25' Luhrs modification/project

[Jhudds]

I am considering picking up a Luhrs 25' as a winter restoration project. I've found a very cheap candidate for the project, how ever its a modified open format and I really wanted a flybridge.

I am really considering this and may opt to buid a pilot house and flybridge on top.

And no, the trailer is not included in the deal just the boat.
I'm thinking of adding the cabin right onto that modified top deck. the candidate boat is in decent shape the engine needs a soft rebuild, and I want to add a head as well.

Thoughts?

 

[zopperman]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

hey there, neighbor, welcome to Iboats Would be a tough projetc but well worth it. I say go for it. Do you have any experience with fiberglass construction?
building a pilot house and flybridge would be a sizable undertaking. You could do it by glassing over foam... there's a guy here that made a hard top like that and it came out great. or you could od aluminum...

how is the interior? and the motor/drive?

 

[Jhudds]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Using foam, I figured I would have to use plywood and then glass it. I have limited experience with glass, I worked for a swim club 20 or so years ago and we fiberglassed a steel pool, it was an interesting project that left me itchy alot of days. I have the basic concepts down working with glass. I also have a better then working knowledge of wood working as well. I was a kitchen and bath remodeler for a few years and built cabinets and did alot of carpentry work.
Does the foam come in panels like ply? I would love to use a material that would be strong and light. These old luhrs are like battleships and are heavy, so anything I can do to stay the additional weight would be great.
There is no interior, its just an open cockpit right now, so this will be a floor up build.
http://s1180.photobucket.com/albums/x419/amgt2157/?action=view&current=luhrs.jpg

Heres a pic I found of a luhrs hull with a custom pilot house that someone fab-ed up. I'm thinking of something along these lines....
http://s1180.photobucket.com/albums/x419/amgt2157/

 

[sqbtr]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Pics in the last post don't show up. What year is it? Wich engine is it running? Is it a V drive?

Some things to watch out for are Paragon drive gear they are no longer in business and parts can be dificult or impossible to find.

Other than that On with the build We need more pics.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Honestly, I would keep an eye out for a flybridge version. I saw one not long ago for $900 asking price. In the water none-the-less. It can be done, but I think short of a few most end up looking like homemade jobs.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,386,00.html

he used a very dense foam, ply might even be lighter, IDK. you could do 1/4" ply and glass both sides with a layer or two of bi ax...

Yes foam comes in panels. the stuff at HD and lowes will literally melt when in contact with resin. you have to use the surfboard stuff like mark did, but it's expensive...

 

[Jhudds]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Editted the pics from my previous post to show the boats cockpit, and what a pilot house looks like on another boat.

Mustang - Yea I could wait and find a flybridge, but one advantage is that I can pretty much design the cabin as I see fit and really make it custom. I was thinking of putting the head in the bow area in front of helm, it would make a smaller v berth but I would have a larger cabin area...

I kinda also like the idea of getting in there and really learning the ins and outs of the boat. I like the thoughts of being involved in the design, fabrication of the boat from an asthetic and engineering point of view....

Zopperman - the foam he used is good for a pilot house, but I think I will need a more structural material as I want to be able to stand on the top and add a flybridge. But thanks for the link, very interesting build there. I think he did a good job of fabrication, but asthetically I dont think he pulled it off. But I am sure its functionality is superb. the pilot hose still looks a little odd on the type of boat. Perhaps if he painted better to blend it wouldnt stand out as much.. But who am I to be critical! LOL

 

[zopperman]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Yeah, I'd imagine with two layers of 1708 you'd be OK with teh foam. I know I can stand on a sheet of the lighter density stuff and it wont break, but I'm only 150 pounds, but that's also without glass. I would probably go with 3/8 inch ply then? glassed over and under?

It would be a great project and I would follow very closely.

 

[Jhudds]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

I would probably say that for cost factors, the 3/8 ply glassed would probably more cost effective then a foam board glassed or a structural foam and glass panel that I've seen on the net.
I could always mock up the cabin and send it out to get glassed and gelled. But again costs are paramount in a restoration when your poor like me! LOL
If this does come about, it will more likely be a 1 year restoration (Arent I optomistic!) rather then a winter resto. SO I can take my time and do it right. I also have the luxury of waiting to find just the right hulk to work on. Right now I can find 3 or 4 good candidates for this project all under $700.00.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Belibe me, I'm all abut budget. Throw a few 2x4 braces under the 3/8 stuff and you'll be good to go. Glass and gel work is absolutely worth doing yourself. Immalso right down the road from you and would be willing to help if you need a hand.

 

[Jhudds]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

I have been looking and looking at doing a pilot house cabin instead of a typical cabin. I may opt not to do the flybridge but at this point I think I want to look for a premanufactured Fiberglass pilot house as an option. I really like the look of the new ranger tugs and want to try and create a similar looking cabin, with out the aft drop down. The problem is I want to make the structure as light as possible but strong. I'm thinking an all fiberglass unit would be far less heavy then a wood and glass one that I could make, been looking at some company'sthat make pilot houses out of aluminum and glass but these seemed more suited and sized for CC's.

So some questions for you guru's....

Any ideas as to a manufacturer that can build one in the are of the north east?

Do you think a pilot hose cabin would look ok on a luhrs hull? or am I asking for trouble?

 

[island mike]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Hi, I but do not have any experience with foam but I do not think its a strong core to build something out of....
Especialy a pilothouse subjected to all kinds of forces...
I built mine out of honeycomb,its very light,cant rot,u.v proof,etc.
it does cost money but you will have something that lasts for sure...
in my avatar you see a little of my pilothouse..got some more all over the place(I am no wiz)
Good luck

 

[island mike]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

And to answer your question if it woukd look good,I would say it COULD look good,Make a lot of drawings of different designs and decide what looks the best.
Look at photos of pilothouses and work from there.

 

[island mike]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

View attachment 122386View attachment 122387

 

[zopperman]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Mike, what kind of honeycomb did you use? Aluminum? Have any more pics of your project? It looks awesome from the thumbnail.

I'm going to disagree and say that 1lb foam + epoxy and 17 oz bi ax would be perfect

Lightweight, MAYBE 75 lbs and sturdy.

 

[island mike]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Mike, what kind of honeycomb did you use? Aluminum? Have any more pics of your project? It looks awesome from the thumbnail.

I'm going to disagree and say that 1lb foam + epoxy and 17 oz bi ax would be perfect

Lightweight, MAYBE 75 lbs and sturdy.

Hi zopper.
I used nidacore 10 mm thick. Glassed both sides (you can by panels pre-glassed) myself with biax, And also used ply-peel,(because I did not want to be sanding for days again) ply-peel or peel ply is great you aply it right after glassing...When dry just pull it off the glass and voila.....A super smooth surface that requires only opening a little before paint or gel..Anyway, It came out the way I wanted it..I got some more pics in my last post here..You did not see them?Nidacore is great, really totaly rot free and it can take a punch ..foam just cant..the core will allways stay soft,Honeycomb however has a bee-hive like core that when glassed just gets rock hard thats were it gets its strenght from...

 

[zopperman]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Hi zopper.
I used nidacore 10 mm thick. Glassed both sides (you can by panels pre-glassed) myself with biax, And also used ply-peel,(because I did not want to be sanding for days again) ply-peel or peel ply is great you aply it right after glassing...When dry just pull it off the glass and voila.....A super smooth surface that requires only opening a little before paint or gel..Anyway, It came out the way I wanted it..I got some more pics in my last post here..You did not see them?Nidacore is great, really totaly rot free and it can take a punch ..foam just cant..the core will allways stay soft,Honeycomb however has a bee-hive like core that when glassed just gets rock hard thats were it gets its strenght from...

I don't wanna hi jack, but did you inject the honeycomb with composite? Does it have any compressive strength? Can you put a bolt through it?

 

[island mike]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

And no sorry As for now These are all the pics that I have...Since the break in I lost the lap and also the cam so as soon as i get a little cash flow I will try and take some more,If you have any questions about the nidacore or anything..,just ask. Happy to help.
Regards I mike.View attachment 122424

 

[island mike]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Here are a few more but I think you have seen these already.
(The boat bus is a joke of course)View attachment 122425View attachment 122426View attachment 122427

 

[zopperman]

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Re: 25' Luhrs modicication/project

Mike, your pics aren't working...