Albin 28 review

[jcollins]

'REVIEW of Albin 28 from Boater\'s Digest', 'Rule number one in the boating writers handbook is “don’t do anything stupid.” This obviously applies to driving the brand new boat your testing, but it also governs the writers behavior and actions. A cardinal sub-heading of the said rule includes not falling over board while testing the subject boat. Getting wet by means other than bow spray on a boat does not instill confidence in the captain with whom you’re riding, nor should it instill confidence in you, dear reader who relies on this faithful scribe for a modicum of seafaring professionalism.
Needless to say, I fell overboard while testing the Albin 28, an act that was incredibly hard to accomplish with any finesse. Thankfully, Captain Vic Elefante of White Water Marine, who provided us with this beautiful boat, did not rub it in to any extent (I could have done with out the phone call back to the show room, though!) And fair play to me, I managed to not destroy my very expensive camera as I was totally submerged. But more about that later, and more about the Albin 28 now.
If you’re a classicist insofar as the lines of the boat are concerned, those of the Albin are enough to sell you on the boat before you ever step foot aboard. This Rhode Island-manufactured boat appears to be the inheritor of the best of the Downeast Maine boat building. From its rakish , yet utilitarian - hardtop to its full-length keel and Nibral three-blade, the Albin 28 fairly oozes hard core seamanship
This is not to say that the boat is stripped for discomfort, or rigged to haul trawl nets. With the options available you can have the Albin pretty much the way you want it, but I liked it fine the way we tested it.
Several superlatives apply. The fresh water, turbocharged Yanmar 315 horsepower diesel is located center on the deck, and was the quietest diesel I’ve encountered. Considering the proximity of the diesel to the forward cabin, it was genuinely quiet there as well. A big asset to this single screw inboard was the Vetus electric bow thruster, a standard feature on the boat. With the exception of the emergency aspect of having a twin screw, the bow thruster makes the Albin maneuver with all the precision of a twin. We docked in a slip on the Brown’s River that was literally too small for the boat, yet had absolutely no problem or second try attempts at backing the boat in. The only downside on the joystick controlled thruster is its noise level, something that is substantial outside the boat, but relatively moot from aboard.
The cockpit is roomy, and has two seats. The seats were plastic, and with the quality of construction throughout the rest of the boat, this stood out. The helm position can be run from a stand up position or from seated. If seated there’s a deck floor that folds down to provide foot support. Gauges were all analog and “ right there, and the helm wheel, connected to the power – assisted steering, was a nice solid one. There’s a large chart table in front of the passenger seat, and both sides have a large tempered glass sliding window position. The windscreen is a three-piecer and with wipers on all; the center panel cranks open. The windshield frames are substantial, perhaps too substantial, because I had a blind spot or two forward. Its something you’d get used to if you captained the boat regularly.
Below decks there was a warp-around lounge forward with a table that converted into a queen sized bunk, and a nice galley area with a microwave, sink, Isotherm 2.8 cubic foot 12/110 volt refrigerator, pressurized water and a butane stove. There were three screened, opening portholes on the ort side, a larger Bomar hatch with screen and window, and three portholes starboard. The guest (kids will love this) berth extends back under the helm and there are two portholes that look at the helm deck.
The head has a toilet and washbasin (dedicated pumpout) and a handheld shower head. One other thing in the head is a removable panel that allows complete access to the helm’s instrument panel.
The work deck has not-quite knee-high box covering the diesels. This can be padded and will probably double as a sort of table for hanging around dock. The transom is cushioned and a solid thigh-high. The transom is cushioned and a solid thigh high. There was an optional transom door on out test model and an optional swim platform with hidden ladder, two options I strongly recommend. There’s a substantial twin hatch storage box in the transom, as well as a very large baitwell. There are twin storage boxes on either side of the gas piston operated engine hatch. These have removable liners and allow access to the engine as well. The Yanmar fits in tightly, but regular maintenance items fall easily to hand. Again, this is an extremely quite diesel. There are steps leading to the walkaround on both sides, and the entire forward area and walkaround have excellent molded-in grip. There is a solid, all business, lower thigh, stainless rail forward. The Good Automatic Windlass on our test boat is an option worth having. The cabin top is rock solid, covered in molded-in grip, and has a beefy stainless radar arch. You can walk on the cabin top – heel; you could probably mount a trampoline up there and never know it. Solid is the word.
The deep keel on the 16-degree deadrise hull keeps the boat flat no matter how tight you swing the wheel. The front entry doesn’t seem at all perturbed about the presence of the bow thruster, and cuts through swells with a purpose. The wheel is almost too stiff, but the boat tracks where you point it with absolutely no squirreling. Punch through a swell and there’s no discernible hull slap; this boat is going somewhere with muscle. It also has a big-boat feel; it transcends its beam and I thought it felt like a 38 or 40 footer as far as its motion, ride and seakeeping.
The Yanmar is a relatively high-revving engine; cruise is about 3,200 rpm which turns 23 knots (unobserved). Captain Elefante said that Yanmar says it will run all day at 3,600 (25 knots) and can be pushed to 3,800 for an hour at a time. The diesel has a lot of torque high. Gas consumption at 23 knots is about 8.5 gph with a 132 gallon tank.
So, we’re backing into a dock so I can take a shot of the Albin coming upriver. I see a section of step and grab it before Elefante has the Albin against the dock. It’s attached to nothing, and I go off _ but not, as noted before tossing my camera onto the dock. I look stupid, but at least I didn’t lose the camera, though I’m sure I lost some face, such as it is.
Dry or wet, however, this is my kind of boat. Rig it out for fishing, diving, or just use it as a family cruising, all-purpose, any weather boat, the Albin is the kind of boat people who love the sea will want.
Gurgle, gurgle. Oh, well.')