What to you know about the Luger? The boat not the gun/

HEINZIR · Dec 14, 2009

Check out these sites:

http://www.lugerboats.com/

http://lugerhybrid.tripod.com/home/

Ed Schenck · Dec 14, 2009

In my opinion a heavy 30-footer would not work well with an outboard. One of your links mentions a 20hp diesel so maybe some were inboards. There are two on YachtWorld, both outboards. One is the same as one of your links I think. But for your area I really do not like an outboard. Might be OK on an inland lake.

BobM · Dec 14, 2009

Well the trailer is worth $1000

The trailer is easily worth $1000 if it is structurally sound. Could be worth 3-5x that if it is better than just marginal. I don't think you could even donate a 30-foot Luger though, so be sure that the thing is sound before you buy it.

You may be handy, but if the deck core is shot (saturated) on that boat you might end up better off with a big dumpster and a chain saw than in investing all the time and effort in fixing it. Do yourself a favor and tap around the deck like a woodpecker with the handle of a screwdriver or a plastic hammer). Sharp sounds are good. Dull thuds are bad. Start in a spot with no neaby objects bolted onto the deck. That should be dry and sharp sounding. Near any deck penetrations, such as the chain plates, you are more likely to find wetness.

Good luck. Bought my first boat for $1000 (sans trailer) and never regretted it. However I sold it for $1350 after putting much more than $350 into it. Money isn't everything though!

Paul356 · Dec 14, 2009

You put your finger on it: "they were offered as an inexpensive kit construction project." So, quality could be all over the map. There could be gaps in the hull-deck joint, clumsy assembly, lots of unneeded holes and loose joints, or (and probably not obvious to you at this point) things in the wrong places. Or, it could have been assembled with care and quality. If you're handy and willing to bet $1,000, at least you'll have a hull and deck and mast and sails and an engine, and that's more than a lot of people ever do.

Barnacle Bill · Dec 14, 2009

Lugers were sold as kits in Minnesota by two brothers, of which Orm is still with us (last I knew). They ran a very successful business in Burnsville, MN and provided both power and sail kit boats. They put Holsclaw trailers under them. Eventually they sold the company to someone else in Missouri and now they are gone as a business. But there are a lot of Lugers. The 16' Leeward was the smallest and the Luger 30 was the largest in the trailerable type of sailboats. There are not a lot of 30' trailerable sailboats around (or ever built). When I think of trailerable, I think of boats you can launch and retrieve yourself (shoal or retractible keel), step the mast yourself, tow down the road without a permit, etc. The Luger 30 was one such vessel. It was under 8.5' in beam, and you could do all of the above. A few other boats I can think of that did the same was the C&C Mega 30, designed by the late Peter Barrett (much better sailing boat -PHRF 138 - with the same characteristics), the Clipper 30 and I know MacGregor made a larger one, but doubt you could step the mast yourself, but I could be wrong. There might be more, but I don't recall them now. Any kit boat has to be inspected carefully. Since there were different owners with different skills and ideas on how to put them together, or create an interior, etc., you can find anything from something over built by some anal engineer types, to the person who doesn't know which end of a screw driver to hold on to and anyone in between. I remember the Luger 30 mast was quite short in comparison to most 30 footers, but that was probably to keep the combined center of effort low so the boat was not too overpowered, probably because of the narrow beam and perhaps poor righting angle of the keep appendage they used.
They (Luger) basically provided someone an inexpensive, entry level boat, where you could get into a larger vessel for a lot less money than a production boat already built for you. They weren't considered to be keen sailing vessels, but a good project for the adventurous and, of course, they provided lots of enjoyment for families for many years. There are a lot of them around.

dvideohd · Dec 14, 2009

I know you are interested...

but could you consider a Mac 26S or 26X?

I was in college a long time ago and wanted to buy one of these real "bad!!!!"... but - as it goes - wast too poor....

Now.. comparing to an X or a S, I don't think I would have liked it.... 30 is nice - but how you use it matters a lot...

--jr

higgs · Dec 15, 2009

If it were me, I would keep looking.

Patrick17430 · Dec 15, 2009

X2 That thing is trashed. Unless its free. I wouldn't give any $ for it. He should pay you to haul it away for him . It would take a massive amount of time and money to sort that mess out. There's more back yard boats out there in that price range that probably wouldn't require that much work.

Bad Obsession · Dec 15, 2009

Why not take all the money that it will cost you to get that boat up to snuff and buy yourself and nice Catalina 30 MKI. There is MUCH more room in the Catalina 30, it is built well, it sails well, and it has a ton more room!

Bad Obsession · Dec 15, 2009

Sorry...but you are WAY off the mark. All marine items are EXPENSIVE!!!!! Sails alone, if the mainsail is bad are WELL over 1K.

Don't assume that you can simply supplement marine stuff for regular hardware. Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't, but you better be darn sure that you can before you do it unless you want to make a mess! Hell, just to fix the electrical systems and run new marine grade wiring (let someone fill you in on why you should do this) and add new batteries you are looking at, if you do the work yourself, at least $500. You may have to replace the standing rigging and that will cost money. You WILL have to replace the running rigging if it set and that will cost you money (don't put cheap stuff there unless you want to compromise safety and performance).

If you have to replace wood inside of the hull you will want to use Marine Grade Plywood, at a minimum, or maybe even teake. That will cost you a lot of money.

I am not sure you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. If you want to spend a lot of money on this boat and spend more time fixing it than sailing it than go for it but I think that it is a bad idea. I wouldn't take it if it was given to me!

shemandr · Dec 15, 2009

They usually don't actually measure .....

BobM · Dec 15, 2009

Have to agree with Bad Obsession on the cost issue. Replacement of a half dozen ports, especially some large ones, might be nearly $2000 alone. This is quite a project boat. It could take years to sort out. My Wife would be running for the state line.

BobM · Dec 15, 2009

http://lugerowners.tripod.com/kelly/index.html

Saw a few for sale. May need a 15hp outboard instead of a 10hp. The above link is okay. Has some nice interior shots.

Timo42 · Dec 15, 2009

caguy said:
Just found out about the deal breaker. I called Beaches and Harbors and found out they will only take 28', inspite of what their website says.
I really don't feel like hauling this thing 23 miles 3 times a week Let alone stepping the mast.
The upside is that the wife has softened to buying a bigger/newer boat.

Baby steps, Frank, you have your foot in the door

, I may be able to borrow Doug's Islander again, if you want to take her out to see the difference. Sorry I missed your call Sunday, I am going to try to go out next Sunday. How is your dad doing, If I don't see you before then, a Merry Christmas to you and yours. To everyone else too. Tim

What to you know about the Luger? The boat not the gun/

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