Buccaneer 495 / 485 classic
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: General Forums
Forum Name: The Boat Shed
Forum Description: Discuss all things boating.
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=127299
Printed Date: 28 May 2026 at 6:41am
Topic: Buccaneer 495 / 485 classic
Posted By: Kiwirail
Subject: Buccaneer 495 / 485 classic
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2018 at 11:25pm
Hi all. Been looking for a while for our first glass family boat.
The buccaneer 495 classic or maybe a late model 485, seems to tick a few boxes in terms of small cabin, weight in terms of towing, size for storing it in the garage and easier one person launch / retrieval etc.
Although I have climbed over one at a boat shop, I haven’t been out in one or met anyone yet who has one so was hoping to get some owner feedback regarding the pros and cons of this size buccaneer. They seem to regularly come up for sale secondhand so was wondering how they handle or if there are any known issues. We would be using it for a little harbour fishing around Tauranga on good days but predominantly family boating on the Rotorua lakes with one child / two adults.
We might be better considering a larger 550 or something else, but any thoughts or advise welcome. Cheers.
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Replies:
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2018 at 8:16am
I would go for the larger 5.5m glass cabin boat.
Glass softer ride for the ladies
Cabin, ladies like a little privacy at times, and often like to chill out with a book.
Larger.. children grow, get friends and siblings.
And 5.5 cabin is good for 3 adults.
Once start getting out regularly, you will fine you will want to go further a feild.. the larger boat gives more options.
And think to the future, eventually family gets bigger in more ways than one, young teenage yrs and a 6m becomes more practical.
They seem to regularly come up for sale secondhand so was wondering how they handle or if there are any known issues.
They come up regularly cause they are a popular boat , like others , for good reason. Issues, the bolts that hold the pod on can leak.. a maintenance check thing, not major to seal and fix.
How handle?... hulls handle well when well powered, min or under powered they dont.
A general rule of thumb.. 5m 90 hp min 115 well powered, 5.5m 115hp min 140 well powered.
Other alternatives.. sea nymph, haines, rayglass, tristum, bonito (thu I dont like the close windscreen).
Its very much a preference of layout.
Get ALL the the family , and/or 3 or 4 adults in the boat, move around as if in the boat...
Then do the same on sea trial ....and talk to families at the ramp.. including, most important... the ladies.
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Posted By: puff
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2018 at 9:28am
I had an older buccaneer 560, it was for its size the best boat for doing everything thing you mentioned.
The ride is what impressed the most, never banged or felt unstable real good all round boat and built tough.
I sometimes wish I hadn’t sold it.....
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Posted By: Barbary B
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2018 at 9:39am
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I had a 485 with a 90hp Yamaha 2s. Great big little boat. Lots of cabin room - can sleep two overnight if you want to. Big front hatch makes anchoring/sea anchor access easy. You cant really walk around the side as the cabin goes right out to the edge (no walkway) so all access to the front is through the hatch.
It was ideal when our kids were smaller as we could travel with them in the cabin if things got rough.
Handled really well - but if you are sitting in the two rear front facing seats then expect to get wet in any cross wind or swell.
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"Look ahead, look astern, look to weather, look to lea
Look down along the coast of High Barbary..."
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Posted By: Kiwirail
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2018 at 2:34pm
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Many thanks for the advise and ideas. Just what I was after.
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Posted By: family affair
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2018 at 5:56pm
I had a 485 was a awesome boat took it out in all conditions i loved it would still own it today if didn't need to buy a house
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mv maui
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Posted By: FredKaiser
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2018 at 3:05pm
My in-laws are selling theirs Buccaneer 485 Classic 2011 with a 115hp Yamaha 2s. They are in Rotorua too.Great little boat, we fished 4 adults in it... of course not the best boat for that task but we did it very comfortably.
I had a 540 Cabin ET 1994 with a 90 Yamaha 2s which was also a great boat.
1 kid and a couple in a 485 is just fine. Plenty of room for the little one in the cabin and plenty of room for the hardcore fishing couple. |
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