28 Albin vs 265 Grady Express vs 28 Boston Whaler Conquest - The Hull Truth

jvsarn · 11-24-2003, 11:40 AM

I'm Looking to move up from my 1988 Grady overnighter to a late model of any of these three, 28 Albin TE, 265 Grady Express or a 28 Boston Whaler Conquest.I fish 90% time but would like to have the ability to cruise on occasion to block island and Montauk. Any of you guys have any experiences or have owned any of them I be interested in your opinions ( both pros and cons)

JVSARN
WHALE TALE

Schmaltz~Herring · 11-24-2003, 12:38 PM

The Grady 265 is similar to my 255 Conquest. I went with the Whaler simply because I felt it was a better product and had more to offer. Don't know about the 28 Conquest, although Whaler has the new 305 as a replacement to the 28 Conquest. The 28 Conquest and the 265 Grady are not in the same class with the Whaler being a larger boat. No comments on the albin. There are many 28' Conquests on the market, so it should be a buyers delight.
Good Luck!

255 Conquest 'under construction'

Doug in Bermuda · 11-24-2003, 12:42 PM

Oh Pulleeese, take the Albin out of the comparison chart. The Albin is diesel. The Albin is far more fuel efficient. The Albin will take much more of a beating if you get caught & have to deal with big sea. The Albin is much heavier. The Albin is slower. Taken care of, the Albin will not depreciate as fast. The other 2 are outboards. Nuff said.

I have a totaly unbiased opinion.

Albin 27 aft cabin owner 1986-1999
Albin 32+2 1999 to date, no plans to sell in near future

Wolakrab · 11-24-2003, 01:43 PM

I own a 2002 Conquest 295; looked at Grady's, and was not impressed with the fit and finish. Also, the dealership did not want to bargain. No comment on the Albin. Overall, I am very pleased with my Whaler. Not the smoothest ride, but the new hull design on the 305 should go far in correcting that.

Schmaltz~Herring · 11-24-2003, 08:01 PM

Is Simpsonville near Beaufort or Hilton Head?

255 Conquest 'under construction'

mronzo · 11-25-2003, 09:40 AM

I just bought a 2000 GW 265 with twin 200 Yam ox-66saltwater series! I think it's a greatboat!
It's wider than the Bw 255,has a bigger cabin(but not as well finished).I didn't get much time to use it as it's the end of the season-
I prefer the Yams over the mercs. I think the BW255 is trailable. I saw a 2003 GW 265 at the boatshow with twin 225 Yam 4's with all GW options (no electronics!) for 125K! Ouch!
I loved the layout though so I searched and found one very lightly used for ALOT less!
Good Luck!

Wolakrab · 11-25-2003, 02:25 PM

Trafficlawyer,
Neither. It's in the western upstate of South Carolina.

parkersc · 11-25-2003, 06:09 PM

JVSARN,
Take a ride on your buddie's boat "Hang Time" buy him several ice cold Coronas, then buy an Albin. If you waste any more time deciding on which boat to buy, I will rip the other mirror off your Tahoe.

tully_mars · 11-25-2003, 08:34 PM

Quality of the Albin is sub par around the hull. They use foam core hulls (not bad) but don't install thru hull fittings correctly. For one, they do not use any type of solid epoxy/resin plate in the hull for the factory installed thru hull transducers (fish finders). The local Albin dealer here in Mobile, AL is always having to cut out a 12" section in the bilge and fill it with resin to keep the foam from soaking up water.

The other day I was at the marina and they were holding a 28' Albin on the lift and water was running out of the rudder shaft mount (had been for 3 hours). Aparently the seal around the rudder shaft was not done very well and the boat had soaked up a ton of water. Literally. The owner came in complaining the boat used to cruise at 24mph but had dropped to 18mph, when they hauled it out to inspect the water never stopped draining off of the rudder.

Get a Whaler or a Grady with 4-stroke OBs. Though they are Outboard they will get you there quickly and not burn a ton of gas. These are real fishing machines.

TM

Birdman · 11-25-2003, 09:32 PM

The Grady is a rippoff $$ wise nowadays, the Whaler is built well but the layout is a mess.

Do yourself a favor and take a look at the Scout Abaco 280. There's a dealer in Port Jefferson(not too far from you). Better layout, better ride, faster, longer range.

Birdman, Capt of

Scout Abaco 280 Click here!

mronzo · 11-25-2003, 10:31 PM

Hey Bird!
I gotta tell you the 280 IS a great setup!
Let's swap demo rides (fishing trips!) come spring!

Capt. John · 11-26-2003, 04:46 PM

Forget about the Scout. Spend a little more $$ and get a great boat.

Do yourself a favor and stick to Grady or Whaler. Better quality, better resale

Offshore 20

bobb · 11-26-2003, 05:12 PM

Forget the Scout? No doubt the Scout is the best built and best riding of the bunch, with the possible exception of the Albin.

jvsarn · 11-26-2003, 07:46 PM

Guys, thanks for all your input.It all helps. I love the Albins looks, economy and the layout is what it would be if I designed it myself.However I do have reservations about the fit and finish and the cored hull.The Grady Express looks great, would be great for my fishing but is lacking in the cabin amenities for cruising with my two boys and I'm afraid fuel will eat me out of house and home. The BW gives you the most for your money and fit and finish is excellent a little to euro styled for me and I prefer Yamaha engines. That Abaco looks great have to take a closer look.

PARKERSC I gladly bring the Coronas If you bring a Tahoe mirror with you when I haul the boat!! Dec.15

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

WHALE TALE

gw204 · 11-26-2003, 07:56 PM

How about a Luhrs 250 Open?

Brian
1985 Grady White 204 Center Console
http://w3.mivlmd.cablespeed.com/~brianm/

kahunaoftuna · 11-26-2003, 10:09 PM

I picked up a used albin 1999 27 5 with a 300 Yanmar Diesel

Your comparision does not make sense, how can you compare twin outboards to a single diesel.

My boat burns 8-10 gph at 21 knots. What I like the most about the package is that I run 21 knots in 20 knots headwind, with 6 people on the boat or with full tanks. The engine is great.

As far as fit and finish, it is OK, they could have done a better job where the hull meets the upper superstructure and it does have some stress cracks in the gel coat but I have not had any problems and once I went diesel It will be hard to go back to gas.

27"6" Albin

jvsarn · 11-27-2003, 09:10 AM

kahunaoftuna: I realize the comparision of the powerplants is like apples and oranges. These are simply the three boats I like the most in the 25-30'range. All with pros and cons, and compromises to be made. Albin has always been my first choice, although now tully mars post makes me nervous.
You say your boat does 21 Knots is that cruise or WOT?
Also do you know anything about the Penn diesel common to the older Albins. My local Albin dealer says they have had problems with them and the Yanmars are much better...but he may be trying to steer me to a new one .

THANKS FOR YOUR INSIGHT

WHALE TALE

The Classic · 11-27-2003, 09:43 AM

OK what about Scout 28 vs Carolina Classic 28 without a tower.

bellsisland · 11-27-2003, 10:03 AM

Before I went Grady or Whaler, I would look hard at the Albermarle 285 express. And if you could do it the 305 express.

Dean

Doug in Bermuda · 11-27-2003, 02:16 PM

Don't know about the reliability of the Penninsular diesels but the older 28' have that engine box sticking up in the middle, the newer ones are flush deck. Two ways of looking at the box. It is either a nuisance that you trip over or it makes for a very handy place to put a tackle box while fishing & a place to sit while cruising. I have never been a big fan of the 28 but given the choice between the Albin & even such a reputable boat as the Whaler I'll take the diesel.