Roberts 434

This design has appealed to many serious cruising sailors, and is another in the latest range of medium displacement, fast performance cruisers which can be built in either multi chine or radius chine Steel or Aluminium, in round bilge fibreglass or in round bilge wood epoxy.

It can be rigged as either a Cutter, Sloop or Ketch and the many different versions give you the choice of either a low profile aft cockpit, a centre cockpit version and also a pilot house version.

Already several version of this design have made complete circumnavigation's - one was sailed single handedly around the world in only 218 days. (Article printed below) Several others have taken part in round the world rallies.

Many are being constructed in yards around the world with the pilot house version currently being one of our most popular designs.

The SUPER STUDY PLAN PACKAGE has details on all the different construction techniques and includes materials lists, sail plans and accommodation layouts for all versions. Only $53 plus postage.

L.O.D.		13.20 m	43' 4"
L.W.L.		11.18 m	36' 8"
BEAM		4.10 m	13' 6"
DRAFT	(Deep)	1.83 m	6' 0"
	(Shoal)	1.50 m	5' 0"
DlSPL.	(FG or Alu or W/E)	11,567 kg	25,911 lb
	(Steel or Copper-Nickel)	13,330 kg	29,859 lb
BALLAST		3,996 Kg	8,809 lb
AUX.PWR			33 - 60 hp

Version E
Shown here displaying the sloop rig
This version of the Roberts 434 features a Radius Chine hull
with a complete raised deck and a cruising style pilot house.
These features are combined with, a sugar scoop stern,
and low profile ketch rig. Other sail plans are possible.

Below are pictures of the boat and a letter received from Mr Pat Garnett who in 1990
sailed singlehandedly around the world in 218 days, stopping just once for
repairs to the self steering gear

Dear Mr Roberts,

A quick note to let you know that I have finished my circumnavigation in the Roberts 434. She took 218 days and 8 hours sailing time to cover the 27,000 miles, In terms of elapsed time this is the fastest E-W ever by any kind of sailing vessel, but of course we do not get the world record as Guinness work on average speed and she was half a knot slower than the "Ocean Bound" (David Scott Cowper) nevertheless not bad for a backyard building job.

She is in excellent condition and could go around again given a bit of sail repair. She is very fast for a heavy boat (3 tons of stores). She often reached 10 knots and could sustain 9 knots for hours on end. Her best day's run was 210 miles without current assistance. Her directional stability is excellent and in good conditions to windward she can hold her heading unaided for up to 20 minutes. I had one knockdown to 90 degrees and a few bad broaches but she picked herself up without difficulty. She is a superb boat, indeed she has to be to bring an incompetent single handler like me home safely.

Best wishes to you and many thanks for a fine design. I am starting to think about something in the 60-65' range.

Yours,
Signed, Pat Garnett.

This R434 is being built in Brisbane, Australia and launched in the year 2000. It was made as a slightly modified D Version as the poop deck has been lowered so as to make the sheer line one curve. The interior of this vessel can only be described as suburb. For more photo's please check the photo gallery at R 434D.


Roberts 434 small portion of a very large interior.