I have just recently bought a Roberts 25 with drop keel (wind up and down), I find there is almost no info about them at all, I am new to sailing, pretty much everyday I look at sailing clips hoping to learn more. You might ask why did I buy her, firstly it has always been a dream to have a sailboat, and secondly, a deal came up that I believed to be to good to leave.
I have taken her for a tiny sail in safe fresh water, I managed to go somewhere and return, I found she isn't all that fast, but then again that my be my fault (lack of experience) . I'm not really looking for speed, just a comfortable, safe cruiser.
I would love to chat with anyone who has any knowledge about them.
I want to take her to the Whitsundays, would she be ok in the sea? I'm based in Adelaide and assume she may not be suitable to travel all that way by sea, I expect I would have to take her on the trailer.
Hope to hear from you....
Cheers
Welcome to the forum. While we may occasionally extract the urine out of Roberts designs when they are used for their designed intended use they are fine. There should be heaps of info on Roberts 25's about, plenty were built and they were primarily built as trailer sailers for cruising. They often have other names like South Coast 25 for example. I would not take one up the East Coast but as a trailerable yacht they would be fine for all those cruising spots like the Whitsundays, Pittwater, Port Stephens and other places like Yarawonga and of course the Gulfs in SA.
Thanks so much for your reply, I was thinking the Roberts would be ok in the Gulfs and maybe the Whitsundays in good weather.
I bought her in a huge hurry, to be honest, I was happy just sitting on her in the berth enjoying a sandwich and coffee, listening to the water lapping at the sides. I'm in Austria at the moment, it's killing me, it's -3 cel as I type,I should be back home in S.A.
I have spent a huge amount of time looking at sailing clips, I don't know if that was a good thing, now the sailing bug has really bitten me, I just can't wait to get back home and start my sailing journey to wherever the winds might take me.
When you are new to sailing, a trailer sailer is a good start. Gives you a chance to sail in protected waters and get your skill level up. Then you start reading (dreaming about) the other forum posts of interesting boats for sale.
But do the trailer sailer (by trailer) in the Whitsundays before you move up to a bigger boat. Much, much, much easier to get there by road than by sea.
Firstly here is the Bruce Roberts site.
www.bruceroberts.com/public/HTML/descriptions/Roberts25_description.htm
I also suggest you sign up to trailersailerplace.com.au. There are a couple of members who have/had Roberts.
www.trailersailerplace.com.au/phpBB3/
Note . The site is a bit slow sometimes.
As Ramona said the South Coast is a direct development of the Roberts.
Couple of other reads
trailersailerplace.com.au/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=12023
www.johncrawfordmarine.com.au/cms/index.php/south-coast-25/418-south-coast-25-review/file
Select to expand quoteHappyD said..
Thanks so much for your reply, I was thinking the Roberts would be ok in the Gulfs and maybe the Whitsundays in good weather.
I bought her in a huge hurry, to be honest, I was happy just sitting on her in the berth enjoying a sandwich and coffee, listening to the water lapping at the sides. I'm in Austria at the moment, it's killing me, it's -3 cel as I type,I should be back home in S.A.
I have spent a huge amount of time looking at sailing clips, I don't know if that was a good thing, now the sailing bug has really bitten me, I just can't wait to get back home and start my sailing journey to wherever the winds might take me.
Drag her over to Port Lincoln and explore Boston Bay and the Groups. Go to Goolwa and work your way up the Murray. Head over to Yarawonga for a regatta with other trailer sailers before you bother going to the Whitsundays and get disappointed! Use it as a caravan on the road.
I want to thank everybody for their help, advice and links to follow, you have all given me piece of mind. I am in Austria at the moment but I can't wait to get home and take her out. I'm really excited.....
Select to expand quoteHappyD said..
I want to thank everybody for their help, advice and links to follow, you have all given me piece of mind. I am in Austria at the moment but I can't wait to get home and take her out. I'm really excited.....
Hi There HappyD,
I am the owner of a roberts 27 shallow keel. Purchased her in Port Macquarie a few years back the sailed her down to sydney 12 months later with the help of a master skipper. One of the highlights of my life I may add. 36 hours of pleasure and and adrenaline rush. Hope you get as much enjoyment of yours on your return to australia.
Cheers
MrMac
Hi HappyD
I've been sailing my Roberts 25 on the East coast for the last 5 years of my 10 yr ownership. Sailed her to Cairns while taking in most of the sailing ed spots on the way up using the favourable winds June, July and August. Sail back from Cairns late Feb, all the way into mostly SE winds back to Port Stephens which added an extra almost 500 NM to the up route. For your information The Roberts 25 just take will give you a rewarding experience, just take your time getting to know and sail her correctly.She is a very spacious inside. All my sailing was done Solo and in some adverse conditions, you do get thrown around more than the bigger boats but it's just another cork in the water, I call it fun and I'm now 72 years young. See you on the east coast sometime.
Again I want to thank you all for you messages, I found it very inspiring, I had seen only negative comments before coming to this site and started to worry, thinking maybe I bought the wrong boat. It's been great to hear from people who actually have, or have had a Roberts 25 or 27, and they seem to have great passion for their boats.
For me it was love at first sight, I mean, she is very basic inside, she doesn't have any navigation gear, clock or anything like that, but you can just feel she has something special about her.
Again, thank you for your positive input and enthusiasm.
Hi all. It is a bit late but just saw this and wanted to add my two cents worth. I bought our Roberts 25 deep keel version nearly four years ago and sail it on the south coast of WA. Have taken a couple of trips along the coast with decent swell and wind, anchoring overnight. I prepare thoroughly and take the right window; normally use full sail in 15 knots and reef by 20. It is OK in 25 knots with double reef. I took a broad reach home in 25 - 30 knots last year in semi sheltered waters which is was about the limit of my comfort level. I like the internal space, large cockpit and just like the boat for what it is.
Select to expand quoteevangeline said..
Hi HappyD
I've been sailing my Roberts 25 on the East coast for the last 5 years of my 10 yr ownership. Sailed her to Cairns while taking in most of the sailing ed spots on the way up using the favourable winds June, July and August. Sail back from Cairns late Feb, all the way into mostly SE winds back to Port Stephens which added an extra almost 500 NM to the up route. For your information The Roberts 25 just take will give you a rewarding experience, just take your time getting to know and sail her correctly.She is a very spacious inside. All my sailing was done Solo and in some adverse conditions, you do get thrown around more than the bigger boats but it's just another cork in the water, I call it fun and I'm now 72 years young. See you on the east coast sometime.
Hi Evangaline,
Would love to chat with you on how your boat is set up for solo sailing. I have a roberts 27 in Sydney and want to get it organised so I can handle it myself.
Cheers
Greg
Hi HappyD,
I am interested to know how you have gone with your Roberts? I am really interested in purchasing a trailer sailer and am interested in a Roberts 25. I also happen to live in Adelaide. Much of what I read about the Roberts is negative but that seems to be from people who want speed and manouverability and aren't interested in extended starts in a sail boat.
I hope to hear from you.
Cheers
Select to expand quoteevangeline said..
Hi HappyD
I've been sailing my Roberts 25 on the East coast for the last 5 years of my 10 yr ownership. Sailed her to Cairns while taking in most of the sailing ed spots on the way up using the favourable winds June, July and August. Sail back from Cairns late Feb, all the way into mostly SE winds back to Port Stephens which added an extra almost 500 NM to the up route. For your information The Roberts 25 just take will give you a rewarding experience, just take your time getting to know and sail her correctly.She is a very spacious inside. All my sailing was done Solo and in some adverse conditions, you do get thrown around more than the bigger boats but it's just another cork in the water, I call it fun and I'm now 72 years young. See you on the east coast sometime.
And if there was anyone who could tell you how a Roberts 25 can sail in bad weather it would be this old fella,
he has lovingly restored his beautiful Evangeline to top condition I have personally seen his mast just feet off the water in a knock down and sailed very well for a yacht classed as a caravan on the water , she is a tough little boat sailed by a tough sailor..
Only know of one other Roberts 25 that has sailed as far owned by Ron out of Tin Can Bay he sailed over the top to Gove and then to Carnarvon then back to Gove.
He got caught in a storm in the Gulf where he had to let go of a huge dinghy he was towing and run back to Gove.
his dinghy was spotted by Border force where they thought he was on board any way two more great stories of what a Roberts 25 can do if the Captain is up to it.
