Bruce Roberts design 37

Rapscallion is not your typical older Roberts cruiser.

From the moment you step aboard, she feels like a considerably more expensive yacht than her price suggests. Her presentation, thoughtful layout and obvious standard of care immediately set her apart from many cruising yachts of this age.

Designed by renowned cruising yacht designer Bruce Roberts, Rapscallion is a custom-built 37' centre-cockpit masthead sloop with a substantial GRP/foam-core composite hull, GRP/celery-pine composite decks and an integral lead fin keel. Her build is attributed in the vessel records to Austac Yachts, David Hemming and the current owner.

Importantly, Rapscallion was launched in 2001, rather than being one of the much older Roberts examples commonly found on the market.

One of her strongest points is her construction and underwater configuration. Below the waterline she carries a substantial integral lead fin keel, skeg-hung rudder and protected conventional shaft-drive propeller arrangement. It is a robust, traditional cruising-yacht layout that provides good rudder protection and a well-sheltered propeller, while retaining the handling and manoeuvrability of a separate fin keel and rudder arrangement.

Rapscallion does not present like a project boat.

You can genuinely feel the love, care and professionalism the owner has invested into this yacht over the years. Rather than allowing maintenance to accumulate for the next owner, issues have been attended to as they have arisen and considerable work has been carried out to keep her maintained, functional and presenting beautifully.

This is supported by an independent 2024 risk evaluation, in which the surveyor described Rapscallion as "a good example of a Roberts 37 that has been well maintained and constantly upgraded. "

Considerable work has also been undertaken to the hull, including a full hull peel, epoxy treatment, fairing and refinishing below the waterline, while the topsides have also received significant attention. The result is a yacht that presents remarkably well for her age.

Her centre-cockpit configuration and private aft cabin are another major advantage. It creates genuine separation between accommodation spaces and provides the sort of privacy rarely found aboard a yacht of approximately 37 feet. For a couple considering extended cruising, or somebody looking for a comfortable liveaboard, it is an extremely practical arrangement.

Below decks, Rapscallion has a warm, traditional cruising-yacht atmosphere and presents exceptionally clean and cared for. Accommodation includes a private aft double cabin, forward V-berth and an additional single berth available in the saloon, allowing up to five berths aboard.

The starboard-side galley is equipped with 12V Danfoss refrigeration, integral freezer compartment, Broadwater stove and oven, stainless-steel sink and approximately 300 litres of fresh-water capacity across two underfloor tanks.

Mechanically, Rapscallion is powered by a Bukh DV36 36hp diesel, driving through a conventional shaft to a fixed three-blade bronze propeller. Fuel capacity is approximately 90 litres in the main tank, with a further 40 litres carried in jerry cans, and average fuel consumption is approximately 3 litres per hour.

Her cruising electronics include a Raymarine Element 7S chartplotter with integral GPS, Raymarine wheel-pilot autopilot, HDR 650 depth sounder and ICOM IC-M323G DSC VHF radio.

The electrical system includes 4 x 100Ah Remco deep-cycle house batteries, a separate Century Marine Pro 680 start battery, CTEK M300 charger, shore power, Honda 1kW portable generator, AirBreeze wind generator and 85W solar panel.

The masthead sloop rig features an aluminium mast, stainless-steel standing rigging replaced in 2018, furling headsail and mainsail in boom bag, with the owner advising both sails retain plenty of usable life.

Ground tackle is particularly well suited to cruising, with a Manson 35 lb plough anchor, 75 metres of 10 mm short-link chain and Maxwell 12V flush-mounted windlass, plus a spare Danforth anchor with additional chain and rode. The main anchor chain has recently been re-galvanised.

Deck equipment includes a 2.4 m alloy tender, 3hp Mercury outboard, davits, swim ladder, bimini, full dodger, infill and side curtains.

Safety equipment includes manual and electric bilge pumps, EPIRB, six life jackets/PFDs, flares, two dry-powder extinguishers, first-aid kit, life ring, harnesses and jackstays.

For the experienced sailor, Rapscallion represents a substantial and capable cruising platform with much of the expensive work already completed.

For someone entering yacht ownership, she offers something arguably even more important: a yacht that doesn't immediately confront you with an intimidating list of deferred jobs.

And for somebody looking for an affordable liveaboard, her centre cockpit, private aft cabin, substantial interior volume and manageable overall size make her particularly worthy of inspection.

Rapscallion isn't being presented as a new yacht.

She's something arguably more interesting: a properly cared-for, extensively maintained and beautifully presented cruising yacht where the previous owner has invested the time, money and effort so the next owner can concentrate on enjoying her.

If you've been searching through older cruising yachts and finding tired interiors, deferred maintenance and boats requiring considerable work before you'd confidently leave the marina, Rapscallion may come as a very pleasant surprise.

She represents an impressive amount of yacht for the money and really needs to be seen in person to be fully appreciated.

World Wide Boat Brokers are premier recreational and commercial yacht brokers. With extensive knowledge of both sail and powered vessels, the team at WWBB understand the intricacies of a wide variety of boats and how to assist in making the boat buying process as easy as possible.

Disclaimer: World Wide Boat Brokers presents this vessel's details in good faith but makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy of this information or the vessel's condition. Buyers are encouraged to engage their own agents or surveyors to verify any details they wish to confirm. This vessel is offered for sale and is subject to changes in location, price, or availability without prior notice.