Udkik.dk

Review of Roberts Offshore 38


Roberts Offshore 38
Roberts Offshore 38.

Basic specs.

sail specifications
The Roberts Offshore 38 is a sailboat designed by the American maritime architect Bruce Roberts.

Looking for a new boat? Find a Roberts Offshore 38 or similar boat for sale

Hull

Some boats has a hull made of Fibreglass.


Interior

The boat is equipped with 2 cabins, 6 berths, a galley, 300.0 liter fresh water capacity, toilet facility and 10.0 liter waste water capacity.

Note: the boat has also been sold to be self-made/-interiored, which means that the quality of each boat may vary.


Rig

Roberts Offshore 38 has more than one rig.

One option is a ketch rig. A ketch rig is generally considered easier to handle, because the sails are smaller, and because it can sail on most points to the wind with one sail completely taken down for repair or while reefing. The sail configuration of a ketch allows for better comfort and stability when sailing downwind or on a broad reach.

Another option is a masthead rig. The advantage of a masthead rig is its simplicity and the fact that a given sail area - compared with a fractional rig - can be carried lower and thus with less heeling moment.


Keel

Unknown keel type

The boat can enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.70 - 1.80 meter (5.58 - 5.88 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.


Engine

The Roberts Offshore 38 has been equipped with different engine alternatives.

Alternative 1:

The boat may be equipped with an inboard Yanmar 3QM30 diesel engine at 30 hp (22 kW). Cruise speed is 6.0 knots. Max speed is 7.0 knots.

The transmission is a shaft drive. A shaft drive will in the long run require less maintenance than other types of drive e.g. a sail drive.

Alternative 2:

Roberts Offshore 38 may be equipped with an inboard Perkin 4.108 diesel engine at 50 hp (37 kW). Calculated max speed is about 7.9 knots

The transmission is a shaft drive. A shaft drive will in the long run require less maintenance than other types of drive e.g. a sail drive.

The fuel tank has a capacity of 210.0 liters (55 US gallons, 46 imperial gallons).


Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

Stability and Safety

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Roberts Offshore 38 is 1.81, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.


Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.9 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.


Immersion rate

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Roberts Offshore 38 is about 245 kg/cm, alternatively 1373 lbs/inch.
Meaning: if you load 245 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1373 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.


Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

Motion Comfort Ratio

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

The Motion Comfort Ratio for Roberts Offshore 38 is 26.3.

Low High 38% 0 50 100
Comparing this ratio with similar sailboats show that it is more comfortable than 38% of all similar sailboat designs. This comfort value is just below average.


L/B (Length Beam Ratio)

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

The l/b ratio for Roberts Offshore 38 is 3.37.

Wide Slim 62% 0 50 100
Compared with other similar sailboats it is slimmer than 62% of all other designs. It seems that the designer has chosen a slightly more speedy hull design.


Ballast Ratio

What is a Ballast Ratio?

The ballast ratio for Roberts Offshore 38 is 43%.

Low High 69% 0 50 100
This ballast ratio shows a righting moment that is higher than 69% of all similar sailboat designs. A righting moment (ability to resist heeling) just above average.


D/L (Displacement Length Ratio)

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

The DL-ratio for Roberts Offshore 38 is 160 which categorizes this boat among 'light racers'.

Heavy Light 86% 0 50 100
86% of all similar sailboat designs are categorized as heavier. A light displacement requires less sailarea and has higher accellerations.


SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)

SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)
Indicates how fast the boat is in light wind:
- Cruising Boats have ratios 10-15
- Cruiser-Racers have ratios 16-20
- Racers have ratios above 20
- High-Performance Racers have ratios above 24
Sail-area/displacement ratio (SA/D ratio): 13.61


Maintenance

Bottom Paint

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 41m2 (441 ft2).
Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Note: If you use a paint roller you will need more paint than if you use a paintbrush.


Rig

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.



Guiding dimensions of running rig
Masthead rig
UsageLengthDiameter
Jib sheet 11.6 m(37.9 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Genoa sheet11.6 m(37.9 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Mainsheet 28.9 m(94.8 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Spinnaker sheet25.4 m(83.4 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Ketch rig
UsageLengthDiameter
Jib sheet 11.6 m(37.9 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Genoa sheet11.6 m(37.9 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Mainsheet 28.9 m(94.8 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)
Spinnaker sheet25.4 m(83.4 feet)14 mm(0.55 inch)

Boat owner's ideas

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.



Finally

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Roberts Offshore 38 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us. Criticism helps us to improve.



References