battery banks with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) systems is a highly popular upgrade, made practical by the boat’s spacious interior and robust weight-carrying capacity. This modification is frequently paired with the installation of high-efficiency solar arrays, typically mounted on custom-built stainless steel aft arches that also serve as tender davits.
Mechanically, many of these boats were originally underpowered with small twenty-horsepower diesels that struggle to push the heavy displacement hull against a strong headwind or current. Upgrading to a modern thirty-five to forty horsepower diesel engine—such as a Yanmar or Beta Marine—is a common and highly recommended modernization that vastly improves safety and maneuvering in tight quarters. Furthermore, on steel hulls, owners are stripping old coatings down to bare metal and applying modern multi-part epoxy barrier coat systems to provide long-lasting protection against galvanic corrosion.
The Verdict
The Bruce Roberts 36 is a rugged, deeply capable, and traditional blue-water cruiser that stands as a testament to an era of self-reliant ocean voyaging. It is not a boat for those who prioritize swift light-wind sailing or the modern, open-concept interiors of contemporary production yachts. However, for sailors seeking a stout, comfortable, and highly customizable pocket voyager capable of weathering severe conditions, a well-built Roberts 36 remains an exceptionally practical choice. Success with this model hinges entirely on selecting an example that was constructed with care and has been fastidiously maintained, as the delta between a poorly executed home build and a professionally finished masterpiece is vast.
- Extremely robust hull construction provides a high level of security in heavy weather.
- Predictable, comfortable motion in a seaway with excellent tracking performance.
- Highly customizable layouts with massive interior volume and headroom for a boat of this length.
- Affordable entry point to serious offshore cruising and blue-water passage-making.
- Available in multiple hull materials and rig configurations to suit specific owner preferences.
Cons:
- Significant variance in build quality, joinery, and systems due to the owner-builder nature of the design.
- Light-wind performance is sluggish, with a tendency to struggle when pointing close to the wind.
- Steel variations require constant vigilance and high maintenance to prevent localized rust and galvanic corrosion.
- Outdated or non-standard electrical wiring in many older builds requires a complete overhaul.
- Often confused with the slower, heavier, and less maneuverable Spray 36 series.
