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Random Quote: I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.
Just wanted to update my situation with my 41 Luhrs (I am NOT "Luhrs41" that started the other thread, but did post many times on that thread). I was the owner who had taken the boat to the factory for ride issues on Oct 8 2006 and received the boat back on Jan 12 2007. When I received the boat back the modifications done by Luhrs to the tunnels had NOT improved the healing over effect of the hull, and I had SEVERAL other items that were not corrected at the factory.
I was notified by another owner (who had the same problems, and had his boat at the factory) that he and an accredited surveyor had witnessed my dangerous rudder condition in the yard in December. They both notified Luhrs of the problems immediately with his boat and mine in December. When they returned to view his boat again on Jan 15 2007 they noticed my boat was gone. They asked the gentleman who were working on the boat -- "Did you fix Mr Logan's boat ?" They both answered NO --they were not given approval from ---- ------- The warranty person. This owners felt I was in great danger driving this boat in the condition and called me the next morning. I then hauled the boat and had Naval Architects and Surveyors reports done that all concluded the boat should be "limited to inland use --unsafe for offshore conditions."
I contacted Luhrs and had meetings on all of my boats issues. Luhrs had a team of engineers, warranty person, dealer service people, etc meet me at my boat in West Palm. We all agreed to fix my boat. I had hired a local company for all alignment and rudder issues. Luhrs had the local dealer service department take care of the smaller issues and a smoke test to verify the salon was fume tight. This was a item that one of my naval architect's had insisted be corrected because of the safety hazard.
Wednesday April 4 2007 my boat was complete and a sea trial was set. On arrival I examined the boat. I could not believe my eyes. The teak deck had wax stains every where, The boat was full of dirt. Inside the plumbing for the kitchen sink was undone. The boat was a mess. I run to the bridge to start my boat -- One engine starts the other nothing. Cummings had sent a mechanic down for the sea trial -- He says to me "must be your battery". I reply NO GET YOUR SCREWDRIVER. He seems confused as I take him to the engine room. I show him the way I have started my boat for the last 10 months. Touch the 2 large wires and hold it. This is the #1 item on my list and I see it is not corrected. I am not happy but have high hopes for the test drive. The local company had done a wonderful job with the rudders and alignment ! All measurements were perfect. That was the only good news. The boat rides as bad as before. The report from the trial states "Vessel has a very distinct list to port that starts at 1500 engine turns and gets progressively worse approaching top speed. This vessel never appears to go over on the opposite chine, it always list to port, we suspect inherent defect or discrepancy in hull form or configuration " This was not the end of our sea-trial, on our return to the dock, my father went inside the salon to check the A/C. We have had numerous air problems with this boat. As he is sitting in his chair, he sees smoke coming out of the kitchen sink. This is the salon that just passed Luhrs smoke test for fumes. He runs to the bridge to tell all of us --the boat is on fire. The Cummings mechanic on the trial with us grabs bottles of water and runs into the engine room to extinguish the flame. Luckily it works and we returned to the dock.
At this point I have had it with this boat. Luhrs has given me the boat back with a letter explaining they have completed my list to my satisfaction. They claim the list was complete and the boat is out of warranty .They offer to pay all bills I had $30,000.00 to my local company for reimbursement IF "we want a promise from you, and we want it put in writing, that you are going to be fair in your disclosures concerning Luhrs and Mainship and all the effort that has gone forth to re-instill your confidence in the boat"
What a joke !! EAT $HIT Luhrs. I have done the following 1)Hired the best attorney I could find who specializes in suits against manufactures. 2) Purchased a new boat -- This POS will become an exhibit.
This is how Luhrs treats problems. You have seen other with the same issue on this site .There will be others posting soon. If you are looking at sport-fish boat from 28-44 ft. STAY AWAY FROM ALL LUHRS. Nobody needs this king of aggravation. as said on the other thread BUYER BEWARE OF LUHRS
Too bad you put the fire out!---My wife and I always admire Luhrs when thay come by our home--good looking boat---After reading all the negative posts--I would never encourage anyone to buy one
A friend of mine gor screwed by Clarks landing on a new Luhrs--they agreed to sell it
to him at a certain price and then renedged!!WAS HE EVER LUCKY HE DIDN'T GET TO BUY IT!!!!
No one should have to o through what you are going through, and I feel for you.
The one thing that I have issue with is, the part where you state that youve already "hired the best attorney I could find who specializes in suits against manufacturers"
A. He is not the best attorney, because he has not instructed his client, you, to KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.
or
B. He has told you to keep your mouth shut, and you are choosing NOT TO LISTEN to the advice you are paying for.
While these posts make for interesting reading and stir the sh!t, if you truly are taking legal action then your interests are best served to discuss this with NO ONE but your attorney. All communication in regards to this should be through your attorney and not in a public forum.
Good luck with your case, but help yourself by maintaining control of your temper.
It will be sad watching the owners of Luhrs boats when they try to move to another boat. Watching one Luhrs just offer a 25% reduction in the THT classifieds should make Luhrs ownership cringe. I see no fun on the horizon for them.
I think it's great that he's relaying the experience, keeps the boating public informed. Too many problems go hush, hush and the public is not aware and allows other to make the same mistake.
I think my post may have been misinterpreted. I honestly wish Mr. Sunshine succeeds in his case against Luhrs. It sounds like he got the shaft royally. My comment had more to do with litigation in general (I am NOT a lawyer, but I work with lawyers and litigation every day in my job)
Going public - factual or not- while litigation is ongoing or iminent is generally not a good idea and usually has a way of coming back and biting you in the a$$. If it goes all the way and you are deposed or on the stand and relate an item, fact or experience in any way that is different from what you posted on a public forum months or even years ago, you have presented the defendant's attorney an opportunity to weaken or discredit your testimony. That is their job and they will try to exploite every opening you give them. Why give them the opportunity? That is just one example of how relating the FACTS can hurt you in the end.
Remember, the lawyers (at least the good ones) are pros at using your own words against you, setting you up and backing you into a corner. The plaintiff on the other hand (in this case Mr. Sunshine) probably is intimidated at a deposition or testimony at trial (If not for anything but the fact that it a foreign environment) That is why an attorney spends time "prepping" the witness, and why any lawyer you retain usually tells you immediately, "Don't discuss this with anyone except me or my staff" Anything then is protected by attorney client privelage. My post was meant to help, not criticize and in retorospect was a little harsh. For that, I am sorry, but my advice remains the same. Good Luck and I hope you get all that you deserve.
Steve
No apology needed -- I think you are correct, but I have NO fear in answering questions from anyone regarding this story. My account of the situation is 100% correct. I have many others who witnessed what I have to say. This needs to be put out to help others. If a buyer was considering a purchase of this model-- I am sure they are pleased to read some true information on the 41. The purpose of this site is for just this type of thing ---
I can't fault Mr. Sunshine's making his experience public. Lawyers and others do it every day.... Using the power of the media to gain leverage against their opponents. Just look at the recent hub bub about Don Imus, and I know we all remember the OJ trial and the press conferences by his defense team. Mr. Sunshine, Good Luck!!!
I'm glad he's posted his experience w/ Luhrs and 41 Luhrs too. I was stopped in my tracks by a 28 Luhrs at the Norwalk show last fall. Initial impression was great, could've been my next boat (a couple years out). A look at the mechanicals and electrical less so, the sales guy couldn't answer any of my questions and I lost interest fast. The experiences of Mr S. and 41 are valuable to a lot of us and the power of the internet may help them in their battle. I wish them both luck and hope to see a satifactory ending for both.
Luhrs boats dont do it they are horrible from day one.
March 30, 2007
List of items replaced or repaired to date on 2006 luhrs 28 flybridge.
This boat has approx. 60 hrs on it. 90% of which were acquired during the cleaning process of item # 1.
*1) Approx. 150 gal. of diesel fuel spilled into the bilge on the FIRST DAY we took delivery of this boat due to the negligence of the manufacture to install proper plugs in fuel tank @ generator feed and return lines. This damage took three months to repair and clean, the smell made the boat totally unusable. This also stained the bilge and may have caused sever damage to the hull due to diesel absorbsion into the fiberglass. Toxic chemical spill.
2) Structural motor mounts have had to be replaced on the port engine due to sever rust and corrosion.
3) The drive shaft coupling was replaced on the port transmission due to severe rust and corrosion.
4) Several other electronic parts on the port motor and transmission have been replaced due to severe rust and corrosion.
5) Several gel coat repairs on decks, steps, etc...
6) Several fiberglass repairs in compartment areas, including the entire galley cabinets separated from the hull. This is also a structural bulkhead in this model.
*7) Cabin sole (floor) does not set properly on structural stringer of hull on port side. Dealer warranty man took a piece of non marine grade 1x4 strapping and used drywall screws to scab it on the side of the stringer. Looks horrid...
8) Found three 2" holes bored in stringers that were never gelcoated and sealed.
*9) Cock pit drains installed by warranty dept were put in the wrong place. The manufactures mold clearly shows location and mechanic did not want to crawl into space provided so he drilled new holes in the diamond non skid. Looks like a mistake. Horrible.
*10) Repair oil leak in starboard engine. As of this date it is leaking again and worse now.
*11) Oil is leaking from between transmission and engine on port engine. Mechanic states that both engines need to be removed to repair leaks properly.
12) Refrigerator door was separated completely . This was an original item from the delivery list that was never fixed. I fixed it myself.
13) Replace shore power breaker and interior GFI breakers.
14) Repair spongy steering @ upper helm. Still not operating @ 100%.
15) Screws are all loose on trim of hard top. Most will not tighten.
16) Cabin leaked at roof where tower sanctions bolted down. I removed all screws and sealed with marine sealer. No idea how long this leaked into the head liner??? Wiring damage ECT???
17) Raytheon electronics seem to have a short in them. The light flashes and dims while under way. This is an intermitting problem. The mechanic said it is due to a poor fit.
18) The bait tank leaked salt water onto the port engine causing severe rust and corrosion.
*19) The exhaust manifold on the port engine broke apart causing raw diesel exhaust, black smoke and oily soot to be blown though out the ENTIRE bilge and cabin area. This caused the halon fire extinguisher to be set off sending halon powder ( a dark grey chemical ) through out the ENTIRE bilge and cabin area as well. As this was happening the fire alarms were sounding and both engines shut down leaving me adrift in the channel with no power and what appeared to be a horrible fire coming from below decks. $190.00 tow bill and 2 months of down time to repair and replace the fire extinguisher and manifold.
*20) Number 19 left the boat looking like it had burned below decks so the dealer sent a marine detailer to clean the mess. 8 hours of cleaning using caustic bilge cleaners and a lot of scrubbing and the verdict... It wont come clean.
*21) The caustic bilge cleaners did succeed in removing the labels and the paint of most of the hardware like the fuel filter housings, water separators and all the other systems that were “cleaned”. Rust and corrosion on everything.
*22) Did I mention that the boat stinks again and gives you a sore throat and headache due to the chemicals of the halon??? The bilge cleaner???, diesel soot/exhaust, or is it still the diesel fuel spill??? No new boat smell here. EVER... $238,000.00 ya thats dollars!!
23) Both of the rudder posts bushing have been rebuilt due to “excessive” leaking. NEW BOAT???
24) Fresh water wash down and raw water wash down leak into bilge @ back of faucets.
25) Both props needed to be balanced. This was noted by the delivery captain and verified by mastery marine yanmar tech by doing a no load rpm test on engines. The props were finally fixed last week after 8 months of patronizing.
26) The structural bulkhead that separates the head from the main salon at starboard and forms the galley on the port side, has broken away from the hull @ the galley side. This appears to be a major structural problem.
This list is not a complete summary of all the repairs done or yet to be done on this boat. There are a lot of other small items not listed and or completed.
I paid $238,000.00 for this NEW boat. I am still waiting.
* I believe these items have severely diminished the value of this boat. The dealer was kind enough to offer me $110,000.00 for the boat. Yhey said thats all the boat is worth. How did they get the bank to loan me $238,000.00 for a boat only worth $110,000.00. Interesting. CAN ANY ONE SAY LAW SUIT. LUHRS WOULD ALSO LIKE ME TO FORGET ABOUT THE $21,600.00 I HAVE PAID OUT IN STORAGE FEES AND LOAN PAYMENTS SINCE THE FIRST DAY THE BOAT WAS DELIVERED TO ME WITH HOLES IN THE FUEL TANKS. THANK GOD IT IS NOT A GAS BOAT OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IN AN EXPLOSION WHEN THE FUEL SPILLED.
I further believe that due to the track record of ongoing problems with this boat and the fact that this boats intended use is to travel far out into the ocean on extended fishing trips, that it is not a save vessel for this intend purpose. It would be reckless of me to trust my families safety and lives to a vessel with such a history. Stranded 100 miles into the gulf of Mexico is not like being on the interstate with your car broke down. They make movies about these kind of nightmares. “I Shouldn’t Be Alive”.
Thanks very much for your support.
Terry LaBreck & Sam Mandarelli
My Sea-Trial in my LUHRS 41
