I just discovered the Lake Buccaneer

docmirror said:
Don't quote me on this, but I think there were a total of 5 built - in the whole world. The chances of finding an Air Car are worse by far than getting hit by lightning.
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There is one for sale. 3.5mil and it is all yours :lol:
 
3.5mil of what? Surely not $$.
 
Consider a Searey experimental? From what I've seen of seaplanes the certified ones are extra special moneypits, acquiring, fixing, and insuring them are much more than wheels. The only way I'd go seaplane would be experimental.
 
skippers said:
Have owned 5 and FLOWN them 1000s of hours over the last 35 years. As far as watering handling they are the best, far better than floats. Flying they are slow, loud and at times ponderous. Corrosion is not an issue if you fly out of fresh water. They provide unique access to "runways" and there are usually few other airplanes in the pattern, perhaps some boats though. Here is Florida safety is great because there is almost always an "airport" right below me. Great rough field airplane as the gear is robust. Have owned a Cirrus, several 182s that have come and gone but a Lake always remains in the hangar ready for a quick splash down.
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I have been a fan since I saw my first Buccaneer in 1981.

Can you give us some real world performance specs?
cruise speed, GPH, ...?
Maintenance or buying tips?

Thanks,
 
All you lake fans, have you ever seen the bill for changing the engine?

The average arm lift crane won't do it.
 
Mike_Flys said:
I have been a fan since I saw my first Buccaneer in 1981.

Can you give us some real world performance specs?
cruise speed, GPH, ...?
Maintenance or buying tips?

Thanks,
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Currently have a Renegade which is the 250HP as opposed to the Buccaneer which can be 180HP or 200HP there is also a 200HP EP. The Buccaneers are really only 2 place aircraft if loaded with fuel. Here in Florida in the heat the climb rate is anemic with a full load 300-400fpm in 200HP variant. Cruise speed is 105-110 knots. The Renegade is certified as 6 place but will full gas down to about 3 people and two if they are hefty. Flying 23/23 at 5-6 thousand feet usually get 115 knots burning about 15 gallons per hour. If I were buying a Buccaneer would suggest 200HP Buccaneer over 180HP and also would like an EP, owned one for about 5 years performance best of the three. Differences include bat wings which contrary to a prior post do make a difference helping keep spray out of the prop, has a spinner, Q-tip propeller and handles smoother. Also had the cargo door which all models do not. Rare one has 90 gallon fuel and would be hard to last that long. Have flown all over the US and Bahamas in our Lakes, usually not much more than 1000ft AGL. If you don't mind taking your time, being noise abused (Bose a must), flying low is more palatable because your emergency options are increased and seeing the countryside in detail is great. They are a wonderful airplane. Also another poster mentioned the usual crane would not lift the engine, we hung a pulley and chain on the rafters of the hangar and with biceps power changed out the engine without difficulty. PS our Renegade does not leak now there is a second one in the fleet that remains dry.
 
Wasn't the entire company for sale a couple of years ago for less than the cost of a new Cirrus ?
 
weilke said:
Wasn't the entire company for sale a couple of years ago for less than the cost of a new Cirrus ?
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Yes,, and now they will only build one with a high % up front.
 
Tom-D said:
Yes,, and now they will only build one with a high % up front.
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The last article I could find had the company down to 6 employees whose sole task was to support the existing fleet.

They did have a market at one point. Considering that the world is still covered with water and that there is nothing quite like it, you would think that you could sell some if they were available.

A local businessman bought a nice supercub this summer and ist turning it into an amphib. Nearby is an FBO who turns 182s into amphibs that retail for 250k+ when they are done. The market is still there to some extent.
 
Pilawt said:
Only the 200 hp model was called "Buccaneer" -- the 180s were just "Lake Amphibian".
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I apologize for my error. I was just trying to make it easy for those folks who do not have a vast knowledge of the "Lake Amphibian", sorry Aircraft. Since you are into the taxonomy of Lake Aircraft; "Lake Amphibian" would be the genus and the LA4-180 would be one of the species. So how should we refer to a 180 turbo or a 200 turbo? Are they Turbo Buccaneers or are they LA4-200 turbo? Should they be called a Lake Amphibian "turbo" or LA4-180 turbo? Is the straight seaplane a "Lake Amphibian"? Doesn't sound amphibious to me. We could pound this into the ground or better yet sink the discussion about taxonomy since we are talking about water birds.
 
skippers said:
I apologize for my error. I was just trying to make it easy for those folks who do not have a vast knowledge of the "Lake Amphibian", sorry Aircraft. Since you are into the taxonomy of Lake Aircraft; "Lake Amphibian" would be the genus and the LA4-180 would be one of the species. So how should we refer to a 180 turbo or a 200 turbo? Are they Turbo Buccaneers or are they LA4-200 turbo? Should they be called a Lake Amphibian "turbo" or LA4-180 turbo? Is the straight seaplane a "Lake Amphibian"? Doesn't sound amphibious to me. We could pound this into the ground or better yet sink the discussion about taxonomy since we are talking about water birds.
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Is a Mallard a Duck ? Or how about a Loon ?
 
weilke said:
Is a Mallard a Duck ? Or how about a Loon ?
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Good question. Guess Mallard could be a duck or perhaps a G-73. See your point. It can be whatever you want. Probably cannot be an Equus Africanus asinus though, that is reserved mostly for Homo Sapiens.
 
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