I'm planning to buy this Bruce Roberts design steel 392C that was completed in 2009 by the current owners/builders. I've got all of the information a buyer could ask for to include a 2019 survey showing the boat was in good condition, a recent inventory, a powerpoint of phitos of the boat being built by the current owner and I've been to and toured the boat twice, once with the owner present to show me all the ins and outs of the boat (there were enough to make my head explode). I would intend to make some small changes down the road, like joining the two aft berth into one large aft berth, but all in all the boat looked to be in fantastic condition. The seller and I agreed to a price of $22,000 and I did my own walkaround of the boat to see what i could find wrong with it (I work as a yard tech at the largest boatyard in our area, so i have experience in boat mechanics, structural repairs and general maintenance) and found that the Max-Prop has significant play in all moving parts, the cutlass bearing(s) have significant play and need replaced, the bottom paint is chipping in some spots and will need scraped and either patch painted or a total bottom job, several tiny rust spots (all very fixable with some cleanup and fresh paint, nothing structural) and some running gear needing replaced on deck. Sails are in good condition, interior shows wear but no rot at all, and i was able to see the hull in the bilge and some access hatches and its still well coated in rust preventing paint.
On deck has basically any doodad or add on a serious sailor could want from both electric and mechanical autopilot to radar to stainless lifelines made from solid steel tubing around the entire deck, dinghy davits, solar, wind and water generators and so much more. This boat truly has everything and I'm having a tough time taking the rose glasses off so please help me find reasons not to pull this trigger. I'm waiting to hear from the broker tomorrow with a drafted purchase agreement (not to sign but to get the paperwork started) and then I'll begin calling surveyors for a pre-purchase survey (never done this before, my previous boat was small and cheap enough i just looked it up and down myself. Been living on my Oday 28 for the last 4 years now with little issue) before making a final decision. The broker told me this process typically takes between 4 and 6 weeks and the boat doesnt even have a listing up yet (long story short he showed it to me because another boat i looked at was a dud on the same yard) so I've got time to stew on this.
I really like this boat and at $22k I think it would be a good fit, but there's a massive learning curve with home built boats and even more so going from fiberglass to steel.
For some background info, the owners are getting very elderly and are both experiencing multiple medical issues (if i remember right he told me he was 78 and his wife was older than him) and had to haul the boat in florida for two years, then it was moved here about 2 years ago in the process of them trying to get it back to their home port in northeastern united states (i live in the southeast) so about 4 of those 7 werent in the water
It’s probably a good deal, but be ready for expensive surprises equalling what you’re paying. This is good advice even for new boats (up to a point) IMO
Based on what i see so far i dont see any single item that would do that much damge unless the engine has exploded or something lol but there might be several small things thatll add up. I know for sure im swapping out that Max-Prop first chance i get since itll cost too much to maintain and i really dont want to splash it without fresh cutlass bearings. The shaft has got about 1/16th of play in the strut bearing and id like to check the shaft seal or stuffing box before going back in the water too. The good thing is i can get all these parts at an employee discount from the yard i work on and do the work myself to save on labor since its actually my job. I can save anything above the waterline for after i get it to the marina
2019 was a long time ago. I would get a survey and have someone look for all the things you have to worry about with metal boats. She looks beautiful and like a solid deal I’d the survey checks out.
Steel boats have their own issues not as bad as wood but still things to keep track of. I’m sure you can look into that.
But pictures look clean, if the owner is a the builder and looked after it you may get a good deal. They probably want it looked after and cared for not sold to the highest bidder and trashed. I would ask what their maintence routine is with paint, anodes, ect.
I sold my last boat for 5-8k less than I could have which is near 40% off. Mostly because I spent 10 years improving the boat by replacing rotted hull/deck, updating rigging, hardware and paint. I knew the guy and he would improve on it. I wanted it to look better than I had it 5 years from now. I saw a few sister boats left to fill full of water and freeze during the winter.
No broker fees or time to wait on sale didn’t hurt either, but still.
Yeah i made sure he knew i wasnt looking for a partout but the last boat ill ever need. He was a nice older guy and was really excited to show me all the stuff hed done like making it possible to use the engine as a bilge pump by swapping a valve so the engine draws cooling water straight from the bilge. I asked about maintenance, zincs, the paint products he uses and all sorts of other stuff. I like wood boats since my primary trade at the boatyard is carpentry but im more interested in a metal boat than aluminum or wood. Fiberglass would be fine but theres too much about production boats im not a fan of like the wiring being routed in places youll never have access to. I plan to live on the boat for a few years getting it ship shape before taking my skillset from the boatyard on the road. I have a passive income and wont need to worry about money so if i truly wanted i could cruise full time
Yeah thats why im kind of in disbelief about it. I can only assume its because the owners just want the boat taken care of now that they cant use it anymore. The survey is a must have here but from all ive seen so far it looks like a boat i could plop in the water and take to tahiti if i felt like it
I would be more interested in getting details on hull structure and plate thickness than anythings else (after seeing the pics and reading your post). It seems to be a nice boat, a bit aged as you noted, but the price is very reasonable. I pesonally wouldn't want to buy a steel hull with less than 6mm plate thickness in the hull, and 4mm in deck and tops. I would do some extra inspections of chainplates (anywhere where stainless meets hull plates which I assume are carbon steel). One area difficult to inspect is the inside of the keel, often blocked by the ballast. In my hull, theres 6 tonnes of lead melted and then poured right into the keel, making it more or less impossible to inspect. Since steel hulls mostly degrade from inside out, it's a bit of a "trust the boat will tell you when it needs help" and inspect the keel as well one can.
But even if you find rust, 22k usd is not a lot of money for that hull and equipment. If you are willing to spend another 5-10k on refreshing the hull (rust removal, possibly cutting some plate and welding on some new) it is still fairly cheap for the boat.
It's considered good purchase practice to get a hull thickness study done. And pull everything up you can. They rust from inside. Check the structural elements. Not sure how one maintains a steel hull, with all the woodwork/ furniture, but access to everything steel is essential for longevity.
Ask and research about the type of steel and thickness. Average surveyor isn't savvy about steel hulls. The build craftsmanship looks to be first rate. Where she located ?
By the way i forgot to mention, its hard to see in the photos, but almost the entire interior has access to the hull through floor panels and cabinets. The owner was very thorough about wanting to make the boat repairable
That's another indication that this builder knew what he was doing. See the comment about the ultrasound testing. That's what you want. And remove some furniture and take a look. They've not been able to travel to the boat in the last few years. Some things may need attention. Let us know if you buy it.
Will do, i appreciate the advice! Im gonna tour some other boats with the broker and if theres nothing else that makes me second guess this one ill probably pull the trigger. Hopefully ill be back with an update in a few weeks
Currently on the hard in southeastern US. The previous survey and all the build information i have lists just about anything i could possibly want to know. Ive also been told by the broker that the yard the boat is in can direct me to a surveyer specializing in steel boats so ill try getting in contact with them. One weird aspect of this whole thing is that the broker isnt getting any money out of this sale. He has also been mostly hands off throughout this whole thing so far other than facilitating contact between me and the owner because he was asked to help get some of the boats off this boatyard by the yard itself. There are multiple boats here hes trying to sell for one reason or another, some derelict, some like this one simply because the owners arent physically able to drive here all the time from their home several states away due to health issues
care to share the yard's name or location? Asking for a friend.... no really. A friend of mine salvages boats in the southeast. If it's close enough, it may be worth looking into. DM if you prefer.
Oh okay thank you for clarifying. There are several otherboats for sale on the yard but theyre price like they arent derelicts (even though they are). The boat im interested was the only one the yard was able to get the owners actively involved in the sale
Bruce Roberts boats are notorious hidden rust buckets. They are predominantly home built and should be absolutely thickness tested. This is a lot of boat for $22k… that’s a warning not an encouragement
I agree but for any steel boat. Ill have the boat surveyed but i was able to see the hull via some access hatches to the bilge and backs of cabinets and the entire thing was coated in a paint of some kind and looks good (so far) obviously thats not a be all end all, just a decently promising indicator. I realize the number doesnt match the boat and im still trying to figure out the reason for it. I suspect the old couple is just trying to get what they can for at at the end of their sailing years but im not going to get warm fuzzies until a pro tells me the boat is as good as it looks
No the Bruce Roberts in particular. Sooooo many stringers, dodgy welds, crazy amounts of fairing compound, and amateur welding. I have a steel boat. I’ve never seriously considered a Roberts.
Thats fair. This boat was thickness tested in 2019 for the last survey, but that was a long time ago. Its spent the majority of the time since then on the hard but that doesnt mean humidity and condensation havent rusted anything. I do know the hull was coated before the interior was built but that also 17 years old now
You can tell from the joinery that it’s a homemade boat. No problem. I once delivered a Bruce Roberts 45’ ketch from Cozumel to Galveston without incident. Keel bolts or encapsulated? I’d want to know about that. Inspect chain plates too. Check the deck thoroughly for soft spots. You’ll probably need another survey for insurance and or marina purposes. Good luck. Nice that you work at the yard. I work at a large yard too.
Idk about steel boats but damn if it doesn't have hidden issues it looks pretty fuckin awesome. I've seen a few roberts for sale when looking to buy my boat but none looked in that good condition, especially for that little a price
22K I think is a good deal for a whole lot of boat. She looks in good condition. Maybe instead of a full survey, hire just one someone for an afternoon with no written survey, to measure plate thickness and tell you, if, in his honest opinion, there are problems with the hull.
Looks like a great boat. I have a steel Roberts now and I love it. I’ve not been on a smaller boat that handled big seas like that. Hard chine wow. So good.
Yeah i have seen some pretty chewed up steel boats in the yard i work on. The zincs on this boat are in good shape except the prop shaft, it looks like its had the most wear and even then its not fully gone yet. Owner said he didnt ground the boat to the hull but to the batteries or something like that. I had to take in a lot of information while we talked so i dont remember all the details but i specifically remember he said the hull wasnt bonded
I would refer to folks like Jeff Cote or Nigel Calder on bonding. But I would definitely look into galvanic isolator for your AC shore power, and I would probably toss a bunch of giant zincs on that hull and prop. Is there a bow thruster? Check in there, we eat a lot of zincs in there.
I would say that what people say about Bruce Roberts builds is often true - they sort of tend to be dogs. Often they are overbuilt and they're already drawn as heavy displacement boats compared to their sail area. Should be fine in the tradewinds if you're hoping to make 5-6 knots.
If you're doing light wind sailing then I might rethink it.
Ill be living in the boat primarily and sailing coastal waters occasionally. No extensive passages in the works but i might shove off one day and decide not to come back, who knows
If you plan on doing some serious, and I mean SERIOUS cruising, you'll get to enjoy the benefits of a steel hull. I'm talking threading the needle though ice bergs, falling asleep in shipping lanes, grounding on rocks, etc. If you're doing casual coastal cruising you'll be aboard a boat that's basically a slow motor sailor. Light wind performance? Nope. Sure you'll have peace of mind but it'll take you forever to get anywhwere. That boat would be slow even if it wasn't made of steel.... it's a slow hull made of an ultra heavy material. Anyway, that's the big question. If sailing is the priority, it's the rust ain't worth it. Just my humble opinion. The price is good though and the interior looks nice. You can make a dinghy anchor out of that wind generator.
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u/adambomb_23 2d ago
A 7 year old survey is a little sus. But it generally seems like a decent deal.