Ross 780 Overview
The Ross 780 is a popular 25.6-foot fiberglass trailer sailer, designed by Murray Ross, launched in the mid-1980s (around 1984) as a versatile, trailerable boat for family cruising and racing, featuring a planing hull, lifting centreboard, and ability to sleep several people, with builds occurring in both New Zealand (by builders like Bruce Hopwood Yachts) and Australia, known for its good performance and strong community.
Key Aspects of its History:
The Ross 780 is a popular 25.6-foot fiberglass trailer sailer, designed by Murray Ross, launched in the mid-1980s (around 1984) as a versatile, trailerable boat for family cruising and racing, featuring a planing hull, lifting centreboard, and ability to sleep several people, with builds occurring in both New Zealand (by builders like Bruce Hopwood Yachts) and Australia, known for its good performance and strong community.
Key Aspects of its History:
- Origin & Design: Developed by Murray Ross, it was intended as a modern, trailer-friendly yacht, with the first boat, "Freeway," built by Ross himself, followed by moulds for production.
- Construction: While early versions might have used wood, later boats, particularly from builders like Bruce Hopwood Yachts in NZ, used fiberglass (GRP), often with balsa core, creating lightweight yet strong hulls.
- Performance: Designed for good speed, its lifting centreboard (around 0.3m up, 1.6m down) allows for shallow cruising and deep-water performance, with options for racing modifications like bulb keels.
- Variants: Different Mark versions (like the Mk3) and build styles (factory vs. custom interiors) exist, catering to different needs.
- Popularity: The boat gained traction in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, fostering active owner communities and seeing a resurgence in popularity due to its versatility and good performance.
Specification
Length Overall (LOA)
Beam (Width)
Draft (min/max)
Displacement (Dry Weight)
Ballast
Hull Type
Rigging Type
Beam (Width)
Draft (min/max)
Displacement (Dry Weight)
Ballast
Hull Type
Rigging Type
25.58 ft
8.08 ft
0.92 ft / 5.92 ft
2,490 lbs
1,012 lbs
Lifting Keel Monohull
Fractional Sloop
8.08 ft
0.92 ft / 5.92 ft
2,490 lbs
1,012 lbs
Lifting Keel Monohull
Fractional Sloop
7.8 m
2.46 m
0.28 m / 1.80 m
1,129 kg
459 kg
Lifting Keel Monohull
Fractional Sloop
2.46 m
0.28 m / 1.80 m
1,129 kg
459 kg
Lifting Keel Monohull
Fractional Sloop