2001 305 Albemarle Express vs. 1998 Luhrs 360 Express

[Big Jay]

Ok, I need some real input on this. Frank, please, would love input on the motors.

We have a 2001 305 Albemarle Express with twin 3126 CAT (300hp) with 800 hours.

My father is exploring the option of possibly doing an even trade for 1998 Luhrs 360 Express. The boat has 04' Yanmars (replaced under the lawsuit???) 400hp with 500 hours on them. Other plus is it has Furuno Navnet Electronics installed in 2007.

I am not sure how I feel about this. My father wants to upgrade due to size. My brother and pops are big guys.

My concerns are:

1) Albemarles are brick shithouses. Can the same be said for the Luhrs?

2) I don't know how I feel about those Yanmars. I am not hot on CATs either but I know Yanmars have had some problems.

3) How's the ride on the 360?

Any thoughts. I would like to hear from anyone who has one.

Thanks!

[teddyp]

How many trips do you do off shore a year. Do you have any problems with your engines now. Why would they trade you straight up for your boat.

How much do you think you could unload your boat for. There are so many good deals on the market right now that you might explore more than just this option. I'm not going to come on here and knock Luhrs, that has been done enough but there is a reason you see tones of Albemarles out in the canyons and you never see a Luhrs. Just my 2 Cents.

[Big Jay]

How many trips do you do off shore a year. Do you have any problems with your engines now. Why would they trade you straight up for your boat.

How much do you think you could unload your boat for. There are so many good deals on the market right now that you might explore more than just this option. I'm not going to come on here and knock Luhrs, that has been done enough but there is a reason you see tones of Albemarles out in the canyons and you never see a Luhrs. Just my 2 Cents.

Teddy this 100% is not my idea bro. Believe me. I am not trying to toot the albemarle whistle but everyone who steps on it is like wow.

No problems with our motors. 800 BABIED hours. When I mean babied i mean 99% of the time we run 2500rpm or less which is 500 rpm off the pins. In fact we normally run 2350 or so.

I am just trying to get real world info to my father before he makes the mistake.

Right now the 305 treats us well. Efficient, safe, and one hell of a boat. We run a dozen or so trips a season.

[marlinrojo]

The 36 Luhrs is a complete POS!!! Stay AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Big Jay]

The 36 Luhrs is a complete POS!!! Stay AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why do you say that? Any specific reason?

[Robja]

Fred(Clt_Capt) has a Luhrs might want to check with him. A friend of mine had a 36 Luhrs and his biggest complaint was soot on transom and that it lost its value quicker than any boat he had. I like the Albemarle alot. A friend has a 27 foot 1987 Albemarle and she is built like a tank. There are alot of good deals out there

[sclancy]

Ignoring the Luhrs haters for a moment. The 36 is not the best hull that Luhrs has produced. the 32 open and 38/40 open are much better designed and capable offshore boats than the shorter lived 36.

That said, the 36 will feel huge compared to the 305. The beam alone will make it feel 2x bigger. It also weighs close to 10,000lbs more than a 305. I have to believe that the 36 due to size and weight will run better in most seas than the 305. I m sure that there are certain conditions where the steeper deadrise and narrower beam/entry on the albemarle will do better than the 36 despite the increased weight and length. If most of your offshore days are in 2-4 seas, I think you will like the bigger platform.

routine maintenance on the 36 will be much easier than on the 305. diesel expresses under 35' have really tight spaces especially with cats...

while i may be biased (320 open owner), i would not run from the luhrs. we chose the 320 over the 305 albe due to size (roughly same money) and 11yrs later have never regretted it....

[seapower]

PM sent. Frank

[Questsportfishing]

they did not take care to build a boat you can service nor did they build one for the long run. you can buy so much more for the $ even look at a henriques, carolina classic before you pull the trigger.. get a boat you can fit in the engine room.. has great systems and has no lawsuits on them..

[Questsportfishing]

look into a glass tech 36 completly walk around boat bulit in miami right now.. she is for sale for a great price. great engines, pipewelders tower and everything has been thought of.. nice cabin even though it was a walk around.. fast and stable built like a tank.