Bruce Roberts Roberts 56 Ketch Sailboats for Sale

The Bruce Roberts 56 Ketch is a formidable offshore cruiser designed for sailors who prioritize ultimate stability and longrange autonomy over racing pedigree. Conceived by the prolific designer Bruce RobertsGoodson, this model emerged as a premier choice for the "ownerbuilder" and "customyard" movement, particularly for those seeking a vessel capable of highlatitude exploration or circumnavigation. Because the 56 was primarily offered as a set of plans or a precut kit, construction materials vary significantly across the global fleet, with steel being the most common choice for its impact resistance, followed by aluminum and multideck fiberglass. The vessel’s sheer scale and heavy displacement characterize it as a "destination boat"—one that provides a secure, motiondampening platform for living aboard in remote corners of the world.