Roberts Spray 41

Description

The Bruce Roberts Spray 41 is a design in the enduring Spray series by Australian naval architect Bruce Roberts, launched in the 1970s as a robust, owner-buildable bluewater cruising ketch or cutter for ambitious solo sailors or couples on extended offshore passages, with several examples constructed worldwide primarily in steel or ferrocement hulls for exceptional durability and affordability. Measuring 41 feet LOA with a 35-foot LWL, 12-foot-6-inch beam, 5-foot draft on a long keel for stability and shoal-water access, and a displacement of approximately 28,000 pounds including 10,000 pounds of ballast, this gaff- or Bermudan-rigged vessel offers a sail area of around 800-900 square feet across mainsail, mizzen (for ketch), genoa, and staysail for balanced 7-8.5 knot performance in 15-35 knot winds with sea-kindly motion and minimal weather helm, powered by a 40- to 60-horsepower diesel auxiliary like the Perkins 4-108. Its iconic lines echo Joshua Slocum's original Spray with a clipper bow, counter stern, and moderate sheer on a heavy-duty hull with optional pilothouse, complemented by a spacious interior featuring 6-foot-6-inch headroom, six to eight berths in V-forward, saloon settees, double aft cabin, U-galley, dual heads with showers, and substantial tankage of 100-150 gallons fuel and 200 gallons water for monthlong autonomy. Proven in global circumnavigations and Southern Ocean trials—as in steel-hulled builds like Aries documented in cruising logs and sales listings—the Spray 41 embodies timeless seaworthiness and economical construction in a substantial yet manageable package, ideal for dreamers scaling up from smaller Sprays while honoring Slocum's legacy.