I am intregued... Spray design question

[Wild Dingo]

Okay after seeing Capn Pepe's post on the building forum... and knowing about Slocums spray journey... AND knowing about Bruce Roberts Design (http://www.bruceroberts.com) having a version of the "spray"... Im wondering if anyone has any experience with these particular boats??

How do they sail Ive heard recently around here that they are real mongrels... true? false?... this by a Roberts Mauritius owner/sailer {whos trying to convince me I should get one} and a cat/non roberts owner/sailer {who thinks Id be better off with the Wharram Tiki}... so Im wondering... Bruce is pretty approachable and Ive had a fair bit of contact with him over the last year or so but I sorta dread saying to him "Hey listen Bruce Ive heard your spray is a bit of a mongrel to sail mate is that right?"...I reckon he would climb all over me then cut me off at the gronicles if I said something like that!! :eek:

So what say you fellas and sheilas? anyone know what the Roberts "Spray" like to sail?

He has wood versions available!!... Pepe's is wood!!... Although with Jon back down here after a cruise northward steel could be an option! aaaaaahhh I will now duck! :eek:

Anyway got visitors for a few days will check back later and see what responses come!

Take it easy
Shane

[WWheeler]

Shane:

You've brought up something that I've wondered about, but being Canadian, didn't want to raise a stink. You're right, the Bruce Robert Spray seems to have nothing in common with Joshua Slocum, especially with the pilot versions etc. However, there are some similarities in the lines.

Here is a lines drawing of Slocum's Spray: (http://www.mcallen.lib.tx.us/orgs/slocum.htm)

http://www.mcallen.lib.tx.us/orgs/spray3a.gif

http://www.mcallen.lib.tx.us/orgs/spray2.gif

Here is the Bruce Roberts Spray 34

http://www.bruceroberts.com/public/HTML/images/CS34-03.gif

http://www.bruceroberts.com/public/HTML/images/CS34-02.jpg

[ 08-13-2002, 11:08 AM: Message edited by: WWheeler ]

[Alan D. Hyde]

Well, Wheeler, you think B I G .

Or post big, anyway...

Alan

[Dave Fleming]

Shane, go here right in your own back yard, whups make that continent. Spray of Australia Society (http://www.skyboom.com/slocumspraysociety/)

My own personal opinion based on what little I know of the design and reading Pete Culler and Ken Slack's books is that, I would stick to the original lines clarified bye Slack or use Cullers lines.

[Alan D. Hyde]

Dave, that's a good site. Thanks.

Any of our Oz participants know what happened to the John Brown who built Joanna ???

It looks like he did an excellent job.

Alan

[WWheeler]

Alan: Size isn't everything. But in this case, it appears to be determined by the web site that I linked to. (Too lazy to shrink the pictures down.)

Shane: If a Bruce Roberts design is a real mongrel, why is an owner trying to convince you to get one?

A lot of the difference seems to be in sail plan, not hull shape. Roberts seems to emphasize easy handling for long distances, especially so that couples can handle the entire boat.

So, Slocum's original sail plan might not be a good idea. A reasonable tradeoff, or a bastardization? I'm not sure, it probably depends on how young you are.

[ 08-13-2002, 11:08 AM: Message edited by: WWheeler ]

[Wild Dingo]

Originally posted by WWheeler:
Shane: If a Bruce Roberts design is a real mongrel, why is an owner trying to convince you to get one? Mate he wants me to get a Roberts Mauritious design... why? because its easier for him... and if Im going to build in steel this guy would be chief boilermaker welder...word being if its a thought thats all... having just completed his second build his knowledge experience {and equipment;)} and on side manner would be real helpfull!!...

The first he lost to a divorce settlement... second hes just returned from a sail northward... It was a comment he made that got me intregued thats all... his view was along with some rather contemptious looks and snorts that the "Roberts Spray sailed like a dog" now he didnt go into the hows or whys of all that... but in the context of the conversation was "why would you think of getting one of those mongrels when you can get one of these?" {Mauritious}... He has a big bias to the Mauritious design having built and sailed 2.

Now to clear that up I didnt say I was going to get one or build one just that they interested me... many many boats interest me Roberts designs are just one of many :cool:

Thanks for the responses mates.

Take it easy
Shane

[ 08-13-2002, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: Wild Dingo ]