32 and 32+2 shopping questions

[TopCat]

Hello everyone, I'm a new member looking at mid to late 90's 32 and 32+2 Command Bridge boats. After browsing Yachtworld and looking at a couple of boats, I'm left with a few questions I hope some of you may be able to help me with:

We like the aft cabin/forward dinette layout. We looked at one boat that had a long bank of drawers to portside in the aft cabin rather than a setee. The broker said this was a custom job on this boat, but maybe he just really wanted to sell us that particular boat. Anyone else seen that aft cabin layout?

I asked about the hull being cored below the waterline and got a lot of blank looks. Next time I'm aboard one, I'll look for a filet around the through hulls, which should be apparent on a cored hull, but does anyone know the deal on this?

I was told the 32+2 model was introduced to add bouyancy in the stern because the older 32 Command Bridge models ran stern heavy. (Of course this was from a broker who wanted to sell me a 32+2)

My diesel guru thinks the Cummins should be preferred over the Cat 3116 or the Yannmar. The broker for a Cummins 370 powered boat says he would expect a 17 knot cruise at about 2.5 mpg. Does that sound about right? Any thoughts on engine choices?

Finally, any thoughts on other things to look for in this vintage? These look like nifty little pocket cruisers, and my decidedly non-expert eye thought the construction looked pretty solid.

Sorry for the raft of questions, and thanks for your insights.

[Tuxedo]

Some answers based on my memory of selling Albins in that timeframe.

The aft bench was standard as I recall. The drawers were either an option or a late model improvement. Don't remember which.

Albins are cored, that vintage with Baltec. Just be sure to have a good survey and then be very careful when drilling holes in the bottom and all will be fine.

The 32+2 was invented because some guy complained about the boat being stern heavy (he carried his dingy on davits), so Albin took his boat back to the factory and added "+2". The designer liked the concept and changed the mold. I had a 32 on order for a customer at the time, and when it came out as a 32+2 we were all quite surprised. The 32+2 is a little faster and in my opinion handles a little better, but I wouldn't make it a deal maker or deal breaker.

You do not want the 3116. Period. Soft blocks in that vintage, reliability problems, recalls, and even if you found a good one, you'd have problems selling it down the road. See Boatdiesel.com for details. The Cummins 315 was the engine of choice till the 370 came out. They are lighter than the Cat, which makes a difference on this boat (see 32+2 discussion - guy complaining had a Cat.) Either would be good. Yanmars weren't offered in the mid 90s. If the engine is newer that the boat, the boat probably had a 3116 in it originally.

17 - 18 knot cruise would be about right. We got 20 out of a new stripped boat before it got weighted down.

They are definitely good cruising boats, and would be a good choice.

[Mariner]

17 knot cruise sounds right, but 2.5mpg? I realize it's a different boat, but our 36' (not that much bigger than a 34'), with the Cat 3126 (the successor to the 3116), getsts more like .7nm/g. I could imagine the smaller, lighter 34' would do better, but not THAT much better.

Anyone who has one, feel free to chime in, though.

[Pitou]

I'm just the little guy with less displacement ....... for what it's worth from a 28TE owner with the Cummins 370 ............

My sweet spot cruise is at 2200 - 2400 RPM depending on seas. These numbers are fully loaded with fuel, water and gear.

At 2200 / 16.5 - 17.5 knots at 8 gph 2.06 - 2.1875 nmpg
At 2400 / 18.5 - 19.5 knots at 10 gph 1.85 - 1.95 nmpg

[TopCat]

Thanks everybody, for the helpful responses.

If I take Pitou's numbers for GPH with the 370 Cummins at 2200 and 2400 rpm, and then look at Bob_Lee's post on the maintainence forum where he reports his 32+2 speeds at 2200 and 2400 RPM with the 370 Cummins, here is what I get:

2400 RPM = 17 kts@10GPH = 1.7 NMPG
2200 RPM = 14.2 kts@8GPH = 1.8NMPG

That sounds pretty good to me! That is about what my 7500 lb, 2x150hp 4 stroke out board powered catamaran gets, going not a whole lot faster (22-25 kts).

I wonder how it would do at displacement speeds of 7-8 knots?

[Paul Hughes]

I can confirm the data at 2200 and 2400 rpm with clean prop. and hull on my 32+2.
This was my first season. I have run about 100 hours. By end September, 2400rpm brought only 14kts, but speed was restored to 17kts after cleaning the barnacles and tube worms off the prop.
I need around 1200 to 1400 rpm to run at around 8kts.
Cummins data shows 1.9gph @ 1200, and 2.7gph @ 1400. I have not run long enough at this speed to verify the numbers, but I believe them because my 2200 and 2400 actual consumptions are in line with Cummins data sheet.
Paul Hughes
Oasis - 32+2

[Veebyes2]

I have one of the last of the old pre 32+2 hulls. It is an early 1996 32 'S' type. Never been able to figure out what the 'S' stands for but it sounds good.

The cabin layout is the same as the later 32+2. With the Cummins 315hp WOT top speed, clean bottom etc. is around the 18kt mark.

Love the boat. Fantastic weekender or cruiser for 2. Guys boat on the outside (nice helm etc.) great ladys boat on the inside (plenty water capacity & big galley).