Capri 14.2 vs. Bucc 18?

pkpdjh

New Member
I am trying to decide whether to get a Buccaneer 18 or Capri 14.2 for a little daysailer. We do a lot of cruising on 25-30' boats in San Diego, but we'd like a daysailer near our house in Tempe, AZ. Our sailing club has fleets for both boats.

Here are the things I would like to do with the boat all with equal priority

1. Go sailing with my wife and improve our skills
2. Race with the local fleet also for the sake of improving skills (not to win the title)
3. Take leisurely day sails with my wife and couple of guests or my wife our two dogs
4. Go by myself or with a dog to get away for a couple of hours.
5. Introduce friends to sailing

I am debating between the Buccaneer 18 and the Capri 14.2. I am thinking that 4 people in a Capri 14 is going to be too small. I also think that the Bucc might teach me more about sailing.

Right now, I can buy:

- 1994 Capri 14.2 (w/centerboard) in good shape for $2,500. Comes with trailer and cover for mast up and cover for no mast. I know the owner and he's a good guy who takes care of his stuff. (He's the captain of my racing team.)
- 1981 Bucc 18 for $3000. Comes with trailer and outboard. It is sold by a local shop.

I am really looking more at thoughts about the two designs, not these two particular boats for sale. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Dave ...
 
It is my belief that you will learn all of the basics of sailing if you can master any two sail boat especially if you add in a spinnaker. Ever boat will present different challenges but if you can sail well on any course, tack and jibe effortlessly, trim both sails to obtain peak performance, sail the shortest distance in the minimum time and get maximum speed out of a boat on all points of sail you are far up on the curve and can transfer these skills to any sloop you chose. From that prospective the boat you choose has more to do with which best fits your personal needs and desires.


If you are not racing to win you are not really racing; you are only watching a race from the water…:D Go for it! You can do it! I enter every race confident that I will win but needless to say I don’t as often as I would like.:rolleyes: The more serious you are about racing the more you will learn. I always tell new crews to just do their best, start the race with a smile, have fun during the race and end the race with a smile even if you are an hour behind fleet and the committee boat is out looking for you:confused:; there is always another day and another race. At my age perhaps the last sentence is a little questionable.:eek:


Just my thoughts…
 
Joe, thanks for all of your thoughtful perspectives.

My J/105 team got its first win in a field of fifteen last weekend and believe me I'm ready to race to win. My wife is a former D1 track athlete and she will get competitive once she sees those other boats next to her. I just started racing this year and it definitely is a whole different exercise than our usual cruising.

I can get a 14.2 in really good condition from a friend of mine, so I'm probably going to go that route. It comes with the whisker pole, the anti-turtle float installed, the mast-on cover, the mast-off cover and nice trailer. Plus, I know the owner and he takes meticulous care of his stuff.
 
I am trying to decide whether to get a Buccaneer 18 or Capri 14.2 for a little daysailer. We do a lot of cruising on 25-30' boats in San Diego, but we'd like a daysailer near our house in Tempe, AZ. Our sailing club has fleets for both boats.

Here are the things I would like to do with the boat all with equal priority

1. Go sailing with my wife and improve our skills
2. Race with the local fleet also for the sake of improving skills (not to win the title)
3. Take leisurely day sails with my wife and couple of guests or my wife our two dogs
4. Go by myself or with a dog to get away for a couple of hours.
5. Introduce friends to sailing

I am debating between the Buccaneer 18 and the Capri 14.2. I am thinking that 4 people in a Capri 14 is going to be too small. I also think that the Bucc might teach me more about sailing.

Right now, I can buy:

- 1994 Capri 14.2 (w/centerboard) in good shape for $2,500. Comes with trailer and cover for mast up and cover for no mast. I know the owner and he's a good guy who takes care of his stuff. (He's the captain of my racing team.)
- 1981 Bucc 18 for $3000. Comes with trailer and outboard. It is sold by a local shop.

I am really looking more at thoughts about the two designs, not these two particular boats for sale. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Dave ...
I own a Capri 14.2. It is too small for 4 adults to sail comfortably. I would buy the bucc.
 
No problem; just be sure to call me in time to get to the start line!!!:rolleyes: Congratulations on the win - great feeling and accomplishment. You will find the Capri a whole different challenge than the 105. Great fun...

As I stated earlier, the Capri is pretty small for four people but great for two. I am sure you will be happy with either boat but your ability to sail with another couple may be more cramped than you desire. Let us know how things workout.
 
Hi!
I owned a Bucc prior to buying my capri 14.2. the bucc is longer but the cockpit space seems cluttered and seemed not comfortable for 4 adults. the bucc is also very unsteady compared to the stable capri 14.2 thus I think would not be a good choice for your purposes. I did not dare bring my 2 little boys with me on my bucc due to unsteadiness and fear of capsize AS even just walking on the boat caused so much rocking side to side. I have sailed with 4 people on my capri 2 180 lbs adults with 2 over 220 pound adults. 2 of us were 6 feet tall. we were pretty ok sailing. the center board trunk on the bucc takes up a lot of space.
rigging and racing the mast of the Bucc is another problem. the mast is so long and heavy. I struggled with this every time as my boat was older and did not have a mast step.
The bucc did seem fast even in light winds, i thought.

Rod
 
Hey Rod, Thanks for your reassuring post.

My wife and bought out Capri 14.2 about a month ago. It has been a great fit. We haven't been able to make it to any of the races, but we have enjoyed darting around the lake. It is a very responsive boat and should provide a lot of fun and fine-tuning of our skills. Also, the local sailing club uses the 14.2 for everything.

We're down to one dog and I think once we are used to the boat, she will be able to join us. She's 40-lbs and a great athlete.

Also, we can launch the boat without a car just by walking the trailing to/from the parking space where we store it which is about 100 yards from the water.

Thanks again.
 
Congrats on your boat. I have had a Buccaneer 18 for 10 years and a Capri 14.2 every once in a while. The Bucc Nationals are in MD this year, so I picked up a derelict C14 to haul over to SD for their nationals. I also race a Santana 20 at Lake Pleasant.

Rating 1-5 with 1 being best.. i am a racer at heart.... P-)
This does not include a J80 or Catalina 22.. just similar boats in mind

Ease/speed of Setup - Capri 1, Buccaneer 3, Santana 5
Light Air Performance - Capri 4, Buccaneer 1, Santana 2
Breezy Performance - Capri 3, Buccaneer 1, Santana 2
Crew Comfort - Capri 1, Buccaneer 4, Santana 1
Guest Comfort (2+2) - Capri 2, Buccaneer 5, Santana 1
Fleet Support in AZ - Capri 1, Buccaneer 3, Santana 2

I raced my Bucc with my wife for 10 years in South Bay SD in 15+ with flat water and was comfortable. The Bucc fleet travel to the SD NOOD, MB One Design, and fleet at the AYC Birthday Regatta. Every other year the Mid-winters are out here and the Nationals are within a day drive. Last year in Dillon, CO, i placed 1st in b fleet with a newbie crew

I raced my old C14 with my kids and they would pass out from full tummy, warm weather, and nice rocking motion on TTL C14 have the nationals in SD every year, the MBOD, and are encouraged to come play at the Birthday Regatta, but usually only show for the Friday sail..

My 13 year old drives my Santana at Pleasant currently and we finished tied for 1st this spring. If the Buccs go back to LP, i would mothball the S20 and play since it is such a good sail, has a spin, only need 2, and no hiking harness.

There are several dual lake sailors but it means racing every weekend. That means the honey-do list gets done during the week...
 
Thanks for the info, azexploder. Maybe I'll see you on the lake. My Capri's sail number is 4302. I race with Tomahawk (J105) on LP.

Dave ...
 
Let me know if you want to take a turn in the bucc. I purchased my first one - a 1980 Chrysler - without sailing one first. I have a Nickles now. The gang in the fleet was mostly the reason.
 

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