The ROVER 36 was designed for a friend who was looking for a boat to spent long times aboard.

 

Speed was not the main objective, rather being able to travel economically over very long distances, pass all the European canals but also to be able to go for extended trips over open European waters. If you start at Budapest, you migt go just as easily want to travel to London as to Athens, no?

 

The ROVER 36 is no longer just a concept: Building has begunin early 2006... and  who knows, my friend might well be in  the water with his ROVER before my YAGO is lauched...

 

The ROVER 36 is originally designed for ORIAMI / folded steel assembly with stringers and frames added after folding, but can be just as well build as a classic hard chine hull upside down on a jig.

 

From the very beginnig it was clear that this boat was to be a pure displacment hull without any pretentions to planing, and we could design an easy going hull that will run at hull speed on a reasonable amount of horse power without having to incorporate the wide flat planing transom that will only make you boat difficult to handle at displacement speed.

 

Accomodation was planned for two permanently living aboard, but for shorter periods the children should be able to visit in comfort as well.

 

The inital concept looked like this:

 

 

Based on this first layout, we began to refine weights and volumes and to create a full 3D model.

 

 

Long, low draft keel to protext hull, prop and rudder, to give directional stability and to dampen rolling. Additional, roll-dampening bilge fins could be added, but would increase wetted area.

 

 

Big deckhouse with panoramic view. Recessed portholes in all cabins.

 

 

Uncluttered wide decks, big enough to party and barbecue on

The forward well offers good protection while handling anchor gear.

 

 

Obviously, this boat can easily be adapted to different programs, there might be an aft cockpit, or a completely different layout. I would be happy to discuss alternatives with you.

 

Hereafter is the original project Specfication as worked out for our friend Karoly:

 

The boat is planned as a family second home for cruising on European waters. 
In a first time, and being launched in the middle of the continent, inland waterways will be explored. Later, with more freedom from professional obligations, extended voyages to the Mediterranean and other European coastal waters are planned.

 

Given these requirements, the following options were choosen:  

 

To allow a maximum of autonomy and range at low cost per mile, the hull is designed as a pure non-planing cruiser. Lines should flow easy, transom not to drag in the water and aft sections will be moderately narrow so as not to become difficult to handle in rougher conditions with  ¾  following waves. 
Displacement estimate: fully loaded  about 10 tons.

 

Given proper technical and safety equipment, the boat should be capable of open-ocean passage-making at economical displacement speed.   

 

The deck is a flush deck with large pilothouse.

 

 Entrance to the boat is via a main door and sliding hatch from the aft deck, near the center – considered safer from flooding on heavy rolls than lateral doors. 
The deck with light camber runs across the full width to provide a maximum open volume inside. Only at the bow the deck-level drops to a “well” for safe handling of the anchor gear, and amidships, along the pilothouse, the deck is also stepped for easy maneuvering when coming alongside.

 

To allow for the large aft cabin, there is no cockpit but a full width deck above with the outside steering position on top to port, sheltered by the deckhouse and a low windscreen.  
On Starboard there is a bench facing aft. (This hollow bench is needed to allow headroom over the stairs inside to access the aft cabin!) There is enough room on the aft deck to set up folding chairs and table next to this bench for outside dining.

 

  There is no fly bridge or additional hard top over the outside  steering position in order to keep clearance low for inland waters – in bad weather the inside steering will be used. 

 

To reduce rolling and as an ultimate back up propulsion the boat can carry a mast aft with steadying sail and maybe a small foresail. Boom also to be used to carry a sun-cover over the aft deck, or to lift the dinghy on deck.

 

The boat is designed for amateur construction and to be built using the “origami” or folded steel assembly method.

 

The hull is built from 4mm and the deck from 3mm steel plating,

 

The plating is carried on stringers which again are carried by frames (so called “floating frames” principle)

 

 

Depending on cruising area, 60 to 80 HP Diesel, possibly from one or two home-marinized car engines.

 

Up to 2 tons total fuel and water, for extended periods away from infrastructure.

 

  
General approach:
As the boat is supposed to be used for longer live-aboard periods, the approach is different from production yachts.

 

The proposed layout tries to provide the best compromise for open floor spaces to move around and proper work- and sitting areas in addition to the saloon, so that people can withdraw to work, read or rest without being forced into their beds. Rather than try to squeeze in additional bathrooms and cabins, all things should be full-sized and easy to access and use.

Owners cabin:
The owners cabin forward contains a very big double bed and full standing headroom in front of it.

 

To starboard: lockers and shelves next to the bed, full hanging locker.

 

To port: lockers and shelves next to the bed. Secretary / dressing table with small seat

 

 Cabin closed with door.  
4 portholes for light plus deck hatches.

 

To Port: Bathroom
The generous bathroom contains WC, sink, shower and lockers against hull and under washbasin.

 

To Starboard: Workshop
Opposite of the bathroom and open to the passageway there is room for a proper work-table, tools and stowage. 

This would also be a good place to install a small washer-dryer combo for use in marinas and other places where there is shore-power.

 

Note: This is an option that makes sense to me, especially on an amateur construction – these things never seem to be really finished anyway - but the same space could be used to install another cabin with a single berth by moving the port side of the bulkhead forward into the owners cabin.
Another possibility would be to move the galley here and add for example a reading chair and library in the deckhouse.
 
Electricity and instrument-backsides in double bulkhead.

 

Deckhouse
Full panoramic view.

 

To port:
Generous seating and dining area. The seats from steering station and from the dressing table in the forward cabin could be moved here to comfortably seat 6 to 8 people for meals. 

 

To starboard:

 

Main steering position. Space for instruments on inside prolongation of forward deck in front. Shelves on side, big office/chartable facing aft.

 

Galley with sink and oven, lockers, stowage.

 

 Note: if a bigger galley is required, the chatr-table could be reduced or the galley moved altogether forward to what is now the workshop
 
Aft Cabin
 The aft cabin offers full standing headroom in the center. The berths are raised on a platform that gives good sitting height under deck. There is stowage under the berths as well as in lockers against the transom. 
Access to the aft cabin is via the staircase that is situated under the bench on deck, to provide full headroom.

 

4 portholes for light plus deck hatches. 
Note: Often visitors are singles, and children also do not want to share the same bed during holiday, so there are 2 single beds in this layout. One of them is a little wider and  might even be extended to a double if really needed. More space and stowage could be created by removing one of the beds and making the other a full double.