The Boating Forum - Need Luhrs 290 and 320 Open info

I thought my wife would like a Tiara 31 Open better than the Luhrs, but she surprised me, at least based on pictures so far.

I am looking for some info from actual OWNERS of 1990's gas-powered Luhrs 290 and 320 Open. I am aware of the reported shortcomings of Luhrs in general; and I know the gassers will not have the fuel economy or range of diesel boats.

I would like some actual fuel economy numbers on both boats, so please let me know if you have or had one. Please tell me which engine you had for your numbers, and whether your numbers where obtained using a Floscan or othe device, or whether it is a your own calculation based on fuel usage.

The 320 Luhrs Opens I have found have been priced similarly to many of the Tiara 31's of the same years, which surprises me.If youknow of a 320 Open on the central East Coast [NJ to SC] that isn't on Yachtworld or Boattrader, please let me know.

I owned a 1995 luhrs 29 open back in 2002-2004. I absolutely loved the layout but I would not recommend the 29 to anyone. Move to the 32 diesel if possible.

1. The 29 Open has flaw in the hull design -- when you go over 22-24 knots (WOT in that boat with gas engines) it will, without warning, violently list/tip all the way over to one side. I don't mean just lean, I mean violently flip onto its side getting the gunnels to touch the water and throwing all occupants to the side. And has nothing to do with waves, sea conditions, capt. Its well documented problem with 29's. I've had it happen in the intercostal in smooth water going in in a straight line-- hit 24 knots and all of a sudden-- WAM!! It's as if when you are planing too much of the boat is up out of the water for its length/deep vee/ height and you are riding on the apex of the V at the bottom and then all of a sudden the keel tries to plane (keel tries to get to the surface of the water). True you can just go slower to prevent this, but there are other problems wit the boat:
-slow (cruises at 17 knots)
-small range with gas so you can't make 100 mile runs to canyons.
-pretty poor mileage (I forget but around .8)
I bought one for $59K in 2002 refurbished it (spent $35K+ redoing a lot of the boat to get it up to how I like it, sold it 2 years later for $59K).

I loved the layout though. The only way I'd consider the 29 open (its a really inexpensive pocket SF) is if I had a very short run to the fishing grounds (Like NC coast), didn't need the range or speed and had a limited budget.

2. Had lots of little issues with the boat that turned it into a $ pit (leaked into berth, fiberglass mufflers leaked raw water all over engine compartment, etc.... but a lot of boat for little $. After buying a Proline then a Luhrs I moved away from value priced boats and found boating to be much more enjoyable and less expensive in the long run. My pathfinder was flawless, few repairs and held its value-- so far same with the Venture.

Pro's--great layout, handled the seas very well (Felt I could go in about anything), exc for solo fishing on bigger boat.

2. The 32 diesel eliminates all the 29 open issues but is a big jump in $.

Again, on my first 2 boats I went with the least expensive boats I could find that did what I wanted but ended up having problems and sunk $ in the long run. I would move to something else.

GL

Thanks for the reply, Griffin. It is alot of boat for the money, and the layout and budget are what make me interested in it. A diesel is not likely in the cards; any diesel in my budget would likely not be in very good condition, and for my purposes diesel is just not very cost-effective. 90 % of my use of the boat would be within 15 miles of the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, so usually 20-30 miles round trip.

Did yours have a tower, and did it make the boat feel tippy ?

Yes- tuna tower -- all have them (I believe). No it did not feel tippy at all. It was a weird phenomemnon that would only happen when the boat was going over ~24 knots -- below 22-24 knots it would never happen. When it does happen... you'll know it.

Normally I'd say you'll get better value and usage out of a twin outboard express over a Luhrs 29. Outboard express will be lighter, faster, better econ, easier to work on, less expensive to maintain and store, trailerable, etc. However your needs might fit the parameters of where the 29 would work (short range, econ and speed not much of an issue for 15 miles out fishing area).

I have a very hard time recommending it-- found that it had many big boat systems and maintenance issues without the ability to do big boat things. My mechanic hated working on it (cramped engine compartment) and as he said-- "next time get something long and thin with twin outboards-- lot easier to maintain, clean, faster, more economical." Originally I wanted a pocket SF for little $. Looking back-- he was right.

I fished quite a bit on the gasser 29, had the tower but they didn't put any gauges up there only a plexi window on the floor so you could see the lower gauges, weird setup. Real tippy boat, uncomfortable to drift fish on anything over 3'. The livewell was not sealed on the top edges and would flood the engine compartment in the slop, tried to foam it but there was no access from the bottom.

Don't know the consumption but we never took it over 20, cruized around 17-18.

Do not consider the 29 Luhrs, wayyyyyy too much bad history. The 32 Open on the other hand is an excellent option. I've had mine for almost 5 years and LOVE it. No boat problems whatsoever. (3) 1/2" stress cracks on the entire boat which is a 98'. Can't comment on gas, mine has Yanmars. With the deals available today, I would seriously consider diesels, just for the safety of running a genset with diesel vs gas.
Search 32 Luhrs on this site, TONS of info on the model, 90% from real owners and positve. The 31 Tiara is a nice option as well, not nearly as good in a headsea but layout down below if very comparable.

Has this happened to anyone else? or just this particular boat?
Is this a common problem?


I owned a 1995 luhrs 29 open back in 2002-2004. I absolutely loved the layout but I would not recommend the 29 to anyone. Move to the 32 diesel if possible.

1. The 29 Open has flaw in the hull design -- when you go over 22-24 knots (WOT in that boat with gas engines) it will, without warning, violently list/tip all the way over to one side. I don't mean just lean, I mean violently flip onto its side getting the gunnels to touch the water and throwing all occupants to the side. And has nothing to do with waves, sea conditions, capt. Its well documented problem with 29's. I've had it happen in the intercostal in smooth water going in in a straight line-- hit 24 knots and all of a sudden-- WAM!! It's as if when you are planing too much of the boat is up out of the water for its length/deep vee/ height and you are riding on the apex of the V at the bottom and then all of a sudden the keel tries to plane (keel tries to get to the surface of the water). True you can just go slower to prevent this, but there are other problems wit the boat:
-slow (cruises at 17 knots)
-small range with gas so you can't make 100 mile runs to canyons.
-pretty poor mileage (I forget but around .8)
I bought one for $59K in 2002 refurbished it (spent $35K+ redoing a lot of the boat to get it up to how I like it, sold it 2 years later for $59K).

I loved the layout though. The only way I'd consider the 29 open (its a really inexpensive pocket SF) is if I had a very short run to the fishing grounds (Like NC coast), didn't need the range or speed and had a limited budget.

2. Had lots of little issues with the boat that turned it into a $ pit (leaked into berth, fiberglass mufflers leaked raw water all over engine compartment, etc.... but a lot of boat for little $. After buying a Proline then a Luhrs I moved away from value priced boats and found boating to be much more enjoyable and less expensive in the long run. My pathfinder was flawless, few repairs and held its value-- so far same with the Venture.

Pro's--great layout, handled the seas very well (Felt I could go in about anything), exc for solo fishing on bigger boat.

2. The 32 diesel eliminates all the 29 open issues but is a big jump in $.

Again, on my first 2 boats I went with the least expensive boats I could find that did what I wanted but ended up having problems and sunk $ in the long run. I would move to something else.

GL

Has this happened to anyone else? or just this particular boat?
Is this a common problem?

The 29 luhrs is a great boat. It had a very successful run and they built a ton of them. I have time running both gas and diesel 29s and can say that there must have been something wrong with that boat to lean over to the rub rail. I have about 50 hours on the water between three 29s and have never experienced that kind of thing. It is a "tender" boat meaning that if you're running and a fat guy walks from one side to the other the boat will lean. It's just a matter of correcting it with a little tab.

There is a 2000 29 in my harbor with 315 Yanmars that cruises like 26 knots and it runs great at that speed.

When looking at Luhrs and many other production boat for that matter yo have to understand that not all of them came out of the factory as good as the next. They put out mostly very good boats but a few bad ones were delivered and Luhrs was very bad about doing the right thing. When looking at a 20 year old boat though the curse of production defects should have been adressed long ago. I'd worry more about maintenance and current condition and hire a good surveyor.

there is a 29 on long island craigs list. i saw it today. i know nothing about that boat just passing the info along

looking at one now, Been in the market for a longggg time and haven't pulled the trigger because I haven't found the right boat at the right price, but I keep coming back to the luhrs 29 open. I like the center drive and the layout is pretty ideal. May have stumbled on the right priced one, will find out in a few days or late next week if the owner is willing to take a lesser offer

This thread started over 2 years ago - You know what you have to do during the sea trial; run the boat up to 22 - 24 knots and see if you experience the problem Gr1ffin described.

Your money, your decision, but I would say there are other brands on the market I'd check out before Luhrs - if you do decide to go that way, be sure you have a very competent surveyor look the boat over - same with the motors. Good luck.

I would not look to the factory for much help on a used boat - they are back in business - I think - but its a whole "new" company.