A steel Roberts 35 ketch has caught my eye. Does anyone have any experience sailing these? The issues that I noticed on inspection are (1) that the freeboard above the water-line chine is literally vertical - no radius whatsoever. How would this handle in a decent blow? (2) the ballast/displacement ratio is about 25% - ie quite low. Would this affect stability? (3) there was spot rust throughout the hull where visible beneath the spray-on foam insulation and beneath the near-new engine. Would it be best/most cost effective to strip out the interior to treat and what would a strip out cost?

I'm looking for an ocean-capable yacht and steel has been my preference as I hope to venture to higher latitudes. I have a fair bit of experience racing and delivering GRP yachts, but this would be my first foray into a steel yacht. I would still like any yacht 'though to have good offshore sailing characteristics. The one below (to me at least) is attractive for a chined hull apart from the vertical freeboard. I haven't sailed any yacht with that hull shape so don't know how it would handle.

Appreciate any comments.