1998 Albemarle 285 Express for sale in Hampton, Virginia

Originally built for Tred Barta, and fished successfully up and down the East Coast for years. She was the Brochure and Boat Show boat for 1998. Now on her third owner, she was treated to a Major Refit in 2015-2016, including rebuilds on the Volvo Diesel engines, jack shafts and updated/rebuilt Volvo Penta DPE drives with Stainless Steel C-4 counter rotating propellers for each drive. There are less than 2000 hrs of total time on the boat. Owner has moved up to a larger boat. This boat offers tremendous value to the saltwater adventurer.

In 2015-2016 the engines were completely removed for rebuilding with six new pistons, rings and liners for the Port Engine and new rings for the Starboard engine. Heads were removed, disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled. All new gaskets, hoses and belts were installed. Alternators and turbochargers were rebuilt. Water pumps rebuilt. Steering cylinder replaced. New expansion tanks and Faria analog gauge package installed. Engine room to the transom was cleaned, prepped and repainted with Awlgrip. Jack shafts were removed, serviced, cleaned and repainted with all new universal joints installed. Cruise at 26 knots and average over 2 nautical miles per gallon. Top speed 31 knots. 550 mile range. In 2024 both drives were removed and completely rebuilt with new gears, new bearings, new seals. New Starboard aftercooler installed and port side cleaned/tested/reinstalled. The engine room is very clean.

Full four sided curtain helm enclosure installed in 2019, along with new exterior upholstery including coaming pads and helm deck cushions. LeBroc helm chair with two-tone upholstery, flip-up bolster and folding armrests. Port side two person bench seat with aluminum backrest. Stainless steel steering wheel. Faux teak gauge and switch panel. Anchor windlass controls at the helm station. Benett hydraulic trim tabs. Ritchie Powerdamp compass. Twin engine keys switches. Morse twin engine controls for shift/throttle.

Cockpit features a full transom with deep safe cockpit height, transom fishbox with two large hinged openings, hawse pipes for stern lines with stainless steel heavy-duty cleats, under gunwhale horizontal storage, and cockpit coaming pads from 2019. Four flush mounted gunwhale rod holders. Deck plate for mounting a pedestal launcher or small fighting chair. Fresh water and raw water washdown connections. Two large cockpit spreader lights. Rear tower legs act as ladders to the upper station. Four gold anodized rod holders on the tower legs and four gold anodized rocket launchers across the back rail of the tower. Non-skid cockpit floor. Livewell under port side mezzanine seat cushion. Tackle storage beneath port side seat and bulk storage beneath starboard side seat.

Tower control station with two ladders built into the rear tower legs. Double spreader outriggers with tower releases and collapsible back bars. Seat and backrest wide enough for two people. Upper helm station and console with full controls. Buggy top with black canvas (removable). All aluminum in very good condition for the boat's age. Tower is removable for trucking.

Cabin features lockable door, beautiful satin teak cabinetry, and three steps down to the lower cabin floor with storage in two of the steps. Starboard side enclosed head with privacy door containing new Jabsco electric flushing toilet from 2020, fiberglass head unit with molded-in freshwater sink, pull-out shower head, and towel rack. Two upper storage shelves with teak rails and overhead lighting. Operable port light with screen. Starboard side closet for hanging foul weather gear with flat storage space on top. Reading lamps. Upper storage spaces with upholstered faces. Anchor locker with louvered teak door. Overhead deck hatch. Overhead rod storage for six rods. Full V-Berth with seating cushions, storage beneath, and V-Berth filler cushions for sleeping. Port side galley with fiberglass galley module, molded in sink and counter space, hot/cold water sink fixture, louvered teak storage door with shelves. Isotherm DC refrigerator/freezer replaced in 2023. 110 volt AC outlet with GFCI protection. Upper teak storage cabinet unit. Goldstar microwave oven. Main AC/DC breaker panel. Operable port light with screen.

Bottom completed soda blasting of all old paint in winter 2015-2016 with four coats of epoxy barrier coat and two coats of Micron Extra Black. Transom shields removed, soda blasted and repainted. Drives have two coats of epoxy primer then sprayed and rolled with Trilux. New thru hull fittings and rubrail insert from 2016. Boat is hauled every year, cleaned and re-bottom painted as necessary. Props are removed, gear oil changed, shafts greased and props reinstalled at every haulout. Last hauled summer 2024.