Buccaneer 33

Description

The Buccaneer 33 is a classic Australian-designed folding trimaran sailboat, renowned for its speed, seaworthiness, and innovative demountable construction in the 1970s multihull era. At 33 feet, this masthead sloop balances performance cruising with family-friendly livability, featuring a central cockpit, daggerboard for shallow draft, and folding amas (outer hulls) that reduce beam from 23.5 ft to ~8 ft for trailering or marina berthing. Built primarily from fiberglass by amateur and small-yard builders, it's praised for planning easily in moderate winds while offering stable offshore capability—ideal for coastal passages or blue water hops with 4–6 crew. With a light displacement and high sail area, it earns "ultralight" status, though its open layout suits warmer climates better than cold-weather sailing. Lock Crowther, a prolific Australian multihull pioneer (1940–1993) who grew up in Bairnsdale and designed over 2,500 boats including the Kraken and Tenacious series, created the Buccaneer 33 in 1973 as a mid-sized evolution of his smaller Buccaneer models (e.g., 24 and 28). Inspired by his racing trimaran Brandersnatch's 1966 Sydney-Hobart victory, it addressed demands for faster, more comfortable cruisers amid the global multihull boom. Plans emphasized home builds with full-size patterns, leading to dozens constructed worldwide (primarily Australia, US, and NZ). A stretched variant, the Buccaneer 35, emerged by spacing stations forward of the mast. Crowther's designs influenced modern tris like the Farrier F-33; the 33 remains a benchmark for folding efficiency.