Buchanan boats

[WowdyWebel]

Does anyone have a view on Buchanan yachts?

I have seen a few and the certainly pass the prettiness test - I am more interested now in whether any recurring problems have emerged as they are fairly ancient now, seaworthiness, build quality/design etc.

Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[Mukes]

I have sailed on Caressa as seen here: http://www.classicsailingclub.com/html/Caressa.html

What more can I say than the experience made me want one!

One of the chaps from the Classic Saling Club has also set up this: http://www.buchananownersassociation.org/

 

[rjp]

I've got a 32ft Buchanan sloop, relaunched last year but really only put through her paces this year. I've still got a lot to learn about getting the most out of her under sail but at this point I'm absolutely delighted.

John

 

[Aja]

In all honesty. Do you think they would still be around if they were duff?

Donald

 

[PeteCooper]

In 1969 my dad bought a brand new Halcyon 27 which was a development of the earlier Diamond design. She was well built, relatively roomy for a boat of her time, and apart from being slightly tender sailed very well. Once in Dunbar inner harbour, whilst dried out against the wall, she fell the wrong way. The only damage was that one of the lower shrouds pulled a slot in the mast. This was repaired at the nearby cement factory - they rivetted on a plate at each side and all was well. She is still afloat, now sailing out of Rhu, and still has the repaired mast! Still a very pretty boat.

 

[Aja]

My dad has a 32' Robert Clark, and yes whilst in Dunbar, whilst drying out we managed not to fall over too much by lashing the spinnaker boom to a ring on the quay!

Funny old world innit.

Donald

 

[halcyon]

We have owned our Halcyon 27 for 6 years. Previous owners did two Trans-Atlantic crossings in her, she has little resemblance to what was originally made, but problems no.
The hull was moulded from the Ace of Diamonds, and includes the damage it had to it's hull.

Brian

 

[tome]

I sailed a 40ft Buchanan sloop for a good few years, including a couple of Biscay crossings. Lovely boat with a spoon bow and long counter. Very forgiving when frequently over-canvassed, though the weather helm should have alerted us

Not so good downwind when she rolled mercilessly and would dip her boom in the seas. On one occasion this led to a dangerous jibe which badly injured one of our crew in a big blow

The owner eventually sold her and bought a Swan 47. The difference was incredible. We soon learned that we had to reef her in good time, and trim her sails much more carefully than we were used to

I have great memories of the Buchanan, not least the forgiving nature of her hull form and rig

 

[rich]

A Buchanan for you

 

[contessa26]

A Buchanan?
How about one of his larger designs:
'Starfire of Kent' - a beautiful inboard bermudian yawl, ocean-racer, approx 1962, construction carvel, 36 foot waterline, 53 ft LOA, beam 12.5ft, draft just under 8ft... flush deck, small low doghouse aft, long cockpit, lovely long counter, long curved bow, pretty sheer, midships galley, 'open-plan' accommodation with berths for approx ten!. Lovely.

PS - rich - that's a lovely vessel; and in a way, not dissimilar to a Holman & Pye...
Many thanks.

 

[Neraida]

Or indeed "Hephzibah"

Priors built in 1963 for Sir Maurice Lang as the "big boat" for the Admirals Cup.

She's for sale too

Hephzibah

 

[davidboddy]

We have a 1956 Yeoman (35ft loa) which was built by RJ Prior of Burnham on Crouch. She is a fantastic boat to sail rather like a large Folkboat. We have found her to be well built although it must be said the previous owner spent £70,000 on her (considerably more than we paid). You really do need to keep on top of the maintenance! We have also owned a Westerley which had considerably more accomodation in a shorter boat and a Beneteau First which was a lot quicker and easier to sail but modern boats somehow don't quite hit the same spot!

 

[Roach1948]

Before I bought Roach an East Anglian Mk 1 was on my list after I sailed one! Tremendously good small yachts and although tender at first, stiffen up smartly though. I don't think Buchanan was into wide beams, but nor was Dallimore (Roach). I think these slender shapes were only there when the last of the wooden yacht making was commercial before pastic came in. A Nich 32 might be an exeption.

Personally, I would buy one - classics of the future for sure!

 

[grumpydog]

I did my Day Skipper course on a 32ft Buchanan sloop this year (see CB). It was a very nice boat to sail - fast, narrow, extremely tender, easy to handle and manoeuvre. On the downside, interior space was savage! I know a couple of guys in Newhaven who have a lovely little 25-footer as well, which manages to combine a pretty enough doghouse with standing headroom underneath. Spooky. Very nice, clever, pretty design, and average in performance terms. I once heard a naval architect say that out of Buchanan, Holman and Nicholson, Buchanans were the best built, and Holmans were the prettiest. The Nicholsons were a good comprimise. Sounds reasonable, although I think Buchanans are also very pretty!

 

[PeteCooper]

How can you say that Buchanans were the best built when they were built by a range of different builders?

 

[Bosunlocker]

I owned a Buchanan Yawl 52ft named Starfire of Kent renamed Kochab 11.She was built by Prior in 1962 of Burma teak with every third frame of stainless steel.I sailed 1000s of miles in her she was best sailing yacht I have ever owned and I have owned lots.Rigged right she would sail herself.She was in Auckland New Zealand.She was admired by every one.
I am sorry I sold her.If your intrested she features in the book the proper yacht.Buchanan a great designer of yachts.

 

[Bosunlocker]

I proudly owned Starfire of Kent In New Zealand she was renamed Kochab 11.She was a master peace of boat building.
With Burma Teak every third frame of stainless steel.Yawl rigged,I wish I owned her today.
She Features in the book the proper yacht.