Plans for Bruce Roberts Offshore 44

[jeepers]

Looking for Builders plans for a Bruce Roberts, Offshore 44.

I am doing some consulting on a project boat that has become available.
It appears to be a Bruce Roberts, Offshore 44. Either Model A or D
It was started in approximately 1975.
Was mostly finished but not splashed.
It appears to have NOT been registered.
The builders relocation for employment stalled progress.
The boat was then summarily stripped and vandalized of most equipment.
There appears to be some "Builder" creative input. Not in a bad way.
But I need to know how is was designed to be.
Such is the case of "homebuilds".

The plans of the build did not stay with the boat.
Not sure that Study plans would provide the required info.
But would like to also see Study plans of structure, equipment list, specs etc.

Therefore am looking for a set of Build Plans/or copies of an Offshore 44.

[Nicholas_nolte]

https://www.bruceroberts.com/public/...escription.htm
https://www.finelineboatplans.com/br...e-44-boat-plan

These websites sell his plans. They aint cheap but that's the best place to start.

[jeepers]

Been there, Done that.
I already contacted Both plan merchants regarding the original Builder's account.
According to BR they don't service these plans anymore.
Fineline was not helpful.

The boat is already built.
Needs confirming design specs and finishing.
I don't think many people would be paying $400 for that.

E files are good enough.

[jeepers]

Unfinished, incomplete and not hooked up.
interior.jpg Views: 63 Size: 59.7 KB ID: 236111" style="margin: 2px" />

[coopec43]

I'd make sure the bulkheads were all there and located correctly but from there I would do my own thing. Of course there is an enormous amount of photos of the interior of BR Offshore 44 online to give you some ideas.

[Fore and Aft]

Jeepers I don't think the plans are going to tell you much except for bulkhead position. Like all home built boats you really have no idea of the quality of the work hidden behind all that paint. It would be interesting to remove a few skin fittings and see the average hull thickness. The fibreglass tabbing on the bulkheads would be my other concern. You would hope it's been well done.
I assume it's a typo the complaint about a $400 plan cost? That's pocket change when you own a 44 foot yacht.
Fine Lines is sailing around NZ right now. So I can see why they are not helpful.
Cheers

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by jeepers

The boat is already built.
Needs confirming design specs and finishing.
I don't think many people would be paying $400 for that.

E files are good enough.

I don’t think $400 for the build plans is steep at all. Especially when compared to the remaining cost to fit out the boat!

[coopec43]

Fore and Aft

Maybe I'm wrong but isn't his hull steel?

You are right the plans don't give you much more than hull shape/dimension, bulkhead placement and scantlings(?). Fitting out is up to the builder.

The plans I posted above are all you need to complete the yacht.

[jeepers]

https://www.bruceroberts.com/public/...escription.htm
https://www.finelineboatplans.com/br...e-44-boat-plan

Since the boat is technically built but not finished the plans are needed to get it Registered. The plans are integral to the process of proof that it is a built boat and not a re-registered production boat from decades ago.

The Bulkheads are also a concern.
Having looked on the Internet at all 8 plans from both plan suppliers websites, there are versions with 3-5 bulkheads. Both Bruce Roberts & Fineline have 2 plans for 2 center cockpit Offshore 44's, Plans A's & D's. Perusing the combined 4 center cockpit plans for the Offshore 44. They are all different. The Fineline plans "D" is the only plan that has a bulkhead opposite the cockpit companion way ladder. As is built on the subject project boat. However very cramped and restrictive. I think that is because the engine compartment is built extra large (therefore the cockpit should be larger) and has encroached into this area. The ladder is very close to this bulkhead on the boat. Maybe there was a frame template in this location that the builder decided to leave in place. I would totally understand that idea. As there are no bulkheads near the widest beam of the hull. Even though, I am leaning more to the Bruce Roberts plans.

However there is another interesting issue that has surfaced.
It is my understanding this boat was built using the fiberglass cold molded process. The hull was built upside down and then righted . At which time the keel to skeg (seen coloured Blue on the web images (sites are above) was added. As seen on both Plan A's. That in itself is not the issue.
From an engineering point of view the hull is very, very strong
The issue is; The space if there is space, where the keel to skeg assembly was attached to the hull is inaccessible. Complicated by the fact that the cabin planked floor is verily solid except for the engine bay. There is no access to the inner hull, bilge or keel space, etc. Potentially 2 hidden, inaccessible areas. Maybe the Engineer builder planned to cut access for stowage later. Would be nice to know where the floor, sole supports are..
The plumbing is all in place below the sole.
But since I don't own the boat I can't go cutting up floor boards or even drilling holes for a flexible camera. Maybe getting below the planks the access to the keel area would reveal itself.. and then maybe not.
But being (hopefully) an "Offshore" 44 one would expect access and storage to be a serious consideration of the builder. Only comparing the boat's measurements to the plans could we be certain.
That to me is a lot of maybe's and speculation....
Plan fees;
Fineline plan fees for the Offshore 44 at the time I posted this were $400 Usd. Bruce Roberts plans and supportive packages are $900 Usd. I contacted both and hoped (long shot/wishful thinking) that one of them would have a record of the original sale of the builders purchased plans. That would narrow the focus at least to the available to the builder's plans process. When this didn't resolve the issue of which "plans". I started this thread hoping to get both providers Plans A & D or maybe even all 8 versions.
While waiting on this process. I became involved in a 41' Columbia which has since sold. There are a number of 35-39' projects but I haven't even gone to see those yet.

[Tjeerdjj]

Hi Jeepers,

I myself recenlty bought a Bruce Robberts Offshore 44 D aswell and was wondering if you had any succes getting the plans.
I have to do quit a bit of work on the boat but do not absolutly need the plans, but it would be a big plus!

[jeepers]

Originally Posted by Tjeerdjj

Hi Jeepers,
Wondering if you had any success getting the plans. But it would be a big plus!

Not as of yet. Still hoping...... pm sent.

[coopec43]

Why don't you contact Fineline?


https://www.finelineboatplans.com/br...e-44-boat-plan

[Fore and Aft]

Fine Line is cruising around New Zealand in his Roberts Norfolk design right now.
Cheers

[Tjeerdjj]

I indeed just orderd the Study plans

[jeepers]

I wish I could use study plans. But, I can't. Has your boat been registered and baptised (splashed)? Mine has not. Therefore it is still a project in the works. As in "Still under construction". Technically and effectively a new boat. Which is good in one way in that it is worth more $$. But when it is registered as a new build a Technical Survey will require conformity to the Professionally endorsed, presented plans by the builder. As some have noted. Most builders, build thinking they know better than the Naval Designers, Architects, Engineers. They make minor & major changes to design, materials, specifications, equipment, etc etc. So to facillitate the new Registration a set of Amended Plans or details as Built Plans , Professionally endorsed by a Naval Engineer etc etc have to be supplied. As I have noted earlier. There are 8 different plans. Some Plan sets included the 4 different models from that 1 provider of the 2 plan providers. The original builder may have used parts from the 4 sets of plans provided. Therefore it is not $400 Usd but at best $1600 Usd or $2120 Aud or $2000 Cad. Or at worst double that if you need to buy from both providers. Which is still cheaper than a new As Built Plan set. This applies to Registration as well as securing Insurance coverage.