BONJOUR A TOUS D'UN FRANCAIS EN AMERIQUE

[champagnardenne]

Bonjour à tous!
I am French, and living now in Florida, since almost one year. In France, I owned a trawler that I sold, because it was not reasonable to take her to America. My boat was rather old, and even if I loved her, I preferred to sell her in France to a good friend of mine.
I am looking for a boat since I arrived. My first contacts were with Tiara, Pursuit, and so on, and I discovered two points really new for me: first the gas engines (in France 99% of the inboard engines are diesel), second, the planing hulls, obliging you to ride WOT, which I really hate! I love to cruise at 8 to 12, quietly, smoothly, I love to have to time to enjoy the sea, the waves... and when I fish, it is not a competition, it is a pleasure!
I dicovered, a couple of weeks ago, the Albin 32-2 commandbridge (or sportfisher), and the 35. I fell for those boats, efficient, beautiful... and I tried to find a good second-handed one.
Started then the adventure with the brokers... Nice photos, nice bla-bla, and at the end of the day, no result.
I do not know how to find a good Albin, I have not the budget to buy a new one... If somebody can help me or at least advice me, it would be great. For example, best years and best models,engines.... and average price!
As told, I live in Florida. In France, before being retired, I was in the Steel production business. Now I am starting a small business to import champagne in US. Nothing huge, but only the wish of remaining active!
And I am sorry for my poor english. I try to do my best, but I have still a lot to learn!
Hope that my message will bother nobody. I needed to writte it, because I really feel alone, I do not trust the brokers anymore, and I do not know what to do. I love the sea, I love the boats, and I would be proud to own a 32 or 35 commanbridge, no more!
Merci pour votre attention.
Jacques

[loubennett]

A good place to start is a search on Yachtworld. Www.yachtworld.com. I did a quick search and found quite a few Albin 32-35's. Several of them were located in Florida. I'm surprised the broker you contacted couldn't find them. Good luck with your search. I'm sure some of our members with those boats can answer your questions.

[champagnardenne]

Thank you, Lou.
I searched with Yachtworld... but it is a very huge difference between the nice photos of Yachtworld... and the truth! At least for the 2 Sportfisher I seen. Reason why I am disappointed. I saw one looking very good in RI, but so far than I am afraid to fly north for nothing.
Thank you once more.
Jacques

[jcollins]

Bienvenue à Albin Owners Group! Un avantage d'être un membre ici, c'est que nous avons d'autres membres dans le Rhode Island. Trouvez votre bateau, consultez notre carte des membres, ou postez un message. Je suis sûr que vous trouverez quelqu'un qui pourrait le vérifier, prendre quelques photos et vous donner une idée de l'état avant de vous déplacer vers le nord.


Welcome to Albin Owners Group! One advantage to being a member here is that we have other members in Rhode Island. Find your boat, check our members map, or post a note. I'm sure you will find someone that could check it out, take some pictures and give you an idea of the condition before you travel north.

[Nancy]

Bienvenue, Jacques! Votre anglais est vraiment très bien - beaucoup mieux que mon français!

Ah, the 32+2 Command Bridge - my dream boat! Judging by the low number on Yachtworld, I'm guessing there weren't many made.

We spent several months last winter looking at boats from New York to North Carolina. I learned to ask the brokers or owners whether the boats looked as good as the photos, and asked whether, if the roles were reversed, they would be disappointed when visiting the boats. I also asked for more and current photos. Using these techniques, we didn't have any bad surprises.

Good luck in your search. You might also keep an eye on boattrader.com.

[champagnardenne]

Thank you so much Nancy. I will do that.
BTW, I see a 32+2 command bridge tomorrow afternoon in St Petersburg FL. Year 1999, asking price $119,900. Name is BANANAS, blue hull.
Does anybody know the boat, or already saw her, or even make an offer?
Have a good night
Jacques

[Jack]

Jacques, bien venue et bon chance. Albin est un tres bon bateau et le Yanmar est magnifique. Il y a http://www.boats.com et beaucoup des autres sites. Cherchez en google et vous n'avez pas de probleme.
Courage,
Jack

[whwells]

Welcome. There is a 35' posted in Flor. The price has come down during the past year. Pictures show it to be on on a lift. It ia a green hull with twins, ac, etc. Try Denison who have the boat listed.
You may also want to contact member Chales Waygood there in Flor. He has a 35te Sportfisher with flybridge. I think he may be lsiting it soon. Now is a good time to contact him.
whwells "Howard"

[champagnardenne]

Bonjour,
A broker called me today to present me an Albin 28 2003, located in Deland, FL.
The add, on Boatrader, presents an ALBIN 28 Tournament Express Flush Deck
The broker on the phone speaks about a 27???
The photos do not correspond to an Flush deck....
The brokers says that the engine has 99 hours.... but the odometer shows more than 400, because somebodt forgot to turn off the key.....
I am really lost now. I am reday to drive 3 hours to see the boat, but I am very anxious!!!!
What would be your advice?
A lot of thanks

Jacques

[skipper]

I would tell the broker to get his information together.
Left the key on? Really?
Even 400 hours on a 2003 may be considered too low. Diesels are meant to run. Not sit. I wouldn't waste 6 hours of my time on mis-information.
I did take a look at that ad. It is a flush deck.

[champagnardenne]

thank you Skipper.
I was very surprised, and asked the broker to give me more info. He was only able to tell me that the owner had several boats, rarely used them, is 86 years old, and bla bla.... You can see the ad on boat trader. thank you for the advice.

[jcollins]

The brokers says that the engine has 99 hours.... but the odometer shows more than 400, because somebodt forgot to turn off the key.....

Perhaps there is a mis-understanding here? Does a Yanmar clock start running when the key is turned on?

[halfmoon]

The boat in Deland is a flush deck. When buying a boat the first decision is which make and model you want. Once that is done you can shop the available boats of that model and get the best fit. Advice? Take your time. The search is too educational to hasten. There is a huge difference between a 28 and a 32+2.

[champagnardenne]

Bonjour,
You are right: the difference seems to be huge. But the problem is that my max budget is $100,000
If I take the forida taxes (6%), the budget to buy the boat is max $95,000.
I think that I have no chance to find a good 32+2 for this price.
For sure, I saw a 1995 one in New Smyrma FL, for $59,500.... but the boat looks really BAD!
For the time bieng, I will drive to the Deland boat with a friend, who is captain, and I will see!
But believe me, my fisrt choice would have been a Command Bridge!
Merci encore etbien cordialement,

Jacques