Seebreasy73 said..
This is for a mate who is currently looking for a reasonably priced cruiser and liveaboard.
He is currently considering a few boats but in particular he took some liking to a Roberts 34 and 36.
Any pros and cons for the designs?
There is a fibreglass 34 near my mooring. Mate and I rescued her a few months ago when she came off her full chain mooring! Blowing a Westerly gale and she was drifting nose in parallel to a stone wall when we got to her. Towed her off the rocks a few feet with my workboat/tender and got aboard. Initially tried to sail her bare poles clear of the rocks and miss the other moored yachts but the wheel steering was not responsive. Tried to anchor her with a CQR but the chain was fouled in the hawse pipe. Mate had to break in and I went up to the chain locker and found the owner had a shackle in the chain to stop the chain coming out! I did notice however the interior of this boat and was impressed with the layout. 34 seems to be the sweet spot for decent accommodation. Cockpit had about the same room as my Currawong. Found out afterwards the cable control lines for the steering quadrant had broken. Modest rig and they are not the fastest 34 footer about but as a cruiser they would be fine. They often look good too in the fibreglass versions, not so good looking in hard chine steel.
The local boat is sometimes a live aboard. It's the powder blue hulled boat up near mine Steve.