Any Bruce Roberts Offshore 44 Owners Here?

[GrowleyMonster]

I just bought Brute Force, a 1979 build, not sure which version. I really have a good feeling about this one, especially after bringing her home to New Orleans in not so great conditions. Needs a LOT of work, yeah but I think it will be worth it. I love all the room below, and was pleasantly surprised by how she sails with my only gripe being a stubborn tendency to weather helm. Maybe I need a flying jib to balance her out better. Anyway I was hoping to hook up with other Offshore 44 owners.

My boat:
Fiberglass
Sloop rig
Aft cockpit
No genset
Westerbeast 4-107, no guages
No electronics
Interior unfinished
Main, three jibs
AC, DC electrical systems totally unfit
No head or tank
Jury rigged fuel tank, poorly secured batteries
Much unfinished or crudely improvised carpentry
Giant raised skylight, perfect for blocking the view forward
Temporarily repaired steering that failed during delivery voyage
Lots of TLC needed

I am very interested in how other O44 owners have fitted out their boats.

[Olly75]

I've an offshore 44 as well. If you have a chat with bruce he'll be able to tell you what version you have. Also surprised at how well she sails given how sturdy and weighty she is......

[wandering willy]

Hi Growley,
I have an offshore 44 built in Aus in the latre 80s. this is a great boat, but she needed a lot of work when I got her. all the windows and coaming needed replacing, the cockpit floor was rotten as were a couple of bulkheads. the engine was siezed and half submerged due to the leaky windoiws. this has been a 2 year project so far, but she is getting better every day.
would like to track down the original owner/builder. built in Aus in 1988.

[Psy at SEA]

Have just purchased a 44'8'' Bruce Roberts Cutter. Has a Tri-sail track on the mast for heavy weather.

Solid as a brick c/w running backstays.

2 x dbbls 2x singles and two settee bunks in the main cabin.


Photos to be loaded!!

[mohaaron]

I purchased my 1980 Roberts 44 offshore center cockpit ketch in January 2018. I've been very happy with her and how she sails. I think I was fortunate to get her for a reasonable price and in working condition. There is of course a lot of work to be done as most things haven't been upgraded in many years.

- The interior is in good condition.
- Running motor when purchased, she has an 80 HP Ford Lehman. The engine has needed some new components since purchase.
- Sails in fairly good condition.
- Hydraulic steering that has been leaking and is being replaced with all new components now.
- Very few electronic were installed which I prefer so that I don't have to remove the old stuff before adding new electronics.
- The center cockpit I really like as it provides a very large engine room, good visibility, a flat aft deck for scuba diving, and a master aft bedroom which I find more comfortable in rough weather.
- I think the one item I am missing the most is a large internal refrigerator. This I will be building adding in the next year.

I've been doing a lot of upgrades, mostly involving the engine to begin with. We've done one week long 100 mile trip and find the she sails great. I didn't have a working autopilot at the time and I was able to balance the sails so that she steered herself in the right direction all night.

I'm very happy with my home

[GrowleyMonster]

Originally Posted by mohaaron

I purchased my 1980 Roberts 44 offshore center cockpit ketch in January 2018. I've been very happy with her and how she sails. I think I was fortunate to get her for a reasonable price and in working condition. There is of course a lot of work to be done as most things haven't been upgraded in many years.

- The interior is in good condition.
- Running motor when purchased, she has an 80 HP Ford Lehman. The engine has needed some new components since purchase.
- Sails in fairly good condition.
- Hydraulic steering that has been leaking and is being replaced with all new components now.
- Very few electronic were installed which I prefer so that I don't have to remove the old stuff before adding new electronics.
- The center cockpit I really like as it provides a very large engine room, good visibility, a flat aft deck for scuba diving, and a master aft bedroom which I find more comfortable in rough weather.
- I think the one item I am missing the most is a large internal refrigerator. This I will be building adding in the next year.

I've been doing a lot of upgrades, mostly involving the engine to begin with. We've done one week long 100 mile trip and find the she sails great. I didn't have a working autopilot at the time and I was able to balance the sails so that she steered herself in the right direction all night.

I'm very happy with my home

Nice! I like the center cockpit layout too but mine is aft cockpit, sloop. I am currently putting a proper electrical system in. The wiring was horrible, with mystery hidden fuse blocks tucked away in all sorts of strange places. Everything is Lowes or Home Depot stuff. Nothing made any sense, nothing organized or labeled. I didn't even have running lights when I brought the boat home from where I bought her. Well, I had them but they weren't working LOL. I like the boat anyway though in spite of the "project" nature of it. Lots of room below and sails like a locomotive.

[Psy at SEA]

Theres a facebook page 'bruce Roberts and wannabees' ...maybe worth a look at.

[michaelratinter]

I bought my Offshore 44 from the builder/original owner in 2015. She was a 1980 design that launched in 1990. Blind Faith is a center cockpit ketch. She is powered by a 4.236 Perkins diesel which produces 70 hp at 1800 rpm. At that speed her 24x18 prop moves her at 7 knots and fuel consumption is 1.5 u.s. gallons per hour at that speed.

I have added an isotherm compressor to convert her icebox into a fridge. I added a D400 wind turbine high up the mizzen mast, a Power Survivor 40 watermaker under the galley sink, a Hydrovane windvane steering system, a Kisai 3000 watt inverter, and an 8 foot Fatty Knees dinghy on the foredeck between the mainmast and the inner forestay.

The builder modified the stern to add an aft fishing cockpit. He also increased main cabin size by eliminating the pilot birth in the salon. Going forward there is a head to starboard and a shower to port. The V-berth forward of the head has a door that can be closed for privacy.

I have voyaged on the west coast of N America from Bodega Bay to Cabo San Lucas and back. We have run into heavy weather, and she can be rolly, but she is very seaworthy. The crew will give up before she would.

[HankOnthewater]

I sailed 2 of these boats, both for thousands of miles, not owner, but as skipper.
The steel one was a ketch and an enormous amount of weather helm, and the rudder setup was altered before I sailed her (rudder was moved further aft). A solid boat though.
The GRP one was also a ketch, and sailed better, but solid dodger over centre cockpit offered really too much windage. But cockpit was very comfy
My biggest gripes? Weather helm. I think both were homebuilt, and the seats in the cabin were so not comfortable, the backrests were all vertical. and seats very too narrow.