1944 Luders 24, US $47,500, Portsmouth, RI, USA
BELLE DESCRIPTION
The 26’ Luders-16 was introduced by Luders Marine Corporation of Stamford, CT in 1934 for the Fisher’s Island Yacht Club on Long Island Sound. The Luders-16s went on to become a hugely popular one-design class, spreading to other clubs as far afield as Chicago, New Orleans, and Northeast Harbor in Maine – where they continue to thrive to this day.
Building on the success of the Luders-16 and looking to capitalize on newly developed hot-molded plywood construction, A. E. Luders Jr. designed and built the first two Luders-24s in 1943 and 1944. At 38’ on deck and based on the popular International 6-meter, TEMPTRESS and INVADER were a tremendous success and Luders went on to build as many as 15 others for individual owners in the post-war years.
Today there are five known Luders-24s still sailing and regularly winning at classic yacht regattas here in New England. Brooklin Boatyard’s Steve White owns #1 TEMPTRESS (now called CHEETAH) and claims she is perhaps the sweetest day sailor he has ever sailed – perfectly balanced and very fast in light or heavy breeze.
#2 INVADER (now called BELLE) is the subject of this listing: BELLE was fully restored in 1991 by Loughborough Marine Interests, one of New England’s preeminent yacht restorers. This included replacing much of the bottom planking, a custom varnished spruce mast (2016), new cockpit coamings and deck hardware (2016), and AwlGrip painted topsides and decks (2022).
A classic day racer with considerable pedigree and a rare blend of beauty, balance, and speed, makes these thoroughbreds a particularly rare and sought-after opportunity. BELLE boasts a treasure trove of more than sixty winning race trophies. She has new sails, is in top condition, and is ready to launch.
Currently indoors in Portsmouth, RI, email to schedule a visit to see BELLE in person. You could be at the tiller for her next win this summer!
DIMENSIONS
LOA: 38’ 3”
LWL: 24’
Beam: 6’ 3”
Draft: 4’ 10”
Displacement: 6,400 lbs
Disclaimer
The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.