Buchan 37 Information, Review, Specs

The genesis of the Buchan 37 is rooted in the innovative and experimental approach of Bill Buchan Sr., a legendary figure in Northwest sailing history. His early custom wooden designs, like the 38-foot 'Heather' and the 38.5-foot 'Thistle,' paved the way for the establishment of Buchan Boat Co. in 1959. The company's initial production offering, the wooden Buchan 40, was a revision of the 'Thistle' design. However, Bill Sr.'s relentless pursuit of optimizing race performance led to further innovation.

In late 1961, John Buchan undertook significant revisions to the Buchan 40 jig, creating a 37-foot prototype named 'Thunder,' launched in 1962. This vessel, initially met with skepticism by Bill Sr., proved surprisingly fast. A pivotal shift occurred in late 1962 when Bill Sr. embraced fiberglass construction. John Buchan created a precision plug boat from 'Thunder,' which was then used to create a mold for fiberglass production. The first fiberglass Buchan 37, 'Salute,' was built in the summer of 1963, with full production commencing around 1965. Approximately 50 Buchan 37 hulls were ultimately produced, distributed across the Pacific Coast. Unlike later production boats, many Buchan 37s were owner-finished, leading to considerable variations in their interior layouts.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Buchan 37 was engineered for performance, a hallmark of Bill Buchan Sr.'s design philosophy. With a calculated sail area to displacement ratio of approximately 18.31, she suggests good performance, especially in lighter air. Her ballast to displacement ratio of around 0.46 indicates a stiff and stable vessel, capable of standing up to more wind and offering a comfortable motion in a seaway. While the displacement to length ratio, calculated as 63.76, numerically suggests a very light, performance-oriented boat, the Buchan 37 is often described as robustly built and considered heavy by modern standards. This apparent contradiction underscores her unique blend of solid construction and spirited sailing characteristics for her era.

The Buchan 37 features a fin keel, a design choice that contributes to "splendid manoeuvrability." Her masthead sloop rig provides a generous sail plan, with a total calculated sail area of 626.23 square feet. Owners and designers alike note that careful attention to fore-and-aft trim is a critical factor for achieving optimal boat speed. She is capable of a theoretical hull speed of 6.99 knots. The design is notably slender, being slimmer than 95% of other similar sailboat designs, indicating a significantly speedy hull.

Accommodations and Layout

Interior arrangements on the Buchan 37 are highly variable due to the fact that many hulls were owner-finished. This allowed individual owners to customize the interior to their specific preferences and needs, meaning there isn't a single "standard" layout. While specific details will differ from boat to boat, typical accommodations would generally include a V-berth forward, a main salon with settees and a table, a galley area, and a head compartment. The materials and finish quality would also depend heavily on the individual builder or owner who completed the interior. This customizability allowed for a personalized cruising or racing setup within the robust fiberglass hull.