Sailor Mike presents:

A 1976 26/27 Luger Sloop

A TRUE LUGER HYBRID

Most people know me as "Sailor Mike" (my internet id), but my name is Michael Morris and I am the owner/builder of an unusual sailing cruiser I named,

           "About Time"

I've been sailing for most of my life (over fifty years) - from daysailing on Sunfish, to cruising on my V23, and crewing on a 41' racer.  It seems sailing has always been a part of my life.

My home is in London, Ontario, Canada, and locally I sail on Lake Huron, Georgian Bay, and Fanshawe Lake (our home puddle here in London, Ontario).  My sailboats have always been trailerable, and I've taken them as far as the southern United States to enjoy sailing the west coast of Florida.

I am a current member of the Fanshawe Yacht Club, the Trailer/Sailor Association, the VN23 internet group, and participate in several internet sailing associations and forums.  And since beginning my Luger hybrid project, I'm a registered member of the Yahoo Luger Group, and (most recently) a contributing member of The Luger Sailboat Mooring website.  (Links for each are also located on Favorite Links & Hobbies.)

A few years ago I purchased, redesigned, reconstructed, and [finally] completed building an unusual boat.  She's a one-of-a-kind, a true sailing hybrid that I named, "About Time".  A webpage seemed the best way to share some of what I have learned from building and sailing "About Time" - and I hope by visiting here, you will benefit from some lessons I've learned along the way.

Introductions:  In 1976, a 26' Tradewinds boat kit was delivered from Luger Industries, Inc. of Minnesota to her original owners.  The story I got was that it was purchased by a Boys Club as a project for them to build and then sail.  Unfortunately, the work looked like it was done by committee:  The cupboards were built like a fort, using 2x4s as framing.  And, they were square.  ...a real problem since the inside of a sailboat is NOT square, rendering them unusable.

Assembly of the 26' sloop began, but before she was ever completed, the boat changed hands.  It was sold at least one more time before landing in our backyard twenty-five years later (2001).

"About Time" - as she looked when she arrived in our backyard in 2001.  The boat, sitting on her factory trailer, had been in a barn about 500 miles from where I lived.  The hull was complete, the mast had never been stepped, and the swing keel never mounted.  She'd been purchased 25 years earlier as a '76 Tradewinds boat kit produced by Luger Industries, Inc.

Up until 1980, Luger Industries only manufactured one model in this size category: a 26' sailboat called the Tradewinds.  In 1980 they introduced the 27' Fairwinds.  This sailboat retained the 26 footer's hull and deck - along with a 15" riser installed between the hull and deck for added interior headroom. 

The Fairwind model's most noticeable changes included:
          1)  the hull riser   
          2)  the swing keel (15" longer)
          3)  an extension to the upper rudder
The original interior layout was the same for both models, but I've noticed Luger later modified the layout to include an under cockpit bunk.

On my boat the workmanship and planning by previous owners had been poor to very bad.  I would need to strip the hull interior almost completely, including the hull reinforcements. The hull's riser was made of plywood and fiberglass, but the forward section showed signs of delamination and was very rough.  I could see a BIG project was about to get started…

CLICK HERE to continue with  Redesign & Reconstruction >
Sailing Stories >
Mast Stepping & The Self-Tending Jib >
Blueprint Diagrams >
Special Features & Information >
Scrapbook Photographs >
My Favorite Links & Hobbies >

What about the boat's name,           
             "About Time"…?   

I worked on the redesign and reconstruction of this customized boat for over two years!  The name is related to the fact that it is About Time the boat was finished.  This photo was taken last summer, during her inaugural sailing season (2004).  After 27 years, "About Time" finally made it to water, and in this photo, is at the docks of The Fanshawe Lake Yacht Club.

So after several years of modifications and adaptations, successes and setbacks, my wife and I are now sailing and enjoying a 26/27 Luger sloop with a motorsailer profile - perfectly customized to my needs.  We call it a Luger 257 (actual length of a 26' boat is 25' 7").

CLICK HERE to continue with  Redesign & Reconstruction >
Sailing Stories >
Mast Stepping & The Self-Tending Jib >
Blueprint Diagrams >
Special Features & Information >
Scrapbook Photographs >
My Favorite Links & Hobbies >

"The pessimist complains about the wind; 
  the optimist expects it to change; 
  the realist adjusts the sails."
                                                    - William A. Ward