The Luders 24 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a steady, comfortable ride offshore, and respectable in club racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 24.0′, the Luders 24 tops out around 6.6 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √24.0′ LWL = 6.6 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
138s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
SA / Displacement
19.6
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Comfort Ratio
30.0
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Capsize Screening
1.36
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
536lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
30.0
Good offshore comfort — steady enough for multi-day passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
1.36
Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Luders 24 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Luders 24
138s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
Soverel 38
156s/nm
Ingrid 38
213s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
2.8 |
3.5 |
4.0 |
4.1 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.4 |
4.3 |
4.8 |
5.0 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.2 |
5.3 |
5.9 |
6.1 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.8 |
4.9 |
5.4 |
5.7 |
| Run150–180° |
3.1 |
3.9 |
4.3 |
4.5 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.6 kts),
SA/D (19.6), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Luders 24 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–18 kts
18–26 kts
26+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–26 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
26+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Luders 24.
|
Luders 24 |
A Scow |
Atlantic 38 Raynor |
Ingrid 38 |
Kettenburg 38 |
Soverel 38 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
38.0 |
38.0 |
38.0 |
38.0 |
38.0 |
38.0 |
| LWL |
24.0 |
— |
30.0 |
32.0 |
25.8 |
30.4 |
| Beam |
6.3 |
8.0 |
11.5 |
11.3 |
8.0 |
11.0 |
| Displacement |
6 |
1 |
21 |
26 |
12 |
18 |
| Ballast |
2 |
— |
7 |
8 |
— |
— |
| Sail Area |
416 |
550 |
583 |
815 |
561 |
636 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
138 |
— |
— |
213 |
— |
156 |
| SA/Disp |
19.6 |
58.5 |
12.3 |
14.9 |
17.2 |
14.9 |
| Bal/Disp |
— |
— |
37.1 |
30.8 |
— |
— |
| Comfort |
30.0 |
5.2 |
38.7 |
46.9 |
39.4 |
34.9 |
| Capsize |
1.36 |
2.61 |
1.67 |
1.53 |
1.40 |
1.68 |
| Hull Speed |
6.6 |
7.6 |
7.3 |
7.6 |
6.8 |
7.4 |