Looking at Buccaneer tomorrow

sharps4590 · Post by **sharps4590** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:52 pm

Finally I get authorized! This is my first post and I'll go to the introduction page next. I'm here cuz I need some advice. As the title says I'm looking at a buccaneer tomorrow and I'd like to know if there's anything in particular I need to look for.

Also, I'm a nearly total rookie at sailing. I sailed a friends dinghy several times over a couple summers 26-28 years ago. From what I've read, watched and been told the Bucc is a pretty high performance boat. Is it too much for a guy in his mid-50's to start with or can I shorten or reef the sail and learn a lot then go to more sail as my ability and confidence grow? I can get the boat for a good price, I think, $800.00. Comes with main, jib and spinnaker and on a trailer.

All sailing will be on lakes here in the Missouri Ozarks. Generally shallow lakes and not all that big.

I don't know what else to add and I'm sorry the time is short....took a few days to get authorization and I didn't learn about the site til a few days ago.

Thanks

Vic

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:36 pm

Oops, sorry if that took a while, didn't get to check email yesterday when yours came in...been out of town for Mardi Gras, and just checked the emails!!!

Great boats from what I hear - nicely active association at http://www.buccaneer18.org/ - I don't think you'd be a bit disappointed from the reviews I hear. I mean if there's still an active group after all this time, that says a lot

Welcome aboard !! Hope to hear that it worked out...

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:37 pm

WOW!
I too am late here!

How did the Bucc look? Did ya get it?

Scott

sharps4590 · Post by **sharps4590** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 3:54 am

I don't know how it looks yet....I'm gonna look at it today, the 17th of Feb., 2010. I have some info on the boat, enough to feel confident when looking at it. I was just hopin' for some more. I'll let ya'll know this evening what transpired.

EE, don't fret about it. For whatever reason my computer wouldn't load this site for a couple days or I'd have been here sooner. I'm confident it was no fault of the site....blaming my computer or my ISP.

Vic

sharps4590 · Post by **sharps4590** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:23 pm

There's a Maroon Bucc with a white deck sitting in my driveway. Looks like it's been sitting in the woods for 6 years.....which it has been. Filthy, absolutely, stinkin' filthy. Cursory examination indicates a lot of hot, soapy water, elbow grease, a coat of wax and some warmer weather will take care of the filth. What little wood there is needs removed and refinished. Jib has been on the furler since the guy bought the boat in '04 and sitting outside, saw one little rip in it. Seems a waste as it appears removing one pin would allow taking it inside. Main and spinnaker in bags and were kept inside. I haven't examined them yet. I can't see a lot of the cockpit as the boat is filled with snow and ice but I'm betting there's a pile of lines under that stuff. What lines I can see aren't in the best of shape so I suspect they'll all need replaced. The stays appear ok except that the plastic coating is as brittle as glass and largely gone. Do the stays need to be plastic coated? They're obviously stainless and appear to be fine other than the coating. Rudder mounts, (gudgeons?), are solid, step appears fine, centerboard appears fine but frozen in place right now. The hardware that all the lines attach to feels solidly mounted and the mast and boom look straight with no bends or dings in the slot where the sails go. Ended up getting it for $700.00. Oh, the doggone trailer looks almost new and has new tires and spare. It's been under the boat the whole time.....and the lights still worked after 6 years!!!!!!!go figger.

Wish I could post a pic but my computer won't recognize my camera and I don't know how to bypass that function. It's pretty ugly right now anyway.

Open to suggestions, criticisms, advice, praise and/or cash!

Vic

John K · Post by **John K** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:30 pm

I don't think that the stays need to be coated. In fact, I once happened upon an article that was critical about the use of coating on lifelines and stays because it prevents you from giving them a good inspection, and it also said something about stainless steel faring better when it has exposure to air. I've been contemplating cutting my lifeline coatings off with a nice sharp blade.

J. Austin · Post by **J. Austin** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:28 pm

John is absolutely right.
No coat on stainless. The chemical process cannot take place that makes it anti-corrosive. Clean them well.

If it helps there are a lot of "one-design websites" that have what I would call make-over kits. Pre-cut lines for the entire boat and block kits. (harken makes one)

Concrats and good luck with your new girl.
Keep us posted.

P.S. Take lots of "ugly" pics.
They're gold for bragging later!

Paul the Denverite · Post by **Paul the Denverite** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:47 pm

I pulled a Capri 16' out of those same Missouri woods years ago. Looked really ugly. Drove it into the nearest town and into the RV car wash. A few bucks of quarters it looked pretty darn good. After getting it back to Denver a buffer with some compound and a coat of wax and it looked great!

I wish you the same great luck in your transmutation of a found treasure!

CaptainScott · Post by **CaptainScott** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 7:40 am

Congratulations on the new boat!!!!
And a plus 1 for the photos!

Defintately take many before shots!
Makes the after shots even better!!!

Scott

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:26 am

Vic on that headsail if it is only a small rip you could use "sail tape" worked faily good for me on the C-26 which has a luff of 29' DO NOT unfurl the sail until it warms even if you take the furler inside as with cold and furled that long it may be brittle and see what it looks like.

sharps4590 · Post by **sharps4590** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:44 am

Thanks leeker, I wasn't about to try to unfurl that thing in the cold we've been having, it just doesn't feel right. Pleading ignorance, what is and where might I obtain "sail tape"?

Also, is there a site that has rigging instructions with lots of pictures for a Bucc? What came with the boat is text only and a bit over my head at the moment. The directions start from new. I have about half of it figured out just from looking at it but the rest is a bit confusing to me.

Vic

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 9:10 am

West Marine, Defender marine or any marina that has trasient sailors or carries an assortment of sailing hardware. My 150 Genoa has hole and tears from age and sitting in the cabin of my boat in the woods for 7 years and mice had gotten in. I taped it together with small pieces of fabric covered with tape both sides and it held pretty well. on a Bucc. you will not have the forces on that sail that I do on a large headsail. I learned about it the same way I saw a 42' Catalina using it on his and inquired and he explained it to me. I am replacing sails but still usable. you can get used sails at multiple places like Atlantic sail traders or I think you can get new from Nichols. for Mut or Bucc. I don't think they would have anything for a C-22 or C-26.

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 5:26 pm

If I were you I would try a Buccaneer group like this one
http://www.buccaneer18.org/ or another there are some on yahoo groups.