New Member

[Sundog16]

Recently joined the site. Home base is Bay Point Marina in Panama City Beach, Fla.
Am looking at a Albin 40' single engine (bow thruster) under 2,000 hours with some solar panels. Exterior teak does need some work. Recently painted. This is will be my first Trawler.
I became interested in them after reading "Once Is Not Enough".

Any suggestions on what I should look for before making an offer and hiring a surveyor for the boat and engine. Also is there any way to tell if the fuel tanks have been cleaned. Can't ask the owner , as he passed away
Thanks

[DesertAlbin736]

Welcome aboard!

Exterior teak does need some work.

It always does on a more or less regular basis, especially in a semi-tropical environment like Panama City. I'm in favor of the varnish-over-epoxy method of finishing myself.

These videos tell the story

Part 1, the epoxy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqiXZrs5hvM

Part 2, the varnish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNLQRRDaitE

I used that method on my hand rails, and on the teak hatches I built for the custom made hard top I built for the roof over the wheel house on my Albin 25, which I also keep covered with Sunbrella covers, as well as the stub mast as seen in the center foreground of the photo. Going on three years in the blazing Arizona sun they still look great, mostly because I keep them covered.

DSCN2057.JPG

As for things to watch for, here's an informative BoatUS review of the A36 trawler, which likely holds true for the A40 as well.

http://www.boatus.com/boatreviews/power/Albin36.asp

The money quote as applies here if the following.

While all this exterior teak joinery looks great, it creates the potential for leaks at every joint which, if not continually maintained, are likely to go undetected. Purchasers should look closely for water stains below windows, at the tops and edges of bulkheads, around deck hatches and in corners that can be telltale signs of hidden damage.

And of course, on any boat of this size & whatever age the one you're looking at is, a professional survey is money well spent.

By the way, my wife and I were in Panama City last October visiting my elderly aunt & went down to PC Beach for a swim & some beach combing. Let me know if you ever need crew.

20170929_190817.jpg

[Sundog16]

Thanks for the info