Luhrs 50?????

[witeagle]

Does anyone think Luhrs will break the 41 foot mark? Luhrs' sister company Silverton has the 45T and 50T (sport fishing) models. With Luhrs moving to NJ's Silverton Factory which produces other hull's up to 50, I really wonder if we are going to see some larger boats coming out.

[flbluerunner]

I believe that Luhr's did build a 50. Don't think it worked out very well.

John :patriot:

[irishrogue]

uhh...they included a 44-50 feet section on this site for good reason...they have already produced 44 and 50 foot convertibles. both designed by bob sherbert...both shortlived. i believe only a handful of 50s were made in '99-'00. i believer the 44 followed a year or two later and was only produced for 2 or 3 years.

What was more interesting was the one off 50' express that they made - the only place I ever "saw" it was in a Ring Power print advertisement early in this decade. Very cool looking.... Never went into production as far as I know.

I believe Luhrs sold the 50 mold to a NC builder who produced a nearly identical boat in '00 or '01....not sure how many they produced.

I think Luhrs underestimates the competition when it comes to building larger boats and that they completely miss the "value" proposition which starts to break down with larger sportfishes.....Say a 50' Luhrs convertible was $1mm new...many buyers would have chosen to spend that $1mm differently on a higher quality boat from viking, bertram, hatt, even Ocean - perhaps a few feet smaller, perhaps lightly used. Personally, I think the best thing Luhrs could have done was build a similar quality boat at something along the lines of Ocean's stand and deliver pricing that was used for a few years on the 40 SS and later the 43 SS.

[flbluerunner]

I agree that Luhr's might have a market for a tweaked out, higher quality boat. I am on my 2nd 38 and the newer one has more issues then the 12 year old version. I would pay extra to see better quality.
I do feel we get a good value for the Luhr's product. The step up to Viking or Cabo is huge.
I have put over 4500 hours on my 2 Luhr's and am not sure that if I had stepped up I would have enjoyed the time any better.
Luhr's has been good about standing behind their product even though sometimes I feel like I am pulling teeth to get them to do the right thing.
They are what they are!

John :patriot:

[Rusty]

John:
I have a 32 foot Open, 1999 model. Like the boat a lot!!!
I would like to move to the 38 or larger due to our long runs and now overnighters. Do you think going from a 32 to 38 is wise or should I think of 32 to 40 footers? What is your fuel burn on the 38? Do you have a Convertible or Open?
I am worried about the Luhrs 40 foot models due to past news.

Rusty

[flbluerunner]

Hey Rusty,
This is my 2nd 38 so I guess I like the hull. I still own the 1996, the sale fell through as I was buying the 2006 and I decided to go ahead with the purchase.
The 1996 is a Cat 3126 boat, 23 knot cruise at a 34 gallon fuel rate. I bought it to fish the canyons off of Destin,FL and the oil rigs.
The 2006 is the Volvo IPS prototype boat. It has caused me a lot of pain but both Luhr's and Volvo have stepped up to make things right. It is a 28 knot cruise and burns 29 GPH, pretty amazing- better then most big outboard boats.
Both of my boats are opens, more my style of fishing.
I have fished the 41 open with Cummins and like it alot. I think they have resolved the problems.
I have lived and traveled on the 38 for up to 3 months at a time and find it very comfortable. My oil rig trips were normally for 3 days without seeing land and she served me well.
The 1996 is for sale if you have any interest, she is in great shape with new out of the box motors 900 hours ago.
Feel free to e-mail me if you have other questions.

John

Sea ya

[Rusty]

John:

Thanks for the reply. I know about long runs. Here in SW Louisiana, our red snapper gets good at 45 miles out. Not worth going after at 2 per person. Tuna and Wahoo out another 50 miles. Last year I hit some nice Wahoo at 65 miles out. We do overnighters for this mark. As you know a 32 foot boat is very small out there. Luckily we have many rigs to tie up to for overnight stay or bad weather.

With respect to boats, the 38 foot is a very nice looking boat. Should I move up, I would be interested in a new model. I have never owned a new boat and hopefully will do so one day.

Rusty

[flbluerunner]

Rusty,
The 38 is no longer made, it is a shame, it was their longest produced hull.
Luhr's introduced a new 37 at the Ft. Lauderdale boat show.
Good looking boat, very beamy. They are offering it with either the Volvo IPS system or triple outboards.
I understand the desire to have a new boat, after over a year of working the bugs out of mine I am beginning to wonder if buying one that is a year or two old after someone else has gotten rid of the bugs is not a better purchase. Hard to know.
By the way if you change your mind about wanting new my 1996 is in New Orleans.
I bought the new one from MJ Mayer Yachts and they convinced me to bring the 1996 to them to sell.
I love the fishing out your way, used to go to Venice quite a bit.
Have a great one.

John :patriot:

[Rusty]

John:
Sounds like you know the Louisiana conditions. Mayer Yachts have been calling on me to "move up". Nice people; however, I will continue with the 32 Open for now. I stated they would get my first call if the opportunity arises on a new rig.

With respect to Venice, it is one of the best fisheries in the US, if not the world. My friends and I have been trying to get a charter trip these last couple of months but strike out with the weather. We will wait until January and February and get behind one of the cold fronts. Big Yellowfin are awaiting. I fished my 32 Open out of Grand Isle for a couple of summers. Had bad luck in equipment, as it appears my boat doesnot like to run eastward from my home port. We are a good day's run by water from Grand Isle.

Look forward to a good year of fishing. Keep us posted on your catches!!

By the way, I am a lobster "hell diver" in the Florida Keys. Been down there the last 20 years for the week of opening season. I pull my 23 ft. Seacraft, which is "ready to go" for that event. I was supposed to sell the Seacraft over the last 5 years after we purchased the 32 Open. Hell, I will not give the damn thing away; therfore, I keep it for specialty events like lobstering in the Fabulous Florida Keys.

Have a Merry Christmas and New Year!!

Rusty

[irishrogue]

hey John,

how about some shots of the IPS install on your 38 open. would love to see them. i m curious how a random dealer ended up with the volvo mule that Luhrs made in anticipation of the 37....how many hours on it when you got it? since the 38 hull clearly was not designed for the IPS, what issues are you having? what changes were made etc....would love to know more about this "first" IPS install...

i think you are right that the 38/40 hull was longest running. i believe the 38 convertible stareted in 1990 and the 38 open in 1992 (maybe '91...). Their most popular hull was still the 32 I think.....

-Sean

[Fish On 3488]

http://www.southshoredrydock.com/core/listing/pl_boat_detail.jsp?&units=Feet&id=1598331&lang=en&slim=broker&&hosturl=southshoredrydock&&ywo=southshoredrydock&

Boat is located in my marina. Looks pretty damn nice.

[irishrogue]

that may be hull #1...

but i really want to see the only 50' open that was built....