The beamy cockpit and cabin on Albemarle's brand-new 330XF set a higher standard for trolling machines.
By Gary Caputi
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Specifications
LOA (w/pulpit): 35'0"
Beam: 13'5"
Fuel: 450 GALS.
Water: 52 GALS.
Transom Deadrise: 24 degrees
Base Price: $329,995
Price (as tested): $465,375
Test Power: (2) 425-hp Cummins turbo diesel engines. |
I thought I was looking at the wrong boat. From the dock, I peered down into a big cockpit, one that looked too roomy to belong to a 33-footer. This one was practically shoehorned between the pilings. This much width is usually found on boats in the 36- to 40-foot range. Conventional wisdom says a length-to-beam ratio of 3:1 can hurt ride quality, a theory I'd put to the test later, but one thing was certain—the extra inches were put to good use on the new Albemarle 330XF. When it comes to fish boats, there is no such thing as too much room in the cockpit.
Albemarle has been building strong, no-nonsense trolling machines for almost three decades and the builder has a cult-like following among the serious saltwater crowd. The company's acquisition by the Brunswick Corporation initially worried some loyal fans, but those concerns have been unfounded. With a new parent company, Albemarle has access to the engineers at Hatteras Yachts, a resource that probably had some input on the graceful, soft radiuses of the 330—the sharp edges of the old Albemarle designs are nowhere to be seen on this express model.
Cruising out Ft. Worth Inlet, we ran south in a calm sea toward the Breakers Hotel to troll for sailfish. A 25-gallon live well was keeping the goggle eyes frisky. A lift-top rigging station with fresh water and sink proved ideal for working with baits, hooks and all those pesky rigging components that tend to fly all over the place when the boat is running in rough water. There was also a large bait freezer, plus tackle drawers, leader dispensers and compartments to keep our fishing stuff handy.
While we wouldn't need them for sailfish—catch and release, of course—the boat had two fish boxes, 56 gallons in the transom and 57 gallons in the cockpit. Now, this is an offshore boat and owners are going to have days when the fishing gods reward their efforts with a couple hundred-pound-plus tuna. Neither box appears large enough to hold one of those and sufficient ice to keep it sushi quality. I'd like to see the deck box about twice the size of the current offering. I did like the fresh- and raw-water hose ports and the padded bolster around the cockpit.
| RPM |
KNOTS |
GPH |
DB-A |
| 600 |
4.5 |
1.4 |
77 |
| 900 |
6.6 |
2.0 |
83 |
| 1200 |
8.7 |
4.6 |
89 |
| 1500 |
9.6 |
9.0 |
89 |
| 1800 |
11.2 |
17.0 |
90 |
| 2100 |
16.2 |
22.0 |
92 |
| 2400 |
22.6 |
28.4 |
93 |
| 2700 |
26.9 |
37.0 |
94 |
| 2800 |
27.9 |
42.1 |
94 |
Speeds measured by GPS in the ICW off West Palm Beach, Fla., in light winds and calm seas with four people aboard,3/4 fuel and full water. Fuel consumption measured by SmartCraft gauge system. Sound levels measured at the helm in dB-A.
Albemarle Boats www.ablemarleboats.com |
The fishing was slow, but we managed to hook one sailfish, which the Albemarle had no trouble tracking at the hands of the skipper, who ran it from the beautiful Pipe Welders tower. The 330 spun and backed down with ease right up until the fish threw the hook; so much for the generous fishing gods. The wind picked up from the northwest so we headed offshore to take advantage of the building seas a few miles out. This 330 was equipped with the standard 425-hp Cummins turbo diesels and the boat responded well to the throttles, settling on plane at 2250 rpm. Optimum cruise was 2400 rpm, where the boat made 22.6 knots. The Albemarle is no lightweight and I could feel its heft in the stable ride. There's just no substitute for weight in rough water. The boat was just as happy running beam-to and at drift in four-footers.
The cabin on the 330 looked very roomy. The usable space is achieved with the wide beam that's carried well forward, and with the tall bow, which creates exceptional headroom. There's a galley, a head with sink and shower, an L-shaped settee and a raised double berth that converts to a dining area. The woodwork is first-class.
With the introduction of the new 330, Albemarle has taken its reputation for building functional, midsize fishing boats to a new level. The boat is built as tough as the previous models, but its style is more refined and there's even greater consideration given to passenger comfort and an angler's needs. Nicely done.
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