Robber 3e design quarter tonner

[Larry Houghton]

Hi
Could anybody please tell me who designed the Robber 3e quarter tonner? I'm also looking for a set of plans for the above design. All the second hand boats that are listed for sale on the web don't have the designers name. At present there is one for sale in Sydney Australia which won the 1978 Quarter ton championship which I am interested in.
Hope you can help me
Many Thanks
Larry

[Pelle]

I think the Robber was designed by a guy called Peter Ståhle possibly in cooperation with others. He was a reasonably active designer here in Sweden from about 1975 (AFIK the original Robber was his first design) to 1985 but I have not heard much about him later. You might be able to find him through the secretary of the Swedish Yacht Designers Association ( sekr@syr.se )

[CT 249]

I think Pelle has it right. However, the 111e version of the Robber was, I think, a modification of the original by Stuart Jardine of the UK. She has the same underwater shape but a straighter sheer and a narrower transom (by two feet) to gain extra sail area under the IOR. I don't think the Australian Robbers were 111Es.

At least until recently Stuart Jardine still races J/24s with great success in his 70s or so, I think. Maybe an email to the British J/24 class would provide his address?

The first Australian Robber, named Robber (I'm pretty sure) was the subject of a boat test in Australian Seacraft magazine about 1974-76. There will be a copy in the Mitchell library. I think there's small study plans in the article. It's an easy article to find because the Robber is on the cover, head-on and carrying a blooper and kite I think. I sailed her once or twice as a kid.

PS - 1978 Quarters in Sydney? That must refer to SASC's club racing; I think the 1978 Quarter Ton nationals were in Melbourne and won by the Davidson Wonder Woman? And isn't it sad that I can remember that! Too much time spent reading sailing mags as a kid!.

[Larry Houghton]

Thanks Pelle and CT249 for the reply I was starting to think I wouldn't get any response. I remember the design back in the 1970's and thought it would be a fabulous boat to build at the time. I did build a boat but decided on an Adams 24 footer cold moulded instead. Anyway I'll follow the leads you mentioned and see how I go. Once again thanks

[yokebutt]

Robber, by Peter "Pink Panther" Ståhle was built concurrently with Accent at my dads shop in 73/74.

Peter also designed a 73 footer for the first Whitbread RTW race, but only the hull and sections of the deck were completed before the project ran out of money for reasons I won't elaborate on. Great for skateboarding, though.

[Ramona]

Originally Posted by Larry Houghton

Thanks Pelle and CT249 for the reply I was starting to think I wouldn't get any response. I remember the design back in the 1970's and thought it would be a fabulous boat to build at the time. I did build a boat but decided on an Adams 24 footer cold moulded instead. Anyway I'll follow the leads you mentioned and see how I go. Once again thanks

Larry,
I guess that Robber is the one down at Cronulla. I bought a cheap M&W 26 a couple of years ago and stopped in at Cronulla on the way home and saw her there. Striking looking boat. Few weeks back a Scott Kaufman quarter tonner sold on Ebay for about $5000. Lot of boat for the money. I was busy sailing dinghies at the time of the quarter tonners. Like CT249 I read plenty of magazines and always liked the look of the Robber and Kaufman. Clever use of plywood.
Ben Lexcen certainly made good use of a very simple single chine setup. Love to hear some actual sailing impressions of these boats.

[BYC]

Dear All,

I have recently purchased a Robber 3E in Bahrain. The boat is in disrepair and I am in the proccess of completely rebuilding her. I am short on detail particularily rigging plans and the like. Can anyone help. Many thanks in advance.

[Quentin King]

Hi,
I have just bought a Robber and am trying to do the same as BYC, although I don't think I have as much work to do. I would also like to get as much info and any plans that may exist

Many thanks
Q

[keith66]

Nice looking boats, when i worked at Thames Marine in 1979 we built two of them, one was exibited at the London boatshow. Company then went bust.
As for drawings unless you can track down the designer i doubt you will be lucky.

[Crag Cay]

http://www.robber3eregister.co.uk/info.html

Don't be too worried about returning these Quarter Tonners to their original rig and appendages. Their recent revival has been because they are no longer raced 'level pegging' but are handicapped under IRC. The idea is to use all those old hulls and use them to create boats that are fun to sail. So if you're got to get a new rig for them, get a modern keelboat rig with swept back spreaders, even though this will probably mean moving the chainplates. Don't get a weedy, bendy stick with adjustable backstays, runners and check stays all on a 24ft boat! If the money allows, next look at he rudder and a keel with a lower CofG. But don't go bonkers - keep in mind the sort of small boats that IRC favours.

Oh and fill in as many of the hull humps and bumps as possible - they were there to gain IOR measurement advantage and never did anything for boat speed. IRC won't 'see' them so they are just drag.

http://www.quartertonclass.org

[HakimKlunker]

Originally Posted by Larry Houghton

Hi
Could anybody please tell me who designed the Robber 3e quarter tonner? I'm also looking for a set of plans for the above design. All the second hand boats that are listed for sale on the web don't have the designers name. At present there is one for sale in Sydney Australia which won the 1978 Quarter ton championship which I am interested in.
Hope you can help me
Many Thanks
Larry

I am afraid that if you are interested in being the 1978 Champion, you are a little late.
Sorry for posting this unrelevant contribution. I could not resist...

[HakimKlunker]

Originally Posted by keith66

Nice looking boats, ...

I think, they do NOT look nice.
At least on first sight.
However, I happened to stumble into being the skipper of 'Jandi' a while ago, and learned to love the boat.

Larry:
Do I understand your request right, that you want to know if your choice is competetive enough?
Well, (my) Jandi is over 30 years now and still gained 1st and 2nd places (in IRC) against younger boats.
If you go for such an aged lady (nothing wrong with that, because they have EXPERIENCE...) some structural fixing may be required; if you go for more modern sail cloth, perhaps the rigging needs to be matched.