Albemarle 410 Convertible 2009

Source: Capt. Dave Lear, Motorboating Magazine

North Carolina has a long and colorful history of sporting traditions like duck hunting, fierce college basketball rivalries and stock car racing. But two more—hard-core sportfishing and homegrown boat building—are equally popular. I was reminded of this fact while standing on the flybridge of the Albemarle 410 Convertible last March off Palm Beach, Florida. Next to me, on the boat’s maiden fishing trip, were company president Scotty Harrell and his father, Albemarle founder Scott Harrell Sr. As we watched our kite baits splash on the surface in “Sailfish Alley,” I asked the younger Harrell why he decided to add the convertible to the lineup.

“Albemarles are first and foremost fishing boats, and the same holds true for this one. But we wanted to include a few more creature comforts without sacrificing fishability for the person who wants a boat instead of a beach condo,” he said. “The bridge gives it a big boat feel, and there is enough room overall for a large party to spread out while fishing.”

I certainly couldn’t argue with that last statement. Between stints on the bridge I had a chance to check out the cockpit and cabin, and even with eight people on board, there was more than enough room to move about without bumping elbows. In keeping with the company’s luxury approach, the main cabin and salon are tastefully appointed without sacrificing practicality. Cherry cabinetry accents the entertainment center and settee (which converts to a double berth). Carpet covers the sole throughout, except for the customary teak-and-holly sole in the galley. A master stateroom forward, smaller stateroom to port and enclosed starboard head with separate shower stall enhance the 410’s liveaboard possibilities. Interior options include teak-and- holly flooring throughout the cabin, an LCD flat-screen TV in the master stateroom and a premium entertainment package, among others.

From the salon bulkhead aft to the stern, the convertible remains the same as the company’s four-year-old 410 Express. The expansive cockpit has an aluminum plate laminated into the deck to mount a fighting chair, just forward of the 57-gallon insulated and macerated fish box. The second 56-gallon fish box with split lids in the transom is ideal for bleeding tuna before icing them down. During our outing, the 22-gallon live well in the starboard corner kept several dozen delicate baits swimming happily all day long. In the opposite corner of the cockpit, next to the bridge ladder, is the combination tackle/bait-prep center with sink and icebox. Our test boat was outfitted with the optional freezer in this spot, along with the Rupp Double Box Spreader outriggers ($5,995) and upholstered coaming pads ($1,895). Four flush-mounted rod holders are standard, along with washdown systems.

Engine spaces are compact, yet serviceable. A white gel coat finish helps illuminate the compartment. Albemarle uses many quality mechanical components, including stainless steel rudders and shafts, dripless shaft seals, bronze seacocks on all through-hulls below the waterline and Glendinning engine synchronizers. Other features, like an automatic Halon fire protection system, hydraulic steering, high-water alarm and freshwater-cooled diesel generator, are standard.

When Scotty took a break and went below, I manned the wheel at the bridge. The aft overhang didn’t restrict visibility, but it did provide shade for those in the cockpit. The helm is an ergonomic “Palm Beach-style” pod design. I especially liked the retractable angled mounts to starboard—a quick sideways glance was all it took to reaffirm our depth reading on the sounder.

It didn’t take long for me to realize the 410 is an overbuilt battlewagon, much like its peer, the Cabo 40 Convertible. The Albemarle hull is constructed with hand-laid fiberglass, vinylester resin and premium gel coat; coring is used in the hull sides. The Donald Blount hull design incorporates a sharp bow entry and a 22.6-degree deadrise amidships that transitions to 15 degrees at the transom. The seaworthiness of that deep-V, combined with the rugged construction, means the 410 can handle most anything you would likely encounter offshore.

Our test boat was powered by a pair of Caterpillar C12 diesels turning 700 hp apiece. They produced very little smoke and were relatively quiet. The 410 cruises effortlessly at 31 knots and makes a top speed of 35.6 knots. The ride was solid and smooth, even when the afternoon breeze kicked up out of the west and chopped the ocean into confused three-footers. Of course, that’s nothing for a boat with a lineage derived from the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The 410 left an extremely clean wake and spun like a top for a boat of its size.

Scotty expects to build six 410 Convertibles annually once production gets fully under way later this year. Many of Albemarle’s customers come out of outboard-powered fishboats. According to Burch Perry, the company vice president for marketing, most buyers own an Albemarle for four or five years, then trade it in or sell it to buy a new one. The brand’s durability keeps resale values high. “That’s one of our biggest problems,” Scotty says modestly. “We build ’em too good, and the boats last too long. People start putting new iron (engines) in them, and they just don’t go away.”

In a strategic move to keep customers within the family, Albemarle Boats was purchased by the Brunswick Corporation in early March. Albemarle will join Hatteras Yachts to form an offshore boat group under the Brunswick corporate umbrella. Albemarle’s management team, including Scotty, will remain in place in Edenton, N.C., and the two staffs will work closely to strengthen and build the group’s offshore sportfishing business.

We didn’t get many sailfish bites during our trip; only one took a swipe at our baits. A couple of red grouper plucked off the reef did chase the skunk off the boat, however. No matter. I have no doubts there will be a bunch of sails and other gamefish coming to the back of Albemarle 410 transoms. After all, it’s a North Carolina sporting tradition