1987 Albin 27 FC Owners Manual

[JFOkie]

Hi,

I purchased a 1987 Albin 27 FC in December and I'm looking for an owners manual. Just joined the AOG and think it's a great site! I tried looking in the Publications section, but I guess I'm not allowed access to that area. The boat has a Nissan 78hp engine and I have a manual for that, but would take any information, remarks, comments, etc... that anyone has. Some of the words on switches at the helm are worn and I can't make them out.

Thanks,
John

[Fortunate]

John,

I dont think there is an owners manual for the boat itself, but only for components in the boat. I have an engine manual, transmission manual, head, etc, but nothing for the hull. There are a bunch of publications for the boat, but only sales brochures and magazine advertisements as far as I know.
Kim

[johnmurray]

When I purchased my first Albin (27 Express)11 years ago I was disturbed that there was no manual. (My previous boat had been a Hunter 28 sailboat and it came with a very detailed manual that showed all the electrical and plumbing layouts, fittings, etc.) I called the Albin company and spoke to someone who told me that there was no such thing as a manual and he compared a boat purchase with the puchase of a house and asked me if I received a manual with my last house?
I then wrote a polite letter to the company owner and he responded very positvely and indicated that he would start a project to produce a boat manual to go with every boat.
When I purchased my current boat (30FC) new in 2005 it came with a thick binder of manufacturers' manuals for all its component parts but still there was no manual for the boat itself. I guess the planned Albin boat manual project did not see the light of day before the company discontiued production.
I think that part of the reason is that there is a great deal of variation among Albins, even within the same models built in the same year. Last year I had the opportunity to have a close look at another Albin 30FC built the same year as mine and there were a great many differences...not only different engines and controls but even in the layout of deck hatches.
One of the reasons why this site is so popular is that it provides a forum to acquire information that might otherwise be available in a manual...if there was such a thing!

[Panhdjoe]

This is Albins reputation, Great boats terrible customer service

[AKDW]

I just purchased an 85 27 FC. The info refers to TWO ice boxes. One in in the galley -- how about the other?

[JFOkie]

I don't know of a second ice box, but if you find one let me know!

[imagine30]

When we purchased our 86, the owner mentioned that the space under the seat for the table (the bench seat against the bulkhead for the bunk) could be used as a cooler. It does have a hole in the bottom which I assume drains to the bilge. Have never had occasion to use it so I can't attest to how it works.

[Brad]

I have a 27 FC. Some 27's have one ice box under the bench seat in the forward cabin and the second was sometimes added to the left of the sink with a lid on the counter. Not all had the second ice box near the sink.

[JFOkie]

Brad, thanks for the info. I noticed that there is a drain hole in this compartment, but didn't figure it to be an ice box. My 27 FC has the ice box next to the sink too, much easier to access than the bench seat