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Conference vicki::boats

Title:Powerboats
Notice:Introductions 2 /Classifieds 3 / '97 Ski Season 1267
Moderator:KWLITY::SUTER
Created:Thu May 12 1988
Last Modified:Wed Jun 04 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1275
Total number of notes:18109

258.0. "The allure of Aluras" by ISLNDS::PERRY () Tue Feb 07 1989 11:50

    I have been looking at boats in the 30 to 35 foot range that offer
    a good mix of fishability and family cruising potential.  The
    two boats that strike the best balance for what seems like a great
    price (relatively speaking) are the Alura 30 and the Alura 35
    made by Luhrs.  They cost $45K and $75K respectively.  This seems
    to be considerably less than boats of comparable size from other
    manufacturers.  They seem well constructed to my untrained eye.
    They market that their great value is possible because of their
    "one piece hull " Construction.  Does anyone know exactly what this
    means?  Any insights into why these boats are relatively inexpensive?
    Anyone ever had trouble with Luhrs or Aluras? Anyone ever had good
    luck with them?  Any help would be appreciated, there just do not
    seem to be any good objective sources of info on boats.  Most of
    the mags always speak highly of every boat that they test.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
258.1the alura 30 as seen by Capt. CodfishLEVERS::SWEETCapt. Codfish...GW Fishing TeamTue Feb 07 1989 12:2627
    Walt Gibson owns an Alura 30. He is contractor who was working working
    in DEC (and used to read this notes file) but is no longer working
    in DEC. Give him a call at 508-957-5865, tell him Capt. Codfish
    sent you, he loves to talk boats. I have been out on Walt's boat
    and here is my opinion of it. (His is powered with a single Pleasure
    Craft 260 HP, freshwater cooled). For the money it is a nice boat.
    I would rate it as a nice coastal cruiser or diving boat. It is
    not a true offshore fishing machine. His cruises at about 16 knots
    burning around 14 gal/hour. This is fine for cruising but not
    for any one in a hurry (like us offshore fisherman). It has nice
    family accomidations for overnights. The boat is pretty sparse as
    far as standard options and teak trim but that is part of how the
    price is so attractive. The quality is good but not what you would
    see in a boat that is twice the price as many 30 footers are.
    The alura is soft chined with a keel. This means it will take alot
    of rough water (especially a beam sea) but it will roll and does
    not plane like a V or modified V hull. This is type of hull is
    typical on most Novi styled lobster boats. 
    
    Norm Burbine owns an alura 35 w/ twin 260's. He works for dec and
    used to be active in this file, check him out on elf.
    
    Overall I would classify the 30 as a boat worth the money and nice
    family crusier, good for some inshore fishing, diving, a run up/down
    the coast. If this is what you are looking for go for it.
    
    Capt. Codfish
258.2MSCSSE::BERENSAlan BerensTue Feb 07 1989 17:4812
re .0:

One piece hull construction usually means that the entire hull is laid 
up in the mold at one time. Sometimes the hull is molded in two separate 
halves and the halves are later joined together. It is claimed that, 
properly done, joining two halves results in a hull as strong as a one 
piece hull. The thing to worry about is 'properly done'. 

I may be wrong, but aren't Luhrs powerboats and Hunter sailboats made by 
the same company? Warren Luhrs is head of Hunter. Anyway, Hunter 
sailboats are generally regarded as having minimally acceptable quality 
and structural strength. I personally wouldn't sail a Hunter offshore.
258.3BINGOTYCOBB::J_BORZUMATOWed Feb 08 1989 13:5130
    BINGO, YOUR RIGHT, HUNTER IS MAKING THE ALURA.
    ONE OF THE GUYS, DOWN AT THE MARINA HAS AN ALURA 35, HE'S HAD 
    MORE PROBLEMS WITH IT, THE FINALE, WAS THE TRANSMISSION, THEY
    WILL REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY. I REALIZE ITS NOT A DIRECT
    REFLECTION ON ALURA, BUT HE SURE HAS HAD ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITH
    OTHER DIRECTLY RELATED PROBLEMS, THAT REALLY TURN ME OFF
    AS FAR AS AN ALURA GOES, NEVER MIND BUYING A NEW UNIT.
    
    THIS DOESN'T MEAN EVERY ALURA IS BAD, BUT SURE SOUNDS LIKE
    THEY MAY BE OF MARGINAL QUALITY. BUY THE BUY, WAS AT THE 
    BOAT SHOW LAST SATURDAY, STOPPED BY TO SEE THE SIVERTON
    34, WELL THEY FINALLY RUINED IT. LITTLE OR NO STORAGE SPACE,
    YOU HAVE TO WEIGH 90LBS. OR LESS TO GET IN THE SEPARATE SHOWER,
    THE DOUBLE BED FORWARD IS A SHAM COMPARED TO THE V BUNK,
    THE COCKPIT IS SMALLER, THE BOW IS SHORTER, THE GUNNELS
    ARE 1/2 THE SIZE THEY USED TO BE, THE REARRANGED FLYBRIDGE
    IS A JOKE, THE BOWRAIL STARTS AT THE WINDSHIELD, NOT BACK
    BY THE COCKPIT WHERE IT USED TO, ITS GOT CHEVY 454 GAS 
    HOGS, AND NOW ITS A FULL VEE HULL, COMES STANDARD WITH
    TRIM TABS. GUESS YOU CAN TELL I LIKE IT. THE OLDER MODELS
    DON'T NEED TABS, RUN 350 OR 360 CU. IN. BLOCKS,
    AND HAVE MORE USABLE STORAGE. I'M NOT KNOCKING QUALITY,
    WHAT WAS THERE WAS DONE VERY WELL, WHY DO THEY HAVE TO 
    FOLLOW WHAT MIGHT BE CALLED EUROPEAN STYLE, I DON'T LIVE THERE
    AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE BETTER OF LEAVING IT ALONE.
    
    P.S. THE CAPS IS BECAUSE I WEAR BIFOCLES, I'M NOT HOLLERING.
    
    
    JIM.
258.4One H-ll of a boat!PACKER::GIBSONTue Mar 14 1989 12:3943
    Well now that you have all ranked on my boat!
    
    I'll give you my opinion first hand. Having owed a boat shop I feel
    to profess an expertize on these things.
    
    I have the Alura 30 made by Luhrs co.( Early models where made by
    hunter before the sold Alura to Luhrs in 87)
    She has the PCM 270 which is a 280hp GM engine with a Borg warner
    1.11 trans couple to a nibril 18"X15" 3 blade screw.
    
    Top speed 18kts cruise at 16Kts at 3,000 rpm.
    approx 14GPh Gas consumption.
    
    Hand laid glass hull with full glass liner.
    
    30'l X 10'3" beam draft 2'11"
    
    3/4 skeg hull sharp entry soft chine.
    
    6'2" full stand up cabin, Really sleeps 4 stand up head with shower.
    
    Fresh water cooled engine and water heater (20 gal)
    
    198 gal fuel tanks 38 gal pottable water, 18 gal black water.
    
    Shore power, sink, the biggest ice box I've ever seen and alchol
    stove. Tons of storage and hanging locker.
    
    110 sq ft cockpit with two 2'X4' fish boxes and two live wells.
    Dive platform and bow pulpit.
    
    Iv'e had this boat out in a full gale 45kt plus wind and 25ft breakin
    seas. She is very seaworthy. 
    
    If you have followed the Albin boat co. you know that they started
    off very inexpensive to gain market share then incresed price once
    they where known. Alura is doing the same.
    
    If you are serious, Give me a note on PACKER::GIBSON I may be able
    to get you a deal on one.
    
                             Walt