McArthur says that the boats are Bayliner developments of Alan Payne'sColumbia T-23, adapted from a "splashed" mold using a T-23 hull. Henkel claims that the designs are a scaled down version of William Garden's Buccaneer 300, created by Bayliner's in-house design team.[1][4]
The design goals were outlined by Bayliner as a roomy, trailerable, cruising-oriented sailboat with six feet of below deck headroom.[6]
The design has sleeping accommodation for four people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin and an aft cabin with a double berth. The galley is located on the port side at the companionway ladder. The galley is equipped with a two-burner stove and a double sink. The large head is located beside the companionway on the starboard side, has 72 in (180 cm) of headroom and includes a shower. The main cabin headroom is also 72 in (180 cm) and the fresh water tank has a capacity of 20 U.S. gallons (76 L; 17 imp gal). The number of the ports was not consistent through the production run of the boat.[1][4]
The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 270 and a hull speed of 6.0 kn (11.1 km/h).[4]
Variants
Buccaneer 240
This outboard motor-equipped model was introduced in 1975. It has a length overall of 23.67 ft (7.2 m), a waterline length of 20.33 ft (6.2 m), displaces 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) and carries 1,250 lb (567 kg) of ballast. The boat has a draft of 2.50 ft (0.76 m) with the standard keel. The boat is fitted with a small 4 to 8 hp (3 to 6 kW) outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.[1][4]
Buccaneer 245
This inboarddiesel engine-equipped model was introduced in 1975. It has a length overall of 23.67 ft (7.2 m), a waterline length of 20.33 ft (6.2 m), displaces 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) and carries 1,050 lb (476 kg) of ballast. The boat has a draft of 2.30 ft (0.70 m) with the standard keel. The boat is fitted with a small Volvo 7.5 hp (6 kW) inboard motor for docking and maneuvering.[2][4][7]
Operational history
In a 2010 review Steve Henkel described the boat as a "floating apartment for coasting downwind. He wrote, "the Buccaneer Design Team ... created a group of high, boxy looking "wedding cake" designs with keels too shallow and with too little ballast for good upwind performance. Best features: Very extensive accommodations, with double berth aft, V-berth forward, convertible dinette in a "lounge" area that doesn't need to be made up every morning, a huge "bathroom" with head, sink, and shower, galley with a "refrigerator" (actually, just an icebox?), stove, and two-basin sink, Oh, and there's 6-foot headroom too. Worst features: The penalty for the good living arrangements below is a boat that sails downwind satisfactorily, but is no good upwind."[4]