Bruce Roberts steel yacht

[Jabberwock]

I am thinking about a Bruce Roberts 44ft steel yacht I have seen. It has a chine construction rather than a rounded hull form, presumably being cheaper to build.
Is this likely to affect its sailing characteristics much? Presumably the most obvious thing to be aware of is corrosion. The hull having been built in 1998 by a UK boatyard, it has spent a good proportion of its life laid up.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Gordonmc]

I can't claim any expertise on the issue of corrosion on steel boats, never having owned one. But I wouldn't be concerned about a hard chine per se.
My timber boat (mahogany on oak) has a chined hull and not for reasons of economy, the opposite in fact as it means more plank-ends.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[AndrewB]

Whether chined yachts have seriously lower performance is debatable. Not long ago chines were widely used on racing yachts.

Yachts with chines like to sail on their chines. This means that they may be initially rather tender, but stiffen up and track well once heeled over onto the bottom chine. Because they are not symettric underwater, the balance can be less good - a yacht that is well balanced upright may have weather helm when heeled. But the same is true of many round bilge designs.

Avoid very slab-sided yachts or those with just one chine. Bruce Roberts designs generally have two or three, and I have heard it said that the chine versions of his yachts generally handle better than the round-bilge versions.

As you say, corrosion is the great enemy, particularly on the inside, or where wood or aluminium come into contact with steel. The hull should have been shotblasted and fully epoxied when new. If there is any sign whatsoever of rust in a 5 year old yacht, then it wasn't done adequately - forget it.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Jabberwock]

Thank you for the replies. I should have said it was built in 1989 not 1998. Given that it has spent a good deal of time laid up, apart from the inial build treatment would one expect it to have beed retreated in any way.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ashanta]

Chines help stability and have recently been seen in new modern designs. Hunters have, in recent years, added small chines to their new range of yachts which replaced the older designs which had been successful in the 80's and 90's.
Regards.

Peter.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[circumnavigation]

Katoema is a steel Suncoast 40 of Dutch origin (1983). A double "V" hull that allows her to sit on one of the chines and stay there without any problem at all.

Prior to her recent major refit, when she had a full structual survey, she was also subjected to a sonic survey and found to have virtually the same thickness of steel as when she was new. In a recent structual report for a French Court, she was found to be solid and capable to undertake any circumnavigation.

Not many Suncoasts on the market, as their owners tend to keep them.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mpcee.co.uk/katoema.html>http://www.mpcee.co.uk/katoema.html</A>

 

[BrianJ]

I have seen many Bruce Roberts steel yachts.. like most of them.
I had a van de stadt multi chine steel... loved it..
keep her in good nick and you will have a good yacht.. go for it I say.
BrianJ

<hr width=100% size=1>