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Random Quote: ...it's good enough for who it's for!-r.pfleager
My friend has a 28' Carolina Classic with twin Volvo Diesels, jack shafts and Volvo I/O drives. Prior to owning this boat, he owned a 28' Carolina Classic with twin Volvo 7.4 Gas V8's, jack shafts and Volvo I/O drives. Both boats were of a VERY HIGH quality and the ride is great. ----Greg
I own a Carolina Classic 25 with a Volvo KAMD43 Diesel. This is the second 25 I have owned. The first being a gas boat. Before I bought my first I looked at earlier 26 Albe and it was a very tempermental ride. I understand that Albe has reworked the hull of the 26 this year to make it a better handling boat. Albemarle and Carolina Classic both build high quality heavy duty boats. The 25 I have now is a little slow with a 24 knot cruise, but with a 9 gph cruise I can tolerate the slower cruise. It is a very comfortable boat, but rocks a little on a drift. I say ride both, determine which dealer you like best and buy the boat you feel the most comfortable with. Both are great boats, but I can't recommend one of the older Albe 26 hulls. Ride it and you will understand.
Hi;
New to the board.
I looked at both the Carolina and Albe at the NY boat show. I must say I haven't been in either boat so take this with a grain of salt.
My observations were this. I like Albemarle cabin configuration, stand up head was the seller for me as a dual purpose boat. Also the freeboard on the Carolina was a bit shorter than the Albe. I run a boat now with shallow freeboard and I have to say, I'm glad to have noone overboard last year. I fish the great lakes and it gets rough. Catch and release has lowered the gunnels but I still like the extra safety and comfort of the tall boats.
I'm now in the market for a used Albe. but just starting my search. I'd be interested to hear when they changed hull designs and the pitfalls of the older design.
Mike
I own a 25 CC with the volvo 8.1. The boat is a tank with a cruise speed of 28-30 knots. I have been on the older 26 Albe many times and it is very unstable at rest and will role much more than the CC. The newer 26 has less deadrise so it should be more stable.
My boat is for sale because I want to move up to the new 32 CC.
Mike--The primary change in the Albe 26 was going from 24 degrees deadrise to 20 or 21. The Albe had an great ride in a headsea, but was a bit tippy on the drift. Some say the ride makes up for it. The newly designed 2004 hull has less deadrise so it is more stable, not sure how the ride was effected, but surely it is still very solid.
I guess the early 90's version is what you guys would consider a little unstable in drift. I guess I need to find one for sea trial and give it a shot. I run into a logistical problem here in Central NY, I'm looking at primarily offshore boats for use in the great lakes and there simply isn't many around. No dealers, etc. It's tough shopping.
Mike,
If you are interested in the Carolina Classics make sure you contact South Shore Marine in Huron Ohio if you haven't. They have a couple used 28s in stock now that have been freshwater boats only. 419 433 5798 is their number. Talk to Tom Mack, Trey Hardy, or Steve Noftz. Website below.
I assume you are looking at the CC 25 in comparision to the 268 albe. I shopped both of these boats for a few years when looking to upgrade from my Grady, and wound up buying the 28 CC, which is an awesome boat.
The CC 25 and the Albe 268 are 2 different boats, and if I was looking for a single engine trailerable I probalby would have gotten the Albe.
As it was, when it came time to write the check, I just could not see myself going back to a single engine after having twins, and thus got the CC 28.
If you are still shopping in the spring and are considering a biger boat, come on up to Wilson harbor and I'll take you for a ride.
BTW, the CC dealer for the Great Lakes is South Shore Marine in Huron, OH. I can not say enough about how well they treated (and continue to treat) me as a customer.
Thanks so much for the offer. I actually will be trailering so 10 to 12K would be my max. This makes the Alb. look better. I was comparing to the 25CC. The 28CC was one of the nicest sportfishing boats I've ever been in but like I said, its not going on the back of my truck! I'm worried about buying from a dealer that's not in my area, this turned me off of the new Alb. L.I. is the closest place and I can see warranty nightmares there.
I'd like to go with twins myself, but I find myself trading off lots of stuff so I can trailer. I'm not into walk arounds much. Don't see the need to walk around my boat.
Thanks for the help.
Mike
yep, I'll be there on Wed. afternoon until sunday. Got a slip a Beccue or Shipshape I think its called now. Actually, not much other reasons to take my center console out to the middle of Lake Ontario in April except to fish. Kind of Cold.
Mike
I think the cabin turned my head the most. The cockpit layout was great for great lakes trolling. Nothing but space. No extra chairs and stuff that aren't needed. I like the transom layout for downrigger fishing. It's more convenient than the downsloping gunnels on many sportfisherman. But like I said, never been on one except on a gym floor. Rode great though!
>> I'm looking at primarily offshore boats for use in the great lakes and there simply isn't many around. No dealers, etc. It's tough shopping. <<
Check out Horman Marine in Port Clinton, Ohio -- an Albemarle dealer. Right now he has two 268 Express fishermen in the indoor showroom -- a hardtop with all the options, and a soft top with few. Mine is the hardtop and you're welcome to walk around it. Call Todd Horman (419) 732-6898 and tell him I sent you.
Over the last five years I test drove both the 25cc and the older Albe 265s and a couple of new 268s starting with hull #1 in 2001. My wife liked the head, galley, seating, and over all finish of the 268. The stand-up head and 70" headroom sold us both over the 25cc. Both boats are extremely well built and you can "customize" your order like I did.
I've been in 10-footers off Bogue inlet North Carolina in all those boats and I think the 268 rides the best by far. I've been in both factories in Edenton and was impressed by the people and the processes at both facilities. I watched my 268 being built and had a couple of factory test drives in nasty chop in the Albemarle Sound -- it was just like Lake Ontario on a snotty day! Call and talk to Burch Perry at the Albemarle plant to arrange a visit.
I will be trailering the new Katydid Too all around the Gt. Lakes but I'll have a berth in Port Credit as home. You're welcome to come for a ride when I get it here, equipped and running ready for salmonids this spring. My price was just under $100,000.00 (US) so it's not cheap. But I got all the toys on mine 'cause I'm only going 'round one time! (g)
I have the older tender 268 Albe. I think it's great! I bought barely used off the internet and saved some money. If you want to go fishing let me know.
Be careful of Albamarle 26 prior to '03. They snap roll. Had a '01, purchased new. One of the trips through Oregon Inlet made me come home and sell it. Had other times when the wind was abeam and was walking on the gunnels. Purchased a 26 Regulator. The newer Albamarles' have changed the hull design and hopefully are better.
Ian;
Thanks for the info. I'm a little nervous about buying from a dealer so far away. I'm in upstate NY and the closest dealer is LI. Warranty is a big issue when they are that far away. Like Port Clinton OH. I've been promised warranty will be by local mechanics but that seems reel risky. For $100K I'd like to buy a boat from someone more local, however there is none. If I shop for a good dealer locally, I need to look at a different manufacterer. I do like the 268 though. Its tough.
Mike
Caralina Classic Vs. Albemarle 268 
