[L16-usa] Hull number and masts

[William F. Simpson]

Dear Ken,

The hull number for the wooden boats is marked in 
two places on the boat.  A bronze builders plaque 
was attached to the brightwork at the aft end of 
the cockpit, it included the text "Lüders Marine 
Construction Company in the midst of a marine 
graphic and then had the hull number stamped on 
it.  In addition, the hull number was stamped 
into the mahogany "keelson" forward of the mast 
step.  "Keelson" is the term we've used to 
describe the midline member which forms the floor 
of the bilge, is about six inches wide and runs 
the entire length of the boat.  The hull number 
should be three digits.   My boat was built over 
the 1944/1945 winter and launched in May, 1945. 
It is sail number 22, and hull number 562.

Concerning wooden spars - we have about 10 L16s 
here in Chicago and none of them still use wooden 
masts, though one does exist, and there is one 
wooden boom in use.  Most of the wooden masts 
failed long ago (mine was broken in the late 
1960s apparently), and so one could judge the 
design to be a bit on the flimsy side.  Or you 
could simply take the view that replacing a mast 
every now and then simply "comes with the 
territory".  There are two predominant styles of 
aluminum masts here;  a very heavy, large-section 
design built by Proctor 30-35 years ago (I have 
one of these) and then the much more common, 
lighter, more "bendy" masts typified by the L16 
masts made by Zephyr.  These are still available 
and are probably the best compromise between the 
fragile wooden option and the bullet-proof but 
less tactical Proctor-style masts.

Congratulations on your new acquisition, I'm sure you'll love sailing an L16!

Best,
Bill



>Just bought a Luder L-16 and was wondering if 
>anyone could help.  I have an original spruce 
>mast but the boom is missing.  Where can I have 
>one made? (I live in Nahant, Mass.)  Can I have 
>one made up in Maine?  Also I intend to race the 
>boat against other classes...should I change to 
>alluminum? Pro's and cons?  The boat needs 
>extensive work which I intend to start soon.  I 
>am unaware of the year of the boat as I cannot 
>find the hull # and plate.(where is it normally 
>located?)  I estimate it to be between 1955-1962 
>as it is molded mahogany.  Any tips or info 
>would be greatly appreciated.
>I saw her for the first time three weeks ago and 
>loves the lines.  I have never sailed in one but 
>she looks like a nice ride!
>Ken
>
>
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-- 
William F. Simpson
Collections Manager, Fossil Vertebrates
Field Museum of Natural History
1400 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois  USA  60605
Phone: (312) 665-7628
Fax:   (312) 665-7641  
Email: simpson at fmnh.org