buccaneer 18 sailboat data

Buccaneer 18

The buccaneer 18 is a 18.0ft fractional sloop designed by rod macalpine-downie/dick gibbs and built in fiberglass by chrysler marine since 1968., 5000 units have been built..

The Buccaneer 18 is an ultralight sailboat which is a very high performer. It is reasonably stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a racing boat.

Buccaneer 18 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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• Sailboat Guide

Buccaneer 18

Buccaneer 18 is a 18 ′ 0 ″ / 5.5 m monohull sailboat designed by J.R. (Rod) Macalpine-Downie and Dick Gibbs and built by Nickels Boat Works, Inc., Texas Marine International, Lockley Newport Boats, and Chrysler Marine starting in 1968.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

The BUCCANEER prototype was introduced at Yachting Magazine’s “One of a Kind” Regatta in 1967 where it displayed impressive performance, placing second over all. (Ed. note: Read the story by Dick Gibbs about the preparation for this regatta on the BUCCANEER web site.) BUCCANEER PRODUCTION HISTORY:

Chrysler Corporation - 1968 thru 1980, hull #1 thru approx. #4050. (Just over 4000 boats built). Texas Marine Industries (TMI) - 1981 thru 1982, hull approx. #4051 thru approx. #4750. (Around 700 boats built). Wellcraft Marine Corporation, Starwind Division - 1982 thru 1984, hull approx. #4751 thru approx. #5000. (Approx. 250 boats built). Gloucester Yachts (sold as GLOUCESTER 18) - 1985 thru 1986, hull #5001 thru #5059. (59 boats built). Cardinal Yachts - 1987 thru 2000, hull #5060 thru #5065, #5100 thru #5106 and #5200 thru #5214. (28 boats built). Nickels Boatworks became official builder in 2008. Nickels Boatworks merges with WindRider in 2015.

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One-Design Class Profile: Buccaneer 18

August 1, 2013 by Sail1Design Editor 2 Comments

A Pirate’s Boat For Me: The Endurance of the Buccaneer 18

by Airwaves writer Gretchen Croll

When looking for a great two-handed dinghy with a spinnaker, things can get a little hairy at times. That’s when you should think of the Buccaneer 18.  The Bucc’s, as they’re called, are great for beginning or experienced sailors, and is a wonderful and affordable way to stay in the game of sailboat racing.

The Buccaneer has a long and varied history as a one-design class.  First designed in 1966 by Rod Macalpine-Downie and Dick Gibbs, the boat has had many different builders over its 35 year history.  First introduced to the sailing world in 1967 at Yachting Magazine’s “One of a Kind” Regatta, the Buccaneer 18 made quite an impression and placed second behind a Thistle.  The sloop design with a hull of fiberglass reinforced plastic and spars of extruded aluminum has proven a consistent seller.  The boat was first produced by Chrysler Corporation who built the boats from 1968 to 1980 with just over 4000 boats produced.  Texas Marine Industries (TMI) took over the design in 1981, but only built the boats for a year, producing about 700 Bucc’s before another short-lived builder took over the building of the Buccaneer in 1982; Wellcraft Marine.  Wellcraft only built 250 boats from 1982-84 before Gloucester Yachts bought the mold in 1985.  Gloucester then renamed the boat the Gloucester 18, but only produced 60 vessels before it again sold the mold to Cardinal Yachts who built the boat from 1987 to 2000, still only producing about 30 boats in total.  In 2008, Nickels Boatworks bought the mold for the Buccaneer 18 and has been producing these great one-design boats ever since.

What makes the Buccaneer such a popular boat is its ease of use as both a daysailer as well as a competitive racing dinghy.  Seats in the cockpit allow for a smooth cruise and the sit-in aspect also makes the boat popular amongst dinghy racers who have graduated from racing 420’s and Vanguard 15’s, the sit-on dinghies.  One of the best aspects of the Buccaneer is its fast planing and symmetrically heeled design.  The boat, due to its relatively small waterline, planes in 8-10 knots of wind.  Due to its wide beam at the waterline, the boat, though a dinghy, eliminates the need for a trapeze.  This makes it an easier boat to sail and creates a bigger pool of capable sailors. In addition, the waterline is almost perfectly symmetrical which decreases a lot of the weather helm caused by the heel of the boat.  The high potential performance of the Buccaneer 18 allows for the skills of the helmsman and crew to be better rewarded than they would be in any other non-trapeze designed vessel.

The Buccaneer 18 is also one of the most popular boats in North America, with at least 17 active fleets around the continent.  This widespread notability allows for great racing all over the country and guarantees a great fleet at every North American Championship Regatta held, no matter the location.  In addition, the low Portsmouth yardstick numbers prove the boat to be a fast one and granting comparisons to boats like the Lightning and Finn.

Unlike many other dinghies raced not on the junior circuit, the Buccaneer uses a spinnaker as well as a jib and mainsail.  This makes the boat a great way for experienced helmsmen to improve their boat handling skills and a chance for crew to work on their ability to trim both a jib and spinnaker.  This can greatly impact the experienced sailor’s skills on big boats, allowing for a greater participation of skilled athletes in the sport.

However, the Buccaneer 18 also appeals to the beginner sailor due to its simple rigging, well balanced design and easy handling.  The roller furling jib is a big draw for the new sailor, cutting down on another sail to worry about dumping in the water when rounding the windward mark and allows for an easy transition from chute to jib at the leeward mark.  The roller furling jib is also what helps to make the Buccaneer 18 a great cruising boat, cutting down on the number of sails which need to be rolled and packed away at the end of the day.  Another tempting aspect of the Bucc for the new sailor is the ease in which the boat can be launched and hauled out of the water.  The centerboard makes the boat easy to trailer and at a relatively slim 500 lbs., all that is needed is a winch in order to lift it into the water.

Overall, the Buccaneer 18 is a great boat for a new sailors, competitive racers and daily cruises with the family.  It’s well constructed sail plan and ease of design have allowed the class to thrive for over three decades and will continue to ensure its survival far into the future.

LOW: 16ft 8in

Draft (Board down): 3ft 10in

Sail Area (Main and Jib): 175 sq. ft.

Sail Area (Spinnaker): 178 sq. ft.

Weight: 500 lbs.

# of Boats Built: 5000+

Active Fleets: MI, WI, CO, CA, NC, SC, AK, MD, IL, DC, AZ, VT, NY, AB, Canada

Portsmouth Yardstick- 87

Class Website: http://buccaneer18.org/

Sources:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buccaneer_(dinghy )

http://buccaneer18.org/

http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=3292

http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=5557

Reader Interactions

January 18, 2019 at 08:59

We own hull # 753 purchased in 1974 and have raced, daysailed it more many years. The earlier boats had some manufacturing flaws, but once we had them taken care of we have enjoyed the boat. Easy to sail and we have sailed it on Lake Charlevoix in northern Michigan and other mid west lakes when we raced it. Great boat to learn with and helped me to sail eventually larger race boats. We retired it from racing now teaching my grand children the basics of a life long hobby. Hipefully it will see many more years of putr enjoyment

September 4, 2019 at 00:24

I have a Nickels boat that was built n early 2007 so not sure if your 2008 date forn the Nickels purchase is correct.

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WELCOME TO THE BUCCANEER 18 CLASS ASSOCIATION

Registration for BNAC 2024 is now open!  Register Now Note: The single registration fee covers access to all activities for both the skipper and crew, as well as two T-shirts. See Who is coming

The Buccaneer is fun and fast. This simple sloop is a blast to sail and easy to maintain. The Buccaneer Class is friendly and family oriented.

KEY FEATURES

• Great Class for daysailing or competitive racing
• Fast planing hull design
• Sloop rig, roller furling jib
• Integral spinnaker launch tube

Designed in 1966 by Rod Macalpine-Downie and Dick Gibbs, the Buccaneer incorporates classic elements that have made this racing dinghy a consistent performer for more than 50 years.

 Follow the Buccaneer Class on Social Media 

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Buccaneer 18 Deck Layout

Mainsheet System

The 6:1 mainsheet features six lightweight Carbo blocks in series for smooth, low-friction trimming. The system is simple, fast to rig, and utilizes a swivel cam base for easy cleating at any angle.

Rig Tension System

To tension the shrouds and jib forestay/halyard, a track on the mast is adjusted with an underdeck double-triple block purchase. The control line exits the purchase to the cockpit for convenient midrace access upwind or downwind. It provides up to 400 lb of forestay tension for high-performance sailing in strong winds or minimal tension in light air.

The low-friction Harken Small Boat Furler lets the crew set and furl the jib from the cockpit. Multiple stacked races of ball bearings let it rotate easily under load.

If you would like to link to or reprint this article please contact  [email protected]

Class History

Celebrating its 50th year, the Buccaneer's designer was speed genius Rod MacAlpine Downie and originally commissioned by the Chrysler Marine division. The Buccaneer 18 is a wide-beamed and powerful sit-in dinghy. With a roomy cockpit and easily handled controls, the double-handed "Bucc" is manageable by one and can accommodate as many as three people. She is fast and planes in 8-10 knots. Well-balanced, self-righting, and self-bailing, the Bucc is embraced by a lively class that spans from Alaska and Toronto to South Carolina and Arizona.

Links Buccaneer 18 Class Nickels Boat Works McLube™

Boat Specifications

LOA: 18 ft (5.4 m) Draft: 3 ft 10 in (1.17 m) Beam: 6 ft (1.8 m) Weight: 500 lb (226.7 kg) Main/Jib: 175 sq. ft (16 m) Spinnaker: 178 sq ft (16.5 m)

Related products

57mm Block — Swivel

57mm Block — Swivel Becket

57mm Ratchet Block — Swivel

Hoistable Furling Swivel — 4mm Wire

Standard Furling System — 3mm Luff Wire

40mm Triple Block — Swivel, Becket

40mm Triple Block — Swivel

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Harken US Offices will be closed  Monday, September 2 . Any orders placed after 12 p.m. Friday, August 30 will be processed upon re-opening on Tuesday, September 3.

Buccaneer 18 Class Association

Class contact information.

Click below

Class Email

Class Website

One-Design Class Type: Dinghy

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Both

Approximately how many class members do you have? 100

Photo Credit:2014 Buccaneer 18 North American Championship – Lake Dillon, Colorado

Photo Credit: 2019 Buccaneer 18 North American Championship – Lake Pleasant, Arizona

Photo Credit: 2018 Buccaneer 18 North American Championship – Anderson, South Carolina

About Buccaneer 18 Class Association

Celebrating its 50th year, the Buccaneer’s designer was speed genius Rod MacAlpine Downie and originally commissioned by the Chrysler Marine division. The Buccaneer 18 is a wide-beamed and powerful sit-in dinghy. With a roomy cockpit and easily handled controls, the double-handed “Bucc” is manageable by one and can accommodate as many as three people. She is fast and planes in 8-10 knots. Well-balanced, self-righting, and self-bailing, the Bucc is embraced by a lively class that spans from Alaska and Toronto to South Carolina and Arizona

Boats Produced: 5000+

Class boat builder(s):

Nickels/Windrider https://www.windrider.com/collections/windrider-sailboat/products/buccaneer-18

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 4000

Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

Southeast Rocky Mountain Midwest Mid Atlantic Wisconsin Arizona Northeast Alaska Canada

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? Yes

How many people sail as a crew including the helm?  2 or 3

Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  300-400

Portsmouth Yardstick Rating:   .87

Boat Designed in  1966

Length (feet/inches): 18″

Beam: 6″

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 500

Draft: 8 inches – 3’ 10” with centerboard down

Mast Height: 23’4”

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BUCCANEER 18

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Buccaneer 18

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Nickels Buccaneer 18

Why Choose a Buccaneer 18?

For the day cruiser:

• Open interior offers plenty of room for a group
• Comfort – a sit-in rather than a sit-on boat
• Lightweight design makes for easy transport and launching
• Easily handled by anywhere from 1 to 6 people
• Safe—positive floatation and sealed air tanks

For the racer:

• Can handle a wide range of conditions
• Simple set-up with up-to-date Harken rigging
• A fun and competitive class associations in one-design sailing
• Vinylester resin is used producing a stronger, faster, longer lasting boat
• Easy mast set-up and take-down
• Symmetrical waterline, eliminates weather helm caused by heeling
• Harken Carbo blocks and Racelite hardware
• Custom colors available
• Trailers built specifically to support the Buccaneer 18 are available

Designed in 1966 by Rod Macalpine-Downie and Dick Gibbs, the Buccaneer 18 incorporates classic elements that have made this racing dinghy a consistent performer for more than 35 years. With its performance hull design, the Buccaneer easily gets up onto an exhilarating plane in 8-10 knots of breeze. An integrated spinnaker launch tube, roller furling jib, and well-constructed sail plan make it the ideal two-handed racing dinghy. Beautifully balanced and easily handled, the Buccaneer continues to appeal to both seasoned competitors and new sailors.

Weighing in at only 500 pounds, the Buccaneer can easily be transported and launched from a trailer or winch. A comfortable cockpit arrangement and simple rigging, round out the Buccaneer’s design, making it a great day sailor for the entire family. Nickels Boat Works has completely reworked the Buccaneer 18 deck and interior mold. “Beautiful—Fantastic” are hardly adequate to describe this year’s Buccaneer 18. The interior floor has also been changed to ensure greater footing and the non-skid deck provides added safety when working in those areas.

Pricing – Standard Race-Rigged Buccaneer 18: $15,995

The 2016 Nickels Buccaneer 18 includes:

• Roller furling Spinnaker pole with on boom storage
• Boomvang 8 to 1 Cunningham
• Spinnaker guy and sheet with Harken Carbo Ratchamatic blocks
• Nickel’s fully rigged mast with all internal halyards and topping lift
• Stainless steel stand rigging with Stay-master turnbuckles standard
• Nickels Centerboard and Rudder built to last with unidirectional fiberglass
• Nickels custom jib cars with Harken Carbo Ratchamatic blocks
• Harken Carbo hardware standard
• Add your sails and this boat is ready to sail ‘Right out of the box’

Sail Options

Sails and covers available from all manufactures: North, Vermont Sailing Partners, Benson, Quantum, Schurr, Mack, The Sailor’s Tailor. Sail prices are discounted 10% with new boat purchase.

Color Options:

White is standard, but custom colors available at a modest charge

What customers say

“The Nickels Buccaneer 18 is worth every penny I paid for it. These boats are built to last and built to perfection. Please get a new Nickels Bucc, you will not be disappointed.” – John Hammerslough, Richmond, VT

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• Buccaneer18 | Flagship

Resource for Bucc owners, sailors, would-be sailors, and racers

Wiki is a place where we can collect reference material about Buccaneer's from Chrysler to  Windriders . Repair tips and tricks for safety and performance. Sailing tips for beginners to seasoned racers.  It is an adjunct to the discussions in this group, and a place to collaborate. Hopefully, this wiki will become a useful peer-to-peer collection of reference content for Bucc owners and all sailors.

Members can help by writing or correcting wiki pages or just by commenting on a message to the group.

On This Page

Which buccaneer do you have, buying a used buccaneer, refurbishing an ol' bucc, more tips and tricks, fiber glass, (a) nickels boat works, (b) hardware, tips for improved performance , general sailing/learning to sail, buccaneer 18 class association membership.

  1968 through 1980 , Chrysler Corporation hull #1 through approx. #4050. (Just over 4000 boats built).  I do not discourage you from picking up a Chrysler, especially a Chrysler Championship edition (1980, black hull). After 1977, the big Spin Chute became an option on all Chrysler boats. That means it has the big spin chute with the sealed mailbox.   Chrysler built thousands of Buccaneers and these are the majority of the ones on the market.

1968 ~1977 Chrysler,  the “classic” Buccaneer. These have a reputation of being heavy, with clunky gear like the standpipe bailers and pipe-luff furlers, which don’t work very well.

1978 ~1981 improved Chrysle r, these are also heavy but have rigid hulls and several improvements. The mast step is above the crown of the centerboard, making it much easier to raise and lower the mast. The jib sheets are on the seat, improving the boats’ performance close-hauled. The spinnaker tube was an option.  What lead to these improvements?

"During the severe weather of the October 1977 Championship of Champions several Buccaneers were dismasted, capsized and swamped. Following this 'bad press' so to speak several design changes were made by Chrysler to make the boat better and safer. It is my best guess that in mid-1978 and for sure for the 1979 model year, i.e., Sept. 1978, Chrysler had redesigned the boat. These improvements included redesigned the inner hull to prevent water from entering the spaces under the deck and seats, at this time the jib changed to the luff wire replacing the tube-luff furling system. Since the forestay no longer had to be lead below deck the spinnaker launcher was enlarged and improved. The mast step was raised to clear the centerboard when stepping and a hinged step was provided. Jibsheet tracks were relocated to the inside edge of the seats, eliminating the need for jib in-hauls, and Harken cleats added to the windward side for cross sheet cleating. At this time the bow eye moved from the top of the deck to the stem of the hull and Large Elvstrom bailers replaced the older round style cockpit drains. This had been a major redesign of the Buccaneer at considerable expense to Chrysler. All of these new redesigned Chrysler Buccaneers were known as the Champion Edition.", Michael Connolly 

1981~1983 TMI   #4051 through approx. #4750. (Around 700 boats built). TMI basically an improved Chrysler, but after the gov’t bail-out forced Chrysler out of the

sailboat business.

1983 ~ 1989  the Bucc transformed into the Starwind 18 (manufactured by motorboat builder Wellcraft).

Wellcraft Marine Corporation, Starwind Division-1982 through 1984,  hull approx. #4751 through approx. #5000. (Approx. 250 boats built). 

These boats are also heavy but not as well-built, and may not be recognized for class racing

Current thread 

1989~ 2005  Gloucester and then Cardinal, the same company renamed.

Gloucester Yacht - 1985 through 1986, hull #5001 through #5059. (59 boats built). 

Cardinal Yachts - 1987 2005, hull #5060 through #5065, #5100 through #5106 and #5200 through #5214. (28 boats built).

 Much better boats, lighter but some are flexy; generally better rigged than any previous models.

2006 ~ 2016   Nickels Boat Works , a high-quality one-design boatbuilder. The best Buccs ever built,

also the most expensive, for obvious reasons. Nickel's last boat built was in 2016, held the molds until 2022.

DETAILED BUCCANEER 18 PRODUCTION HISTORY

Hull ID Numbers

Help to determine boat number   Buccaneer Numbers

One-Design Class Profile: Buccaneer 18

Join The Sailing Experience!

Chrysler Sailing Association Web Site

For information about the history, design, and designers of the Buccaneer 18. Check the  official wikipedia page.  

Good years...

Finding the rough value of older Buccs

Advice from Doug King found at buccaneer18.org

Down load Tips from the list (word doc) 

Down load Why Are Our Boats Breaking? (word doc)  

Down load Things to look for in a used Buccaneer (word doc) 

Down load Money to burn (text file) 

Testimonials Thread

Buccaneer 18 the virtues, the faults, and turtling tests

If you just purchased an older Buccaneer there are several things that need to be checked out before your first sail

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There are measurement regulations for class-legal sails. But sails are usually only measured for BNAC. For the Main, there are 2 main variations that are both class legal. The "standard" height that the boat was manufactured with for decades. And then in 2013, the class agreed to a "raised boom" configuration where the boom is raised approximately 8" on the mast. If the sail area is taken off the bottom, the sail should still measure incorrectly

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Anyone familiar with Bucaneer boat

• Thread starter sailaway78
• Start date Jun 17, 2008
• Forums for All Owners
• Ask All Sailors

I have become friends with a guy who is looking for a boat. He first called about my old S2, which was already gone. Has found a Bucaneer 30, which looks pretty good in the pics, and has a ton of equipment. Anyone have any experience with or know anything about build quality on these boats. Seems to me that it was built by Bayliner, who bought out Chrysler. But I have now developed CRS, and just don't remember.  

sailortonyb Allied Mis

I too have been diagnosed with CRS If its the boat I am thinking about, it is not a well built boat and looks kinda like an easter egg.If there are any bucaneer owners out there, I sure hope I am remembering the wrong boat.Reminds me of a joke. A guy walks into a psychiatrist's office dressed like a pirate. You know, the hat, the eye patch, the whole deal. Anyway, the psychiatrist asks him "And what are you supposed to be?".The man replies "I'm a pirate". The psychiatrist then asks "If you are a pirate , where are your bucaneers?" and the man replies "right under my buckin' hat"Tony B  

Chrysler maybe I think the Buccaneer sailboats were built by Chrysler. I have no idea whether this is K-car famed Chrysler or not. Seems to me that maybe they had this grand plan of building boats and installing inboard motors (yeah, its got a hemi!) and then branched into sailboats.  

Memories.... Yes: Chrysler made a Buccaneer. It was a day sailor. I had one. Bayliner made a line of Buccaneer sailboats in two generations. The first were big trailerable boats. They had max interior room and and a shoal keel. They did look a little inflated, but probably had an undeserved rap as to quality. Mostly it was about looks and pointing ability (pointing like a blimp). However, the 30-ish models were a whole different ballgame as with most manufacturers and should not be thought of the same way as the trailerables as they had a whole different design objective, even if there was a family resemblance. Then, there was a second generation of Buccaneers which had IOR hulls of a then-contemporary design. They were reasonably fast even with the IOR pinched ends and were a hansom boat of the era. At least, that's what I think I remember. Rick D.  

This boat is This boat is a 1977 Bucaneer 305. Says it is a Bill Garden design.  

Check Yahoo Images ...there is a line drawing and a couple for sale with photos. Looks like a decent enough boat with a decent enough builder but looks best suited to shoal water given the smallish keel and rudder.  

Joseph Shirley

The Buccaneer 30 that I knew was not the one with the IOR pinched ends and it was a terrible performer. It was under canvassed, slow, tender, and quick to round up in a breeze. It had a lot of headroom and nice accommodations but even under power it had a lot of freeboard.We had one in my club owned by an old couple who would only come down and sit on it. He wanted a sailboat and she didn't want to sail so they never went anywhere. If I remember correctly they have a shoal draft keel that was placed well aft. I think they were designed with a large lee helm to balance the weather couple which tended to produce weather helm and round them up. If your friend wants a boat that sails reasonably well, to have some sailing fun with, I would say don't buy it.Good LuckJoe S  

How much$ I owned a Buccaneer 21 for about 10 years back in the 80's. I sailed it only on the bay. I remember for it's size it had a huge amount of room inside (bigger than some 25 footers). It was a heavy boat which I liked, it could handle the weather on the bay. Agreed it wasn't the best sailing boat but it served my needs at the time. I thought it was put together pretty well, I never had any problems. If your friend is getting it dirt cheap and has no plans to race, it might be a good buy. But remember if he wants to move up it will be a hard boat to sell.  

Bayliner Buccaneer Bayliner began building sail boats during the gas crunch of the 70's. The first models were 'Butt' ugly (lots of windows, and looked like a power boat morphed into a sail boat). Their designs eventually evolved into the IOR design mentioned by Rick, and were eventually bought by US Yachts who produced them into the 80's. I always liked the look of the US Yachts 25. The Buccaneer's had typical Bayliner quality.  

Buccaneer 18 Let's not forget the Buccaneer 18, a super fast planing hull daysailor made by Chrysler. I had one for my first boat.They also made a 15 foot version. I think it was called the Privateer.  

Run Away Run away, fast, don't look back.  

horrid boat...It's a big floating Clorox bottle nm  

never seen a clorox bottle sail... I don't know about the buccaneers...but having had my boat analogized to a clorox bottle, even though it outsails many other more expensive production boats in most conditions (5-15 winds; and does pretty damn good after that reefed)), has gotten me to many a beautiful anchorage and has been so good to me I will be a sailor for the rest of my life...I have become a bit vigilant in busting this absurd, innapropriate, exaggerated at best analogy.  

CharlieCobra

bio, it's real simple It's not necessarily the boat, it's the sailor. I know folks that could sail a bar of soap and win. It's the same with any machinery, some have, some don't. I will agree, the Bayliner Buccaneer is NOT my cup of tea but then, neither are a few boats.  

The Buccaneer This is a dog with fleas. Short stumpy mast: too shallow draft: too much freeboard: Linolium on the floors. Made by Bayliner. Later on they made a line of IOR boats called US yachts that were better. They sold the molds to pearsonsometime in the mid 80`s Avoid the buc.  

Chris Burti

even ugly babies... ...are loved by somebody...Information abounds...From the 48 Degrees North website, I quote:Bayliner/U.S. Yacht Website Please advise your readers that information on the Bayliner Buccaneer and U.S. Yacht series of sailboats is available at a non-commercial website. The address is www.geocities.com/buccaneersailboats.  While everyone may have different priorities (speed, handling vs. floating condo) and different budgets, we all love the water. The website features specs, photos, projects, and a registry where viewers can read comments, both good and bad, by the people who own and sail Buccaneers. As a 285 owner, I enjoy the roominess of a center cockpit, the safety, reliability and economy of a diesel, and the creature comforts of a larger boat, in a vessel that is easily financially accessable. Sure, I may not be the first one around the marks on race day, but when I am anchored off that beautiful secluded beach, I may be the only one. With a draft of three feet I can get to the unspoiled treasures of skinny water that most guys can't. I would be happy to include a link to your magazine. It is a joy to read. I would appricate a reciprocal link in your associations section for the Bayliner Buccaneer. Fair winds, Jollymon Jeff, Webmaster Buccaneer's Homeport  

I followed the link... ...in the previous post and it contains a Practical Sailor review of the 295 and 305. Based upon perusing that, I'd say that the prospective owner should be aware that the hull to deck joint bears close inspection as it is secured with screws every six inches and not through bolted. My last boat, a Lancer 25, was constructed in this fashion and a previous owner had obviously done some work on it...probably removing the toe rail, re-sealing (leaking is a big issue with a weak joint), and then resecuring it. In some cases, it was obvious that larger screws had been used.The aft keel placement is odd, but the four foot draft isn't too unusual for a shoal draft boat. My Lancer had an odd wide keel that you actually walked inside when you were in the cabin. The prospective owner just has to accept that he is going to point a little less closely to the wind that everybody else. Is that the end of the world? It depends. For the price ($1000) I was very happy with my Lancer, but I kind of outgrew her. The limited cabin space was a big issue that your friend won't face as the 305 is quite roomy. Was the upwind performance frustrating? Yes, but it equated to probably one bout of frustration every other year. Once I tried to tack out of the harbor directly into the wind with very limited success. I ultimately gave up. The other times were mostly in light air, but hey, I was / am fairly inexperienced. As someone said, some people could sail a bar of soap better than others could sail a J105.I'd say that if the price is right, she is well equiped and the survey is pretty clean...go for it...but recognize that resale will be more challenging than for more popular models.My approach was a little different. I really wanted a keeper this time. Something built well enough to restore and sail until I wear out the hull. I was amazed at how poorly maintained many 30 footers in the 10-15K range were so I ended up spending more money in the hopes of avoiding major repairs. What I learned is that a good deal is a different thing to different people.Bob  

Pretttty funnnnny tony under me buckin t'ree pinter mate!Yeah, dunno much but had one for a neighbor for a couple years in Gas House Cove SF. A bit of a drinker, the fellow had this Bucaneer up for ssil for several years.He would charge folks 75.00 ( I think) for "testing" her out and would do many of his tests per day as he would get backpacker touristas from the international hostel up the hill interested in 'buying' his Buccaneer.I remember it being a very roomy livaboard for him, had a nice bar, chess set and was a really fun kinda colorful character and spoke seereeusly of his tests too.Not much of a race/sailboat but okay to have fun in the bay with, and why knot hey?I am agreeing with bffcat, still....all of us are entitled to have fun sailing the bay, even non-sailors who cannot afford a Hansy or a Hylas.  

Capt Ron!!! How you be?I'm offshore this week, at work.Have some spare time to play on internet, but not a lot.I know you have crossed the gulf a time or two, have you ever been over Mississipppi Canyon? Lots of very very large sea life here.Tony B  

about the 305 1977 bucaneer hi my name is monte and I'm the guy who was thinking of this buccaneer I found on ablboats.com. the boat is loaded and very roomy and everything Iv'e wanted. I'm not that big on looks as long as comfort and most of all dependable. The picture of the boat makes a guy wonder the way the rudder has a 3 inch gap. The people are the original owners and lived on it for 22 years in the bahamma's. So what do you think sir?  

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Collection: chrysler buccaneer 18.

Rig Dimension Provided By Sailboat Data

OEM/Standard Jib - 16.75S

Oem/standard mainsail - 21.00s, coastal mainsail - 21.00s, mainsail cover - 9.5 ft boom.

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Buccaneer 18; too much for a mid-50s couple?

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This thread is started to avoid hijacking another thread where BobMcGov described the Buccaneer 18, in discussing room-for-four in a dinghy, as follows: "Bucc18 is lots of things, but stable ain't one of them. It's the tenderest bluddy vessel I've ever set foot in. Ripping good time if you're willing to hike below the knees, but a mischievous, wet, ill-tempered, overpowered minx. We tend to obsess over our bailers: the most important feature on the boat! While the Bucc18 has a large cockpit, large CB case + location of the mainsheet and vang make more than three people impractical -- the boat is too tippy to sit anyone to leeward." My wife and I are mid-50s and (quite capably) trailer-sail an O'Day Daysailer as our family boat. We're considering a second boat, a Buccaneer, for exclusive use at a nearby lake's yacht club for Sunday races and quick evening picnic sails together or with another couple. Basic Buccaneer questions. 1. At our age, we're fine participating in the race, we don't have to win. Sitting on the rail; absolutely; but full-extension hiking may be a stretch at our age. Would you advise that the Bucc is "too much boat"? 2. Your thoughts on the Bucc assuming we sail the boat well "under the limit" for a picnic sail for four. Would a Bucc be suitable? I ask because I have a line on a Bucc that hasn't moved from under its framed-tarp in the side yard in five years... and at that time the owner had it in his front yard looking for $1400... I think now he might say take it away for half that and I'm tempted... but not if it is really not suitable for my intended use. Thanks for any insights you can offer.  

I own a Mutineer which is the 15 foot version of the Buccaneer, many parts are interchangeable between the 2 boats. I also sailed Buccaneer's! Every said above in blue is true. Thats makes it fun. Thats because the center board is fiberglass and has little weight to add any stability or righting effort. I am mid 50's and I love my Mutineer. I have a big boat also, but there is something about a planing hull and getting wet i still enjoy. All that being said, its as much fun as you can have sailing a small boat. You will be fine with the boat, as she will tell you when you are pushing her. Buy the boat. If not let me know where the boat is.  

My sister and her husband have a Buccaneer 18. He is 64, and she is 60. They have never commented that it is too much boat. I also have a friend that just picked up a beater 505, and he is in his late 50's to early 60's.  

I bought a 1970 Buccaneer several months back. Spent some time fixing it. A few weeks ago I took it for a first sail. It was gusty. We were going with jib only, and we were going like stink. Wouldn't even dream of using the mainsail (it's much bigger than the jib) with that kind of wind. After the first sail, I added a reef point to the main. I would say the buc is fine as long as you sail in moderate winds. If I had to do it again, I would probably search for a Harpoon 5.2 instead of a Buccaneer.  

Go for it I'm 61 and the wife is 55. No problem handling the Bucc after you get used to the power. Much fun. I also singlehand in medium air under main and jib and under main alone in a breeze. Our's is for sale here in the classifieds only because we're moving up.  

I spotted a neglected Buccaneer, at a storage facility, flat tires, rusted trailer, uncovered and uncared for, hunted the owner down and now it is mine. I'm 58, wife is 55, have some work to do and I could use some ideas. The hatch cover rotted off long ago, figured on replacing with white plexiglass. The halyards need relacing, the engine mount has lost its wood and braces are rusted, interior v berth area has plastic coating pulling up with wet wood beneath. Tiller handle is so baddly rotted it doesn't resemble a tiller ahndle and leaves me no pattern for a new one. I can't find any spec's of diagrams for this craft. Help  

Deanooo, This thread is about the Chrysler Buccaneer 18 foot. I think you may have a Bayliner Bucanneer..... maybe a 27 foot? Is that right? If I find any info. I'll pass it on.  

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