A-27 FC

[Captron]

Well, I thought I was going to be an Albin owner but I don't think so now. Here's the sad story.

The ad was for a 1984 Albin 27 FC on a trailer priced under $14,000 about a 1.5 hour drive from my residence. Price is pretty much fixed as this the balance of the owner's note. But even if the boat was free I don't think I'd get into it. The boat has been sitting in storage for over a year and a half with zero attention so that's the first tip-off. We looked at the boat and after discovering that the 4 batteries (two start and two house) were all shorted, the owner bought a new Walmart special and we were able to start the engine and let it run for less than about 2 minutes. At idle the engine sounds fine, minimal or no smoke. The genset would not even crank (likely a frozen cylinder). The A/C, alternator, head, pressure water systems could not be tested. Transmission not tested.

Here's a first take list of what it needs to make it a suitable boat for our needs.

Trailer
Broken bunk bracket requires welding
Rusted bunk bracket welds need grinding/rewelding
Rusted fender brackets need grinding and rewelding
Replace hydraulic coupler/actuator
Replace brake line
Replace brake drums/shoes/wheel cylinders
No lights on trailer, install tail/brake lights
No clearance lights, install lights
Tongue jack frozen, replace
Manual Trailer winch inoperable, replace cable/service winch
Flat tires, reinflate and test
Repaint trailer
Bearings?

Plumbing
Plumbing lines interfere with battery access, replace/reroute lines
Leaking Tee in pressure water line, replace
No holding tank, install new tank
No hot water heater, install new water heater (essential for longer cruises)
Macerator pump inoperable, Replace switch? Pump?
Insufficient water storage, add fresh water tankage

Electrical
Replace house batteries
Rewire batteries and main feeds to panel, (all automotive cables some reverse color)
Bilge pumps inoperable, replace and rewire
Inadequate wiring, replace all automotive wire & fittings
Main battery switch obsolete, replace
Cockpit toggle switches marginal, replace
Cockpit switch/engine panel corroded, replace
Spot light installed in bad location, remove or relocate (scalp laceration pending)
Alternator condition unknown
No shore power charging system
All wiring needs to be routed/secured/bundled correctly
No battery boxes or brackets
Genset inoperable (frozen cylinder?)
A/C not tested

Electronics
Cheap VHF, replace w/DSC,AIS system
Depth sounder inoperable, replace
VHF antenna broken, replace
No autopilot
No radar
No GPS
No Compass?

Galley
No refrigeration
Stove top inoperable, replace with propane system
No propane storage/system

Engine
Needs paint
Needs servicing, oil change, filters, raw water impeller, alt belt
No air filter
Bilge needs cleaning
Fuel Filters exposed in engine compartment
No fire suppression system
Many fuel hoses are automotive type
Injector return lines leaking,Needs minor fuel/oil leaks repaired
Hoses seem ok
Not Sea Trialed or tested under load
Transmission not tested
Motor mounts rusty but seem ok

Hull
Hull-deck joint leaks
Many chips, scratches and dings in gel coat
Bottom needs to be stripped and painted
Hull needs old names stripped
Hull needs major buffing & waxing
No stern platform
Boarding ladder loose, repair or replace
Soft Galley floor?
Through hulls not checked
Stuffing boxes not tested

Deck
Eisenglas panel in cockpit enclosure cracked, replace
No windlass
Anchors and gear inadequate (has 3 cheap Danforth-type knock-offs, minimal rode)
Many stress cracks in gel coat
Rub rail very distressed
Wood work needs to be stripped and refinished
Helm seat not secured to floor
No hand-holds on bimini top

Safety
Fire extinguishers outdated
No horn
No Life Ring
No Flare kit
No Fog Bell
No fire, monoxide, gas, smoke, bilge water, exhaust temp detectors

General
Dirty everything, clean, scrub and polish

You will note that I did not list the positive virtues of the boat. The good stuff doesn't add to the ownership cost nor does it reduce the cost of ownership.

By estimating in B.O.A.T. units ... repairs and upgrades will exceed twenty-five thousand dollars. In the end I'd have $40k plus in a 27 year old, 27 foot boat albeit a nice one once it's done. Add in the following.

I need a tow vehicle ... an older, high mileage, but decent, used 250/350 size truck will cost at least $4k
No dinghy ... a decent dink for down in the Bahamas will run $3k
Sales Tax and Documentation hassles will run $1k
Insurance and an Insurance Survey will run $1k likely.

Normally my guesstimates tend to run about half what things end up costing but even if I'm over by double, it's still not the right boat for us. I can do all the work myself too which I suppose is just a trade off between cost and time. I'm retired so I have the time just not the enthusiasm. The same effort could be put into a decent Albin 36 and I have a bigger boat more suited to our needs.

Anyone want to put me in their will?

I think we'll pass on this one but I'm willing to listen to where I might not be thinking straight so please chime in with your comments.

Chalk me up as disappointed.

Capt Ron

[joe.baar]

Capt,
Your list is truly awesome in scope and detail. I'm also pretty sure your logic is all correct so your conclusion is as well. Keep looking, there's a nice Albin out there waiting for you at the right price. Good luck.

[jcollins]

Wow! This is your "first take"? Very thorough.

I think we'll pass on this one but I'm willing to listen to where I might not be thinking straight so please chime in with your comments.

Sometimes you have to just walk away. Someone else may jump on this as a fixer-upper. Either way you made a good decision. I'm with Joe. Your boat is out there somewhere waiting for you. Keep us updated on your search.

[johnmurray]

My last boat was an Albin 27 Express, and I think the A-27 series are wonderful boats. Condition is everything however and they can be costly to fix up, particularly if you have to pay for labour. You didn't mention what engine was in the boat you looked at. The engine is the most important factor in my opinion, and I think the boats perform better with the larger engines that are found in the later year models from the late 1980s. Low hours are good and evidence of careful servicing is vital.
There are many excellent Albin 27s out there and I am sure you can find a good one with some patience. Good luck!

[Captron]

The engine is the Ford Lehman 66hp 4 cyl. It seemed to start right up & run ok at idle for the very short time we ran it. But it was after dark and after 2 hours of fooling with the batteries and with questionable raw water (boat was on a trailer and not equipped with fresh water flushing connections), we didn't want to push things. The boat was on a trailer in a covered motor home storage facility.

Unfortunately the boat is in no condition to sea trial so we couldn't test the tranny or test the engine under load. The shaft spins ok in neutral, cutlass bearing squeaks (naturally). All things considered the engine was the least of my concerns. Important granted, just too many other small things wrong to justify going further into things like sea trialing.

[Panhdjoe]

HI, we bought our 27 family cruiser 2 years ago and have gone through a "fix up fase". You are correct the little things really add up to some big dollars. I would not consider one that could not be sea trialed. they are wounderful boats in many ways. We enjoy ours and go out on it every chance we get, we spet new years eve anchored out in Charleston harbor.
By the way, I think the engine is possibly a Peouget Lehman, its seems that there is often confusion about that.

[RickLawrence]

I have a friend with a 1983 A-27 FC (Original owner) which is in excellent condition. He wants $30,000 and it is worth it! I has been my dream to own it but have to sell a 1992 Nimble 34. Contact me and I will pass your information to him as he is 84 and does not use a computer.
Rick
Cape Coral, FL

[rnummi]

I think I I bought the same boat described above for 6k. Here's what you find when you scrape away the dirt (massive amounts of dust). Its been undercover for 6 years (so dirt issues as opposed to oxidized gelcoat), brand new generator in sound-proof housing, all cushions on boat had been removed and stored (original), very very dusty. He was right, it needs a ton of labor (but here's the catch, while climbing around her, applied rubbing compound.... you guessed it, original mirror shine under all that dust. All pilot house glass and frames removed (awesome access to balsa core!) delaminated pilothouse sides but core appears solid and since the frames are out..... about a weeks worth of resin filling. She has Coast Guard papers! A marvelous little box with every receipt for every service ever done (the most recent receipt was for 8k in service and upgrades (generator and A/C). The PO took out the hot water heater to make room for the generator. Original origo stove, etc. Basically this puppy has been in a time capsule for 10 years. Oh yeah, every original option offered from Albin? Yep you guessed it, its on it. He had all the original canvas stored off the boat (isenglas in pristine condition)... wait for it.... all the canvas side panels have replaceable screen panels to swap out (never been out of the wrapper delivered by the maker). Holy smokes, it was like opening an old barn and finding a dusty 63 split window corvette. I fully agree with his earlier assessment, at first glance you want to run away. After seeing 2 or 3 FC's with brush/roller painted hulls and decks for 16-20k around the area.... the boat gods smiled upon me.

Anyway, I'll be posting pics as we bring Bare Necessities back to life.

[rnummi]

Oh, yeah... the trailer was/is truly a mess. My guestimate is that the boat was picked up out of salt water 6 years ago and never rinsed. Mission one: carefully remove boat from trailer, rehab trailer to get boat back to water. The nice thing about living 15 minutes from Don's Marine Salvage is the ability to go buy boat stands for 25 bucks each.

[Jay Knoll]

Like they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure! I look forward to pics, I've been working on my 27FC on and off for a couple of years, but the good news is that I can still use her while the projects continue.

Jay

[Beta Don]

The engine is the Ford Lehman 66hp 4 cyl. It seemed to start right up & run ok at idle for the very short time we ran it.

No A-27 came with a 66 hp Ford Lehman. The early boats had 4D61 engines, which is a 61 hp Lehman marinized Peugeot 504 car engine. Some parts for them can be a bit hard to find - Nobody stocks parts for them like they do for the Fords which were used in many more boats

I *like* your list! - If you find all that in one boat, I think you're looking at a $40K boat, minimum. A running A27 with trailer, A/C, genset and all the goodies, fixes and upgrades you listed. I bought a $15K A-27 and built my own trailer, repowered with a 100 hp Yanmar, added the genset, A/C, thruster, dingy with 5 hp outboard and upgraded electronics. I haven't kept *close* track, but I'm pretty sure I've got $40K in it by now, not to mention a few hundred hours of work

As always, the cheapest way to go is to buy the best boat you can afford upfront - Something someone else has put tons of money and hours into. If you pay $35K for it, it will still be cheaper than buying a fixer-upper and putting your own labor and tons of money into for sure

Don

[Sprig1]

Sounds like the boat I bought. Wish I had walked away. But a lot of things you mentioned you don't need. Go boating and have fun. But the boats are 30 years old things where out. Every boat has a to do list no matter how good of shape it's in. I chose to replace all the systems and hopefully fix it right the 1 st time. There are deals out there good luck. It is not a cheap easy hobby we have chosen. A good saying it applies to boating to. When I die I hope my wife doesn't sell all my tools for what I told her I payed for them

[smacksman]

Selling my 1983 Albin 27FC has raised interesting problems. She is ashore in New Orleans at huge expense inside the new flood defence scheme when as it turned out we have just had the quietest Atlantic hurricane season ever. I could have stored her on the North shore for a third of the price but no protection.
Lots of interest and 'tyre kickers' but no money. I even priced for me to deliver her to Michigan - that would have been fun.
Haul out/sea trials - who pays? In the UK the buyer does. In the US it seems to be down to the seller. My A27FC is ashore and in my view the best place for a full survey. Selling agents say I must pay for sea trials and hire a skipper. So the ' tyre kicker' has a days sail and then says no thanks and I have to foot the bill for haul out and chock each time! If she was a $100K boat well maybe, but at under $20K such overheads mount up.
And what do you find from a sea trial on an old displacement boat with 61hp of grunt? She floats - duh! She does 7 to 9 knots - duh! She turns port and starboard - duh!
With the engine cooling inlet hose disconnected and popped in a bucket with a hose filling it you can run the engine for hours if you want though I don't know why. Forward/reverse - good. The only thing lacking is running under load.
I've been asked if there is any rot in the coachroof as A27's are prone to it. I reply that I have no idea and
a) the only way to find out is to dismantle the coachroof/windows which I have no intention of doing
b) it doesn't leak so don't fix it
c) the boat is 32 years old for heavens sake. What do you expect for a cheap old boat!
In my view, her best selling point is that she has just carried me cheaply and safely 1800 miles in 40 days with a few minor maintenece problems that I tackled on the way.
Also, I might add, chatting on the way to owners of $200,000+ cruisers who were admiring the classic lines of my Albin as several men worked away solving problems on their craft.
Oh yes, and another guy I had been meeting along the way at various marinas and anchorages. Chatting at the fuel dock as his pump was registering $1270 and still counting. OK, he got places a lot quicker and she was a lovely cruiser but we still kept meeting up.

[Jay Knoll]

Smack

I sold our sailboat years ago with an "as is/where is" listing. It was up on the hard and I wasn't going to pay for launch/haul. The buyer did run the engine as you described with the broker present, but she didn't splash until we settled and the check was in the bank.

Good luck on the sale. We had similar interest in our boat from skippers on big sportfish on our mini cruise this summer. They probably had more invested in their electronics than we do in our entire boat.

[sail149]

Ron
I think you found a fairly typical 32 year old boat.
It's fairly typical to have a long list like that. But what would stop you have fun on the water?
A breakdown would be the only thing and the engine works and they are very solid engines , if you needed major parts they made millions of these engines and used in vehicle all over the world. It's the marinizing parts that are harder to find.
If your not into doing fix up and repairs then you did the right thing and walk away.
But for a fixer up type , offer $8000.00 and see what happens. The trailer even if it's rusty is a $5000 replacement.
Any back yard mechanic could fix it up with used steel for under $1000.00
They are not really practical regular tow boats but great to have on a trailer at home to avoid storage fees.
Tow vehicle , there are hundreds of testosterone fill 'red necks' out there with huge 4x4 dying to prove they can tow, a few hundred $$ should get you a tow when you need it...... I borrowed a truck when I bought my fixer upper.
For you it sounds like you made the right choice but the Albin 27 fc is a bit of a special boat with the aft cabin not to many other similar out there in any quantity. We all wish they had been made better but then they would have cost more and there would have been very few cheap boats on the used market.
If you like the style try looking at the Modern but rare Albin 30 with aft cabin. They did a great job of eliminating the visible wood so the rot should be less. But they are about $90000.00 used but should hold their resale value so if you could swing one for 10 years and resell for say $70000 you would be way ahead of the game ......but that's a different sort of cost structure.
Warren