I own a 1981 US Yachts 30' sailboat. United Sailing Yachts was a subsidiary of Bayliner, but the building quality was far superior. Hence, US Yachts are have been attached with the "stigma" of being a Bucc, even though they really aren't. My boat is a Doug Peterson design (racer/cruiser), and was pretty solidly built. All US Yachts owners will agree- they are damn solid boats, sail like a dream, and not one has ever had a bottom blister. The mold to the US 30 was sold to Pearson (after Bayliner axed production of sailboats so they could focus on power boats, like the Capri), and was produced as the 303 Triton. US Yachts look nothing like Buccs.

Buccs on the other hand... There are pluses and minuses, and some ugly designs combined with poor QC gave them a bad rep. There are some Bucc owners who swear by their boats, and have diligently fortified and restored them. They are an economical boat, as they can be acquired on the cheap. Not everyone can afford a brand-new boat, or an overpriced used O'Day daysailor. Not all Buccs are lemons, either- there are some solidly built ones, too.

So don't be too quick to bash a Bucc on hearsay or one experience. I have seen brand new Hunters with delamination and blisters, brand new Tartans and Hanses that are already falling apart, sailed on O'Days and Catalinas that sailed like absolute crap, etc etc. The only way you'll know if you are buying a good boat of any brand versus a lemon is to "test drive" the thing (sailing is a requirement), and inspect the hell out of it (electrical, mechanical, and plumbing.)

Capn' Chris

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