Luhrs 28 Hardtop/28 Open

Kissing cousins, the Luhrs 28 Hardtop and 28 Open, the latter sporting a sexy tower, are real giant killers of the fishing world. These boats will, for instance, dwarf a Caribbean 28 (no longer in production), or a Deep-Vee 28. In fact, they look more like 30-something fishing boats, which they are, measuring almost 32 feet overall and close enough to 30 feet sans moulded bowsprit.

But it is in more ways than one - not least being the 47lt/hr consumption at 23kts cruise - that these Florida-built fishing boats are so appealing. As if to prove as much, the Luhrs 28 Hardtop, pictured hereabouts and christened Aluhra, has 350 engine hours during its demo campaign.

The demonstrator had been from Sydney to the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show by water, back to Sydney, up to Coffs Harbour for the Hot Currents, back down for the Bill Hayward Memorial out of Botany Bay, then to the Lake Macquarie Big Fish Tournament, the Interclub and, the day after I tested it, the Broken Bay Invitational, where it was runner-up with two tagged marlin.

Its sistership, the brand-new 28 Open, also ran on the day and is identical but for the obvious addition of the tower. The anodised aluminium structure is a keenly priced option adding just $9000 to the package. Given the extra eye candy and the fish-spotting benefits, go for the tower.

But, as Ron Jacobs from Bluewater Power Yachts explains after fishing many hours on the 28 Hardtop, it's not essential.

"The best thing about this boat is the single-level helm station… the skipper is always in the zone, which makes it an ideal boat for short-handed fishing," said Jacobs.

"There's also great camaraderie and, being a step up from the cockpit, it's still high enough to spot fish," Jacobs explains, adding that the American boatbuilder is so impressed with his field testing in Australian waters that it's taking all comments on board. Not that there have been any major issues, mind you.

The beamy 3.5m wide Luhrs 28 hull is built using solid GRP for the running surface with Baltec coring for the hull sides. There are three watertight compartments, each with bilge pumps, including the engine room. The hull is backed by a five-year limited transferable warranty. The deck is a one-piece moulding with lots of fishy features that we'll explore in the fullness of time.

Engine access is via a lift-up bridgedeck floor that stays open thanks to gas struts. Both 28's were fitted with the upgraded diesel engine option: twin turbocharged four-cylinder Yanmar 240hp motors. You can get this boat with petrol inboards up to 330hp, but few Australians like V8 gas guzzlers for doing big sea miles.

MARATHON CRUISING
From a basic maintenance viewpoint, there's pretty good access to all the key engineering and pre-departure check items. Between the motors, in an aluminium tank, is the 1136lt of fuel that, at 2500rpm and a lazy 20kts cruise speed, gives the 28 a range of some 550nm, says Luhrs.

Thus, you can take this big-little boat beyond neighbouring ports to interstate fisheries and tournaments if so inclined. It's only 350nm or so from Sydney to Southport, remember!

The standard water supply, carried in polypropylene wing tanks in the lazarette, is a handy 208lt, enough to see you through a weekend-long tournament. The lazarette also harboured the hot-water service, trim-tab pump and fluid reservoir, sea strainer for the raw-water pump, freshwater pump, inverter, charger, and separate engine-start and house batteries.

The Luhrs 28s aren't fitted with generators, although a 3.5kW diesel model is available, but the demo boat had an inverter for enough 240V power to run the microwave oven, the single-burner stove and, on Monday morning, the Braun razor.

Importantly for fishing, the 28s have big cockpits, with optional swim platform on the Hardtop. Fishing features include six rod holders, padded coamings and a big in-transom killtank or second livebait tank that boasted a pair of custom-made stainless steel slimy tubes for pitch baiting.

At the division between bridgedeck and cockpit were an accommodating (primary) portside livebait tank and insulated icebox that keeps drinks for the crew cold all day with just a couple of bags of ice. You can mount a fighting chair in the boat as well.

The boats also had raw and freshwater deck washes, shorepower connections, marine stereo speakers, and an aggressive diamond-pattern non-skid that continues around the sidedecks to the big foredeck. Backed by an alloy bowrail and moulded toerails, the foredeck is flared a la Carolina style, which makes this a wonderfully dry boat.

Meantime, the bridgedeck offers seating for three crew plus the skipper. Storage exists under the lounges and, with a full set of clears, all the seating is pleasantly protected from weather and spray.

Down below, there's a welcome 1.8m of headroom at the foot of the companionway alongside the galley to port, with a decent top-loading fridge/freezer, single-burner electric cooktop, small Tappan microwave oven, deep sink, solid counter and food-prep space, garbage bin and a useful amount of storage.

The head opposite, in a separate easy-clean moulded stall, features an electric (optional Vacuflush) loo, hot/cold handheld shower (mind the water supply) with shower curtain and hanging rail. The plumbing, sump pump and holding tank are accessible under the saloon floor.

Should you need it, there's accommodation for four with two Pullman berths created from the backrests of the vee-berth/dinette. The boat also had an infill, stored in a dedicated locker with room for the bedding, so you can create a double berth and please your favourite fishwife.

The finish is all easy-clean wipe down, mock timber flooring with moulded liners and vinyl upholstery. There's further storage under the vee-berth, under steps and in the head, and, most importantly, for eight fishing outfits in dedicated racks above the berths.

Post fishing, the 28 can be cleaned and the tackle stored away in no time, which is another attraction of express boats. Yet another is their cost effectiveness to campaign and their manoeuvrability.

AT THE HELM
The (lower) helm on the Hardtop and Open is a great place to chase fish and even better for cruising in company to the grounds. Views are assisted by a deep windscreen with wiper and, in fair weather, by scrolling up the clears. The helm seat is adjustable, there's a serious stainless steel wheel, stereo remote, switch panel and trim tab switches, windlass remote and chain counter, and 12V plug for the phone. Of greater interest is the abundant space for mounting electronics.

Top speed on the day was 28.4kts at 3400rpm on the twin 240hp Yanmars. At 2800rpm, you get a smooth cruise of 23kts for 47lt/hr consumption. At 2500rpm, Luhrs quotes a range of 550nm at 20kts with less than 40lt/hr consumption. Trolling at 7kts will use 7.2lt/hr. So, fast or slow, it's cheap to run, even more so than a lot of outboard-powered sportsfishers, and the ride was lovely and smooth.