Roberts Spray 33 Cutter

Description

The Bruce Roberts Spray 33 is a sailboat design from the acclaimed Spray series by Australian naval architect Bruce Roberts, introduced in the 1970s as an owner-buildable bluewater pocket cruiser for solo or couple's coastal and offshore adventures, with numerous examples constructed worldwide in multi-chine steel, aluminum, fiberglass, or wood/epoxy emphasizing rugged simplicity and seaworthiness. Measuring 33 feet LOA with a 29-foot LWL, 12-foot beam, 4-foot shoal draft on a long keel for stability and gunkholing, and a displacement of approximately 22,000 pounds including substantial ballast, this cutter-, ketch-, or gaff-schooner-rigged vessel offers a sail area of around 500-600 square feet across mainsail and headsails for balanced 6-7.5 knot performance in 10-30 knot winds with forgiving handling and low weather helm, augmented by a 25- to 40-horsepower diesel auxiliary like the Yanmar 3GM. Its classic lines feature a clipper bow, counter stern, and moderate sheer on a heavy-duty hull with optional pilothouse, paired with a cozy interior boasting 6-foot headroom, four to six berths in V-forward, saloon settee, and quarter configurations, plus an L-galley, enclosed head, and tankage of 60-80 gallons each for fuel and water to support weeklong autonomy. Proven in circumnavigations and heavy-weather passages—as in steel-hulled examples discussed in sailing forums and sales listings—the Spray 33 delivers big-boat virtues in a trailerable (under 10 tons) package, remaining a favorite for budget adventurers chasing Joshua Slocum's legacy on a practical scale.