Description
The Bruce Roberts Spray 28, inspired by Joshua Slocum's legendary 1900 circumnavigator and designed in the 1970s by Australian naval architect Bruce Roberts for budget-conscious owner-builders, is a rugged pocket cruiser with over 500 examples crafted worldwide in multi-chine steel, aluminum, or wood/epoxy, prized for its seaworthy simplicity and versatility in coastal cruising or solo offshore ventures. Measuring 28 feet LOD with a 22-foot-11-inch LWL, 10-foot-6-inch beam, 3-foot-6-inch shoal draft on a long keel for stability and gunkholing, and a displacement of 13,600 pounds including 4,000 pounds of ballast, this cutter-rigged sloop (adaptable to gaff, junk, or schooner configurations) provides a sail area of approximately 450 square feet across mainsail and genoa for steady 5-7 knot performance in 10-30 knot winds with forgiving handling and low weather helm, backed by an 18- to 25-horsepower diesel auxiliary like the Yanmar 2GM for 5-knot motoring. Its timeless lines boast a clipper bow, counter stern, and moderate sheer on a heavy-duty hull with optional pilothouse for all-weather protection, complemented by a snug interior featuring 6-foot-1-inch headroom, four berths (V-forward, saloon settees, quarter aft), compact L-galley, dinette, enclosed head with shower, and practical tankage of 50 gallons fuel and 80 gallons water for weeklong autonomy. Endorsed for real-world exploits like singlehanded Atlantic crossings and Southern Ocean trials—as in steel-hulled UK builds like Spray of Falmouth—the Spray 28 embodies economical bluewater ethos in a trailerable (under 9 tons) form, remaining a gateway icon for dreamers chasing Slocum's spirit on a shoestring.
