Looking for some good reading on the 60's 70's Burgers.... history, designers etc etc. There doesn't seem to be much of an owner community that I can find... Thanks.
What was that nightmare one of the YF members was recalling???? I grew up thinking they were great looking ships. Sadly the story around Jax is, Burgers don't even make good artificial reefs,,, (Sometimes I crack myself up ).
I'm only aware of one Burger with a problem and it wasn't basic construction. Now perhaps long ago before I followed them. I've chartered a Burger and it was extremely well done. It was a boat previously featured here. I think it's unfortunate that there business has been so poor the past few years and glad they've had commercial builds. Others may have different experiences but I've always held them in high regard and was very impressed with the one I was on.
The entire problem with Burger is that they've been trying to build Aluminum boats for way too long in a size range and era that wants fiberglass. Kind of like the likes of Trumphy and others that kept trying to build wood boats when fiberglass was now the preferred material.
I use a site called shipbuildinghistory.com. It is a fairly comprehensive listing of current and past US and Canadian shipyards and the boats they have built. I looked for Burger and: shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/yachtlarge/burger.htm There is a list of pretty much everything from 1867 to the Northlander this year including current status or fate. It is done by someone named Tim Colton who provides an e mail address on the site so people can fill in blanks on his lists. He must have had access to any written records of Burgers so maybe you could e mail him and ask. I think the 'condemned to serve' crack was about a Broward.
Ralph, we may have to tie you to that artificial reef for disparaging the wrong builder. You're thinking about Broward, NOT Burger! Burger builds a fine boat that anyone would be proud to own, namely me.
Henry Burger and Elias Gunnell pioneered the modern American yacht building sector in the mid 1950's when they took a gamble from building in steel to produce the very first electrically welded Aluminum vessel in conjunction with Reynolds Corp and Sparkman and Stephens in 1956. Burger dominated the custom yacht market in the sixties and seventies with flush deck and raised pilot house designs from the likes of Hargrave and S & S and their quality was known to be exceptional from perfectly installed electrical systems and wire runs through unmatched precise joinery. Burger's were built to order for clients and Henry & Elias resisted building on speculation so when the Dennison family began building spec boats in the early 80's, Burgers were more expensive than the competition but their quality was never brought into question between the two. Sadly, modern day Burger is barley surviving on commercial work and repair with very few new launches but they've made major investments in new buildings, work shops & infrastructure and they've managed to retain the core craftsman where its not uncommon to see a father who's a department head work along side a son or daughter that came out of their apprentice system as Burger is one of the few boat building companies in the states with a marine trade apprentice system in place to keep continuity in quality. Hopefully Burger will make it back because they're more than capable of building a high quality vessel in steel or aluminum.
Sparkman and Stephens designs with an occasional Hargrave in that time frame. Custom yacht builders to the rich and famous. Beautiful, high quality ships IMHO.
Today Burger needs a better architect as opposed to the current 48' product they're marketing. The old lines of the 60's-80's, be it S&S or Hargrave, those lines would still sell today. Classic and beautiful.
Aside from the 48', Burger builds on order. So if anyone wanted a yacht with the old lines, they would have ordered one, but nobody has.
That 48 was built for an owner that wanted a Burger, but in a manageable size. It was so well received, they are building two. Short of a contract on a larger boat, the 48's keep things in motion at the yard.
Certainly was not knocking the company. I'm a devoted fan. And I do see the 112 & 144 on their web site as a positive sign...I'm a believer in more traditional lines, that's all.
Looking at their Burger Fleet online, some really great designs. Classic look, I saw their 105 ft. SF Serenity several year ago at the Lauderdale boats show. Impressive, fantastic lines, 5ft. draft.
The boats are incredibly well built. Great bones, classic lines, and apparently an easy retrofit when you buy an older gal...
We were at Stuart last year getting some work done and was next to an older Burger classic Willaway, just had a refit still needed a few things finished, looked to be in great shape.
Will be taking Journey On 85' Burger up canal this Sunday. She is ex Seaquester Will post picture Sunday
I've just completed (does it ever end?) a refit that spanned 3 years on a Burger Hargrave 68. I couldn't have picked a better boat.
What would you like to know? I've been on Burgers since the 70's, with a Hatteras in between. Great boats. Gotta get your head around the metal of it all, however. No taking things for granted there...