Carlson's Biloxi Lugger Alligator
Submitted by cac on Tue, 2007-02-13 17:11
Greg and Kerry Carlson, who sell Plotter/Cutters, and who also produced the Hull Designer program many homebuilders got their start with for automated hull design, now own the Alligator, a 55' Lugger built a while back... pretty boat.
Shallow draft, good performance, lots of room... Its based on a fishing/shrimping design used around the U.S. Gulf Coast but which has fallen out of favor (like many of the old designs) and you don't find them any more.
The builder/designer published an interesting writeup (PDF) on the boat's design and construction.
Reminds me of the various River Cruisers and the hull is highly reminiscent of Atkin's tunnel stern craft such as the River Belle.
There's a set of 4 pictures to a similar craft here.
And lastly the sad tale of a beautiful example of a classic Biloxi Lugger the Starry Night (built in 1928) which sank in the Katrina Hurricane and wound up being lost instead of recovered. The picture shows how pretty this boat was.
Shallow draft, good performance, lots of room... Its based on a fishing/shrimping design used around the U.S. Gulf Coast but which has fallen out of favor (like many of the old designs) and you don't find them any more.
The builder/designer published an interesting writeup (PDF) on the boat's design and construction.
Reminds me of the various River Cruisers and the hull is highly reminiscent of Atkin's tunnel stern craft such as the River Belle.
There's a set of 4 pictures to a similar craft here.
And lastly the sad tale of a beautiful example of a classic Biloxi Lugger the Starry Night (built in 1928) which sank in the Katrina Hurricane and wound up being lost instead of recovered. The picture shows how pretty this boat was.
Comments
Biloxi Lugger
Thanks for the mention. Alligator's a neat cruising solution; living under the shade makes a ton of sense - you stay cool and dry. I was not aware of Atkin's tunnel-drive, though I was aware of Gerr's Summer Kyle and Jersey skiffs. Perhaps Atkin was an inspiration to designer/builder Bob Walters.
I was hauled in a yard in Bon Secour, AL the other day, and the yard guys were "surprised" to hear it was a Biloxi Lugger. I guess Alligator really is not that underneath - too "high tech" and too "cold-molded". I expect they made a buck or two over the years replacing planks on "real" luggers, and to be fair, most of those boats displace two Alligators, though could be a bit less lively in rough water (?)
So, you're not a Nordhaven, but what's cooler than gunkholing along the ICW? From my log last week, I'd dialed back the John Deere 130 to 1459 rpm, and we were still doing 8.9 knots at 1.6 gph and 5.26 mpg. Not bad for a 54' boat with almost 1100 gals of fuel and water.
The lugger is also a pretty nice form for ex-sailors and iconoclasts - seemingly not so offensive in anchorages - you get lots of visits from sailors wondering just who and what you are. I don't think the typical big powerboat can say the same thing (or would be interested). Maybe it's the old-timey look of the lugger.
Gregg Carlson
McGowan's Sulis
Still a look I like :-)
http://www.craftacraft.com/mcgowan_marine_design_inc_sulis_solar_electri...
Bruce