BoatsLuders 16

Luders 16

Fractional Sloop · Fin Keel · 1933–1979

A versatile fractional sloop produced in wood, plywood, and fiberglass across a storied forty-six year production run

Designed by A. E. Luders & Alfred E. Luders.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin Keel

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.75 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 1,338 kg of hull, so roughly 1,950 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.
LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 23 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 23
CoastalBluewater

At 1.61 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.61
LightHeavy

302 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 302
EasygoingPowered-up

17.5 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 17.5
TenderStiff

54% of her weight is ballast — very stiff, carrying full sail in a blow.

Ballast 54%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Lighter than ~85% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~75% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~99% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1809 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
54.2%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.5
Displacement / length
302.4
Comfort ratio
22.9
Capsize screening
1.61
Hull speed
5.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
336
Hull
Hull type
Fin Keel
Construction
molded plywood or FG
Production
Years built
1933–1979
Units built
229
Designer
A. E. Luders, Alfred E. Luders
Builder
Luders Marine Construction, Continental Plastics Inc

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Comet 7707.70 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Jean-Marie Finot-designed IOR quarter-tonner with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited club racing
Cal 257.62 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA flush-deck masthead sloop featuring a pop-top companionway that became one of the most popular models in the fleet
Puma 268.00 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop derived from an IOR Half Ton prototype, designed by Holman and Pye for competitive performance
Colvic Ltd. Sailor 268.21 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA twin-keeled masthead sloop with hulls molded by Colvic and finished by various yards, including Atlanta Marine
Catalina Yachts 278.18 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA masthead sloop with 6,662 hulls produced over two decades, serving as a staple of coastal cruising since 1971
Cascade Yachts 278.23 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, designed by Robert A. Smith for balanced coastal cruising

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

The newsletter

New boats, new stories, from everywhere.

One email from the fleet — boats newly added, videos newly analyzed. No noise.

Report an issue