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The Luhrs Marine Group has its roots deeply imbedded in the marine business for well over a century. In the 1830’s, a German immigrant by the name of Henry Luhrs was launching a marine chandlery business in New York City. As the business prospered, Henry was able to acquire shares in his own ships. Henry’s grandson, another Henry, was also involved in the marine business as a shipwright. After learning the trade, this young Henry went off on his own and started to build and repair clinker or lapstrake boats on the New Jersey coast in a small town named Morgan. Mass production had not yet reached the marine industry, but Henry upon seeing the economies of scale that Henry Ford was receiving decided to adopt these practices for his company and the “production boat” was born.
Henry and his two sons, John and Warren, built the Henry Luhrs Sea Skiff Company into a very successful boat company, building in excess of 1,200 boats a year in the 1960’s. The family was one of the first to embrace the innovation of fiberglass and the company continued to expand. In 1965, Bangor-Punta, a large timber conglomerate, bought the company. While Henry and John stayed on for a while, they were always looking for other opportunities. In 1969, John and Warren bought a fledgling company named Silverton Sea Skiffs in Tom’s River, New Jersey and by 1973 were well on their way to success again.
Warren, who has always had a passion for sailing, believed the same production methods could work for sailboats as well as power. In 1973, the first Hunter Marine sailboat was launched, a very affordable 25 footer. Today, Hunter Marine Corporation is one of the largest sailboat builders in the world.
A few years later, when the international fuel crisis started to slow the boat business, the brothers knew that an economical single engine diesel cruiser would keep people on the water. They were right and Mainship Corporation was formed in 1978 to build traditionally-styled, economical diesel cruisers from 34 to 40 feet. Over 1,200 boats were built in the next few years. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, Mainship Trawlers is now the world leader in building recreational production trawlers.
The company name that the brothers wanted back so dearly finally became available in 1985. The Luhrs Corporation was founded as production commenced first in New Jersey and then later in Florida. A new facility in St. Augustine was purchased in 1987 allowing production to begin in 1988. Luhrs Corporation is a major manufacturer of sportfishing boats in the U.S. today.
Along with Luhrs Marine Limited, our European Sales and Service headquarters in Romsey, UK, these four companies, make up the Luhrs Marine Group – collectively one of the largest independent boat builders in the world. Four companies that are dedicated to bringing unsurpassed value to mariners around the world.
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