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I am currently knocking around the idea of geting another boat if I sell my 28' Stratos, see (Trading Dock).
One boat of interest is the Luhrs 32 convertible. 1993 Model, twin 454's to be exact.
Can anyone shed some some insight. Fishability, weekender etc. I've read some reviews.
I know the construction is sound, the economic nich and the why's for their place in the industry. A simple with no real bells and whistles vessel.
Would like to read some 1st hand experiences.
Thanx, Jamie
My Dad has a '95 320 Convertible. As you said, a nice boat that doesn't have the bells and whistles that drive the price though the roof. Performance is fair with twin 454 Marine Powers.
My two major issues with the boat (these my be related to care given...or lack thereof...by two previous owners):
1. The is a fair amount of spider cracking along the stbd. side rubrail and on the stbd. side gunwale. While washing the boat last weekend, I noticed the glass near some of the crack on the gunwale is starting to delaminate. These cracks are below the windows in the superstructure where the superstructure meets the gunwale.
2. It feels to me like parts of the cockpit deck are a bit softer than they should be. There is a built in aluminum plate for mounting a fighting chair.
Aside from that, the boat seems to be built very well. The stringers are massive in that thing. The ride is not superb, but not bad by any means. I would guess that deadrise is somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 degrees, but she weighs something like like 15000 lbs.
Interior accomodations are very nice. The bridge is nice and roomy although it can be a pain getting to the seat next to the Capt. when someone is driving. Personally, I think the electronics box should be raised a few inches. I'm 6'0 and have banged my head on it a few time when the boat dips into a wave.
Overall, a good value for the money. I would definitely consider one for myself. But try to find one that has not been fished hard.
Beware of the older models. I know some of them had cored hull bottoms. I'm not sure what year that ceased but it's something to look into.
Pasco give some good information about Luhrs on his site.
Thanx Brian,
I have read Pascoe's reviews. Also that of a couple others. Yes the deadrise is 18deg. The weight / displacement should give it fair ride, for that size.
Just trying to gather enough intel from hands on fishing, or weekending aboard.
Does the boat raise fish..?
Engine accessibility for maintenance..?
Just some things I'm trying to know ahead of intial walk thru.
Great picture though.
This will be Dad's second season taking the boat offshore. Last year it raised marlin, tuna and mako. The cockpit is great for fishing and the door came in real handy when we brought the mako on-board. As I said, I'm 6'0 and the height of the coaming pads is perfect to brace against. The fish box in the floor could stand to be a bit larger, but we got that shark in there. We're fishing it tomorrow, this weekend and then the first week in Aug.
We fished 5 people (one driving the boat) and ran 9 lines I believe.
It's a really nice platform.
My parents recently spent a week on it and said they never felt crowded.
I'm curious about cruise speed and fuel burn with the 454s. Do you have any numbers (including rpms at cruise)? I believe Luhrs went to glass bottom, cored sides in '92 (fully cored before that). Thanks in advance.
Just this past weekend we made the run from Baltimore to Ocean City, MD. Dad has estimated a fuel burn of 25 gal/hr at 20 kts. turning the 454s at 3300.
He has a Navman on order....so we'll know for sure soon.
Gassers in that boat is nuts. Get it with Oil burners.
I have no first hand experience on that boat, but can offer this from the mouth of a Luhrs dealer I know personally: Luhrs had a TON of problems with quaility through the years specifically around the 1995-2002 range. They have since gotten MUCH better but still have many small issues on every new boat they sell, but nothing major that can't be solved in the first few weeks of delivery during break in/get the bugs out... He also mentioned they used to be VERY difficult to deal with but are now a pleasure to deal with. I'm sure that doesn't help ya at all since youre lookign at older models....but what the heck.
I've always been intrigued by the Lurhs line, especially the 32 open and convertable's. Seems like you get alot of bang for the buck being that they are price point boats.
I just sold my 1991 35' Tournament for no other reason than I was ready for another boat. My experience with this boat was nothing but positive. It was a real tank. There was never a situation where I felt uncomfortable or unsafe. The new owner is also delighted. Of course it would be nice to have the diesels, but those 454s are damn near bullet proof if you keep up with the maintenance. Unless you are putting 400-500 hours a year on it, the cost differential of the diesels just doesn't make sense.
I have been out on her for more than a week without feeling cramped. With the genset you'll have all the amenities of home.
It appeared to be in good shape overall. However had cracks by the exhaust ports from the heating and cooling. I agree with Stonewall.The cost difference between gas and diesel on this boat is not worth it unless you are killing the hours.
Birdman,
Bang to buck is what it's all about. I agree. I'd luv to own a diesel boat. But .... bla, bla, bla. We all know the $ reasons up front. I also think the 32- 35' is a good change point (Gas to Diesel).
I've read a lot of hear say when i did a back search for this subject. This is why folks like Brian (first handers)
are the target choice for opinions. Heck I burn as much if not more with twin outboards (2 stroke). Why not improve creature amenities if were gonna dump money into the water is how I'm looking at it. Plus, getting a little longer in the tooth and to the stream and back at 40mph wave hopping, isnt what it used to be.
Just some thoughts on the gas vs diesel issue. With 454's, I think 25gph is extremely optimistic. I bet you will find they are burning closer to 30gph at cruise. Most 32's with diesels were slow, 20 knots seems to be the max cruise. Remember, I am not talking new boats, I am talking about boats in the 90's. Speed is similar between gas and diesel.
Agreed. Unless you are piling on the hours, gassers do fine in the 320. It's still a 32'er and it doesn't have the knife-blade entry that the carolina boats have. The hull shape is still somewhat limiting in how fast you can run in heavy seas. IMHO, that boat offers the best of both worlds. The only downside of the 454 is when climbing the back of waves in a following sea.
My Dad has recently been speaking with Luhrs about the 360 Convertible and they have gone over the different power options for that boat. Even the Luhrs rep has stated that for a 360 that will not see huge amounts of hours, gas motors are recommended. I will try and get some info from my Dad on the differences in fuel burn between gas and diesel in the 360. I was quite surprised at the little variance.
If Greg looked at that boat prior to buying that god-awful, worthless, garbage Proline , it's been on the market quite a while....hint....hint! Make a low offer and pick it up cheap.
gw204 - 7/20/2004 3:20 PM
If Greg looked at that boat prior to buying that god-awful, worthless, garbage Proline , it's been on the market quite a while....hint....hint! Make a low offer and pick it up cheap.
Brian, its the one WE looked at when we went to look at the 27PL walk and the 27GW Sailfish a month ago....
I think those gas numbers are pretty optimistic too. All depends on your wants and needs...canyons every weekend on that boat isn't happening. 20knts for 65 miles gets old really quick and then the 250+ gallons of gas is the icing on the cake. If you know that going into it I think the boats look awesome. We all know the quality issues but they have been greatly improved upon. Don't get gas if you are are wishing for diesel.
I to think those fuel burn numbers are a little "lite". I run a 32' Silverton with t/454 and Bravo III dirves. The boats 12000 pounds and at 3000 rpm I'm burning 20-22 gph @ 25 knts.
I just dont see the heaver Luhrs burning the same.
Good luck with your search.
__________________ "Sure glad we had that raft Tim!"
I had a new '93 32' Luhrs Tournament.. twin 454 GM 'gas guzzlers'.. kept it for a little over two years... bought it as a new leftover..
at 3400 rpm it sucked up 32gph total between the two engines according to the Flo Scan meters I had.. if you bumped it above 3600 rpm.. over 40 gph.. usually ran 18 kts... when I sold it.. running fine except I averaged a little more than 1/2 mpg.. new owner loved it.. I babied it so it was in fine shape..
it was our 'condo on the water'... nice layout.. I sold it mainly because of the flybridge.. always had to have someone 'upstairs' operating the boat.. my wife and I always fished it together.. got to be a pain with the flybridge.. my wife loved that boat.. she still is ticked off that I sold it back then... went for an express type boat for the next one.. 27' Albemarle..
as for access to the engines... can be a bit of a deal.. have to move the sofa-bed then remove the floor panels.. pretty accessible once you do that...
might I suggest as others have being it'll be a used boat.. if you can locate a diesel rather than a gas version, get it..
overall quality.. medium or average.. good bang for the buck.. any other questions, I'll try to answer.. been a while
32' Luhrs Tournament Convertible ?? 
The cockpit is great for fishing and the door came in real handy when we brought the mako on-board. As I said, I'm 6'0 and the height of the coaming pads is perfect to brace against. The fish box in the floor could stand to be a bit larger, but we got that shark in there. We're fishing it tomorrow, this weekend and then the first week in Aug.
, it's been on the market quite a while....hint....hint! Make a low offer and pick it up cheap. 
