Description
The Chrysler Buccaneer 18 is an 18-foot fiberglass daysailer designed by Rod Macalpine-Downie and Dick Gibbs, introduced in 1967 by Chrysler Marine, a division of the Chrysler Corporation, after their 1965 acquisition of Lone Star Boat Co. Built in Plano, Texas, the Buccaneer was part of Chrysler’s sailboat lineup aimed at the growing recreational boating market, alongside models like the Barracuda 13 and Mutineer 15. Marketed as a versatile, family-friendly sailboat, it’s designed for beginners to intermediate sailors, offering a blend of stability, simplicity, and performance for day sailing, casual racing, or youth programs. The boat features a sloop rig with a fractional rig option, a shallow-draft centerboard, and a lightweight, foam-filled fiberglass hull, making it trailerable and suitable for lakes, bays, or protected coastal waters.
The Buccaneer 18 gained popularity for its ease of handling and spacious cockpit, accommodating up to 6 people for day trips. Its high-aspect rig and planning hull allow for spirited performance, with a PHRF rating around 252-258, competitive in small-boat racing fleets. Production ran from 1967 to around 1980, with thousands built (exact numbers vary, but Chrysler produced over 22,000 sailboats total). After Chrysler sold its marine division in 1980 to Texas Marine International (TMI), the design continued briefly under TMI and later Gloucester Yachts/Wellcraft (Starwind division)..
