So what's "Downeast" about Albin?

[Brother Albin]

I really like the Albin 28 TE and am considering making an offer on one but what's "Downeast" about this boat? In my view Downeast boats have semi-diplacemnt huls with round chines and a sharp entry at the bow. I'm new to this brand but all of the Albins that I've looked at are planning hulls, with hard chines and a broad entry. Other than the large cockpit I really don't see any similarity. Does anyone know why Albin used that term to market their boats?

[Mariner]

I live in the northwest, so I don't really even know what "downeast" means. I just like the lines of the boat, it's performance in rough seas, and the cabin and cockpit layout.

[Brother Albin]

Mariner,
The term "downeast", as I understand it, comes from the fact that it was a southeasterly or "downeast" wind that brought saling ships to the midcoast of Maine. That area is home to many great commercial boat builders, some of whom are now famous pleasure boat builders...Jon Williams, Hinkley, Wilbur, Ellis, Duffy, Beal and Holland to name a few. The term downeast was associated with the area where these boats were built and hence "downeast boats". They all have there orgin as fishing and lobstering boats and have the characteristics that I mentioned in my original post. Perhaps it is the Albin's ability to perform well as a fishing boat and/or pleasure boat that promted the company to use that term.

[Pitou]

History of Downeast Boats Atlantic Boat Company :: The Builder of Duffy and BHM Commercial and Pleasure Boatsfrom

Here's why Downeast Semi-Displacement Hulls provide a safe, predictable ride at 12 knots or 18... in any sea condition!

True Downeast boats trace their legendary performance to a long line of ocean-proven workboats dating all the way back to Friendship sloops and Muscongus Bay schooners. For generations, Maine fisherman have relied on these rugged boats to take them to sea, function as stable, dependable work platforms, and then bring them home safely, burdened with the trip's catch - in weather that most of us wouldn't venture out in, 12 months a year.

Downeast boats, in general, are sea-kindly and safe in all kinds of weather. Stability is inherent in a design that includes a skeg to protect the underbody, propeller, steering gear, and drive train. It's simply a very comfortable ride.

When Maine fishermen began switching from sail to power, the Downeast hull configuration evolved from a true displacement hull to a longer, wider, semi-displacement hull. In this long transition from sail to power, the builders shortened up the keep slightly, but kept the long and narrow hull. It was an easily driven shape with excellent sea-keeping characteristics. In fact, the early boats, with a ratio of three feet of length to one foot of beam, could be driven to hull speed with just 3-hp.

As engines became more readily available, and horsepower and displacement increased, the fishermen built their workboats with flatter aft sections to support the weight and bulk of the bigger engines, yet retained the boat's traditional fine entry. The keep of the traditional Downeast hull is similar to a sailboat's keel. Although it's not ballasted, the keel performs two important functions: First, it helps steady the boat in a seaway, especially a beam sea, limiting side-to-side motion. More importantly, the keel and skeg serve to protect the vessel's running gear in the case of accidental or deliberate groundings. The configuration allows lobsterman to come right up on a ledge at slow speed and ground - or "tunk" as it's known on the waterfront - without damage.

Today, with a single engine, our Atlantic boats can duplicate the performance of most deep-V boats with twin engines, but with single-engine efficiency and economy. The common hard chine or planing hull must utilize a great deal of power (with a corresponding leap in fuel consumption) to drive the boat up out of the water and onto a plane. Once on top of the water, the hull will pound and slap the waves, and has little lateral resistance to wave motion and, as a result, will pitch and roll, often lifting the props out of the water.

At slower speeds, these hulls point their bows high into the air reducing forward visibility to a dangerous level, and making for a very uncomfortable ride. In bad weather, then, the planing hull must either travel at a bone-jarring rate of speed to stay on plane (if the hull and crew can withstand the punishment) or reduce its speed to a crawl to maintain a relatively flat attitude.

The Downeast semi-displacement hull behaves in an entirely different manner. The fine entry of the forward section slices through the waves cleanly and without pounding. It's an exceptionally dry ride, with the flared bow effortlessly tossing aside the bow wave as the hull slips through the water without a fuss. The flat after section tends to squat slightly, keeping the propeller and rudder deep in the water for a solid bite and excellent steerage. At the same time, the full length skeg and keel resists side-to-side rocking, while helping the boat track effortlessly - even in a following sea. The Downeast hull, even in nasty chop and heavy swell conditions, can cruise comfortable all day long at 12 to 14 knots.

Today's true Downeast hulls use horsepower to get them up beyond displacement speeds, and yet these boats are still true to the central issue of providing predictable stability. They are simply about as stable a platform as you could ever want - and that means stable at 12 knots, stable at 18 knots.

[Veebyes2]

Whats downeast about so many builders who claim to build 'downeast' boats? What is 'downeast' about Hinkley, & who gave them the monopoly on the term 'picnic' boat.

The last boat that Albin ever produced that had the 'downeast' underbody of soft chines & a buildown keel was the Albin 27 in 1991. Everything since had more in common with a modern chined 'V' of an offshore fisherman.

The 'downeast' term had a nice marketing ring to it though the boats had little resemblance to a traditional 'downeast' workboat.

[RicM]

BTW there have been discussions elsewhere on the forum on this. The original Albin design (25A and 27A) were based on North Sea workboats. The 28TE was upsized and the hull redesigned to plane.
Here's a northsea workboat, see the resemblances?



From the Albin website:

In 2005 Albin Marine is celebrating our 106-year history in the Marine Field with the introduction of the new classics, Albin 26 Tournament Express and the Albin 40 North Sea Cutter. Albin Marine is the successor to Albin Motor, originally founded in Sweden in 1899 as a marine diesel engine and boat manufacturer.The new Albins join long line classic yachts from the North Sea sail & motor boats we made in Sweden, to the thousands offshore trawlers we produced in Taiwan, to our current line of DownEast cruising and fishing boats we manufacture at our 147,000 square foot facility in Portsmouth, RI.
Albin 25 Family Cruiser over 5,000 produced
In 1966 Albin entered the U.S. market and established a Global presence. Fred Peters has been the President of Albin Marine (USA) since 1966 building products in Sweden, Taiwan, and the United States. Volvo Penta acquired the marine engine division in 1981
Our diesel powered yachts are built without compromise and known throughout the world as seaworthy vessels designed in the North Sea tradition to handle the roughest waters. Our name is synonymous with hand-crafted, offshore yachts of quality, with timeless lines and well thought out design. If you want outstanding accommodations for the cruising family, or canyon rigging for the serious sport fisherman, Albin Marine has the perfect yacht to suit both your maritime needs and your individual style.

"North Sea Workboat" doesn't mean much to American buyers, so the "down east" term was brought into the marketing mix.

[Brother Albin]

I found that thread after I posted the question. I felt bad about the repeat topic but Pitou's post from the Duffy site made it all worthwhile.

[Bonden]

I will try to explain the term "Downeast" as follows:

As one travels in an Easterly direction, the longitude numbers of grid lines decreases. Therefore, you are traveling down your longitude or "Downeast"

I live on an island and was always aware that when one is traveling toward the eastern end of the island, one was travelling "down-island" - or travelling "up-island" if travelling West.

If going to Maine, say Eastport, then you are travelling "down-east"

hope this helps

Phil

[Mariner]

So, "downeast" boats can only go downwind in an easterly?