Description
The Crowther Buccaneer 24 is a pioneering trailerable trimaran sailboat, designed by Australian multihull innovator Lock Crowther in 1970 as the smallest in his Buccaneer series. This demountable plywood design prioritizes speed, simplicity, and portability for day sailing, racing, or short cruises with 2–4 crew. Featuring slim, low-rocker hulls and aluminum aka (crossbeam) struts, it disassembles easily for trailering (beam reduces from 19 ft to ~8 ft). Known for its lightweight construction and ahead-of-its-time performance—planning in light winds and stable in rough seas—it's a dry, comfortable pocket cruiser that influenced modern small tris. Over 100 were built worldwide by home enthusiasts, with a resurgence in interest thanks to epoxy updates extending their lifespan. Owners praise its reaching prowess but note the open cockpit suits warmer climates. Lock Crowther, who built his first trimaran Bunyip as a teenager in 1959, created the Buccaneer 24 amid the 1970s multihull boom to offer an affordable, high-performance alternative to monohulls. Drawing from his racing roots (e.g., Brandersnatch's 1966 Sydney-Hobart win), it featured narrow hulls and wide beam for stability, evolving from earlier Krakens. Plans were sold directly, leading to scattered amateur builds in Australia, Canada, the US, and NZ. By the 1980s, epoxy techniques revived interest, with 52 more sets issued post-2000. A 1973 Canadian build still races in Atlanta today. Crowther's legacy includes 2,500+ designs; the 24 embodies his focus on efficient, seaworthy cruisers.
