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Luger Voyager 30

3514 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Illinois.josh, Mar 4, 2015

Illinois.josh

Discussion Starter · Mar 4, 2015

I'm looking at a Luger Voyager 30. I presently live on the shores of Lake Michigan, in Chicago, and I'm thinking about buying one of these for a couple thousand. The owner says it doesn't have a headliner, just the bare under-deck (if that's a term) with fittings visible, etc.

He's been sailing it on Lake Michigan for 18 years and is retiring; now wants to unload it. He says there is 9 hp two-stroke outboard that's a few years old, some old but sturdy sails, and one window (portlight?) that's leaking.

I'm new to boats bigger than 15 feet, and new to sailing a yacht at all. But I think this might make a good starter that I can keep on a buoy in the harbor, take on weekend or week-long trips on the lake. Other possible trips include making it to the atlantic and down to the bahamas, which would necessarily be a couple of months.

I'd really appreciate any thoughts on this boat, if you have anything to contribute to my odyssey.

What do I need to look out for? Are there any special difficulties I might encounter? Weak spots?

Thank you,
Josh

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Illinois.josh

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 4, 2015

Thank you all for your comments. I've spent a few hours online researching this boat, and the favorables are as strong as some of the negatives, which is true for almost anything out there. I know it won't be very fast, but apparently it's pretty safe in the water, hard to capsize, stands up to some stronger winds.

That being said, there's the trailer, which I think is worth about as much as the boat itself, if I have to unload it whenever. I'm also hoping that I can find a place to store the boat outside of a shipyard when the weather turns bad here. That might save me some money, too.

I'm pretty new to this, and I have more unanswered questions than answers. For example I foresee needing some new sails, and I don't have much insight into this process. I understand that DIY sails are affordable, given time and space.

One of the things I do like is the interior head-room, which is well over 6 feet, and almost everyone in my family is tall, taller than me at 5'10," and I know that the first time my wife bumps her head in a boat is the last time she'll want to sail in it.

Anyway, I'm going to look at it this Friday. Wish me luck, and if you have any tips for checking out a boat, please share.

Josh

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Illinois.josh

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 4, 2015

Thank you for the links and head advice!

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Illinois.josh

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 4, 2015

Thank you very much for the advice. I have the feeling the owner didn't do much in his own to this 35 year old boat, which he has owned for 18. Not a DIY person. At rather think he did what needed to be done when it needed to be done. To me that suggests that either he's taking care of things in a timely manner or everything maybe on it's last legs. However he didn't sail it that extensively, a couple hours at a time, Not very far from shore, 20 times per year.

20 outings per summer not very far from shore.

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