Albin Factory Shutdown - Part Two

Post by **RicM** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:05 pm

Doug:

All good points. Which boats are the biggest competition for the TE series? Do you have ideas for features that the current line lacks? What aspects of the manufacture seem inefficient? The reason I ask is I've started another thread "If you were in charge" in the general discussion area to basically speculate on what a "new" Albin company should look like and I would like to hear the dealers perspective on this.

Albinflorida · Post by **Albinflorida** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 5:59 pm

Robert,
I'm not sure which panels you are talking about. If they are cast fiberglass panels, Albin probably made them, but any good glass shop / boat builder could reproduce them or repair them. A client of mine is having a bow pulpit constructed now by a fiberglass repairman. If they are specialty parts, have your dealer call Ed, he's in the book.

Ric,
The biggest competitor we have found is the Back Cove 29 and the new 33. The 33 is actually less money than the 35TE. Mainship, here in Florida, has made a lot of inroads and is also making a better product and are re-tooling the 30, top to bottom. There are others. The plant inefficiency relates to too many man hours to build a boat, adding cost. This has to do with plant equipment, tooling and supervision. The emphasis in these types of boats seems to have shifted to smaller cockpits and larger pilothouse and below decks accomodations. The lack of frills down below has also made other, but more expensive, boats more attractive. Albin had somewhat addressed that concern, with a new 35CB interior, before they shut down. The fit and finish had not kept up with the rise in pricing also. It's a great boat, but I am afraid we will not see the Albin name again as a new boat.

Post by **RicM** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:42 am

Doug:

Thanks again for your perspective. When I was boat shopping I looked seriously at the Back Cove 29 but rejected it for a couple of reasons. My budget was 100K, and there were no BC29's at that price (though I ended up spending 115K for an 03 28TE). The other issues were the open prop, as there are forests of lobster pots in Narragansett Bay. If you run at night or early AM you will run over one eventually. The appointments in the BC29 were certainly nicer and have more boat show appeal, but my wife & I are both avid fisherpersons, and the Back Cove was just too nice to fish! All the fabric seats and little folding tables looked like a disaster waiting to happen to me. I am realizing that we are not the typical 55 year old couple. When you get into the 175-200K price range you are probably talking to people in my age group and they are probably looking more for a cruiser-entertain the family-weekender than a fishing boat with nice accomodations. I wanted a large open cockpit, protection for 2 in the pilot house and living space for 2 for a weekend on Block Island or the Cape. The Newport Edition always looked to me to be waste of a good fishing boat! Perhaps Albin should not have chased the up market, and stayed with what they were known for, quality, thrifty, versatile boats that can be fished and cruised.

Post by **RobS** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:11 pm

Ric,
I couldn't agree with you more!

Post by **Donya** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:52 am

Ric,

Ditto from another 55 year old couple.

Post by **RicM** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:08 am

I have posted elsewhere that an Albin TE is not going to be the first boat most people buy, but is often the last, at least for a long time. When I had my 25' walkaround it took me the whole first month of the season to get back in boating shape (and I work out 5 days a week). My back would kill me and I'd feel like I'd been beaten with a hose the day after the first long day on the water. The 28TE is not as fast, but rides a whole lot better and after 50 you really notice that in the back, legs, and knees! Speed seems less important.

jcollins · Post by **jcollins** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:18 am

Donya wrote:Ric,

Ditto from another 55 year old couple.

Wow! You guys are that old?

Seriously, I am in the same "boat". I haven't owned that many other boats but this will quite possibly be my last. The only exception would be to move up to the 35 CB.
When I was seriously looking at bridge boats I saw one at the Annpolis show. It was the only bridge boat that made sense for me. It doesn't have that top heavy feel and you don't feel separated from the rest of your crew.
Of course, sometimes you want to be separated.

OTOH, it was very nice sitting up high on Mike's boat at the last get together.

I was looking for a picture to attach but I just remembered. I broke my camera that day!

Post by **Donya** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:54 am

John wrote:

Wow! You guys are that old?

That young.........!!

jcollins · Post by **jcollins** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:07 pm

Topic Split into two parts. Keep it going.

Shark · Post by **Shark** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:19 pm

I am well aware of the factory shutdown, have read all of the threads and have spoken extensively to Albin dealers (I was in the process of purchasing a 28 when everything started to fall apart). However, the webiste has remained up all this time with the exception of today...perhaps I'm just experiencing "technical difficulties" but I think the plug was finally pulled on the website as well.

Post by **RicM** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 6:26 pm

Just checked it from here and it's still up.

Post by **Pitou** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:21 pm

I attended the NE Boat Show yesterday and peeked into a few booths for accesssories. As the coversation usually goes, "what do you have for a boat" When I said "Albin" a couple of people growled

and said "man we got scr.....ed, they're all done" and then it took a while for them to lighten up and get on track with "me" the customer who will be ordering some product. A company closing down is stressful for the company and those they affect.

The dealer with the 26CC on display owns 2 and a 28 and says he'll warranty the hull for 1 year himself as Albin did / not much choice and that all of the parts are mainly warranteed by the manufacturers, motors, pumps, thrusters, etc.. He was not a happy camper, being a relatively new dealer and felt they must have known when he was taking his 1st and pretty much only delivery. He is hopeful for a bankruptcy reorganization , but doubtful to happen so he said.

I love my boat and what it provides even if Albin does not come back, but I hope they do. Just as there are Cape Dory followers and their values have held without a new hull since 1988, IMHO there will always be a cult of Albiniers, just look at us

and those Yahoo guys in there 25's and 27's

.

Post by **RicM** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:14 pm

Again, there are at least 2 groups circling Albin at the moment. I think it's unlikely that the Albin name is dead & buried. I'm sure it stinks for the dealers that were left holding inventory, and remember that all these dealers are under a great deal of financial stress even without the issues with Albin.
A good boat is a good boat, and an efficient, thrifty design like the TE series will always have a market. I'd be more concerned if I owned a 28' with 2 225 hp outboards on the back that burn 36 gal/hr. That would be a tough sell next season should you need to bail out!

jcollins · Post by **jcollins** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:59 pm

Just out of curiosity...what kind of money do you think it would take to purchase Albin?

Post by **RicM** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:07 pm

I don't think it would be the purchase price that would be the bar to entry. It would be how much money you could afford to pump into it to streamline production, market effectively, and regain the faith of the dealer network that would be the big ticket.

Albin Owners Group

Albin Owners Group

Albin Factory Shutdown - Part Two

Good Points

Back Cove

Grown up boat

Albin Website Gone?

Albin Website

Don't Worry, be Happy

purchasing Albin