Albin Vega 27 Yacht

I had a return trip to Whelpton Yacht Services at Upton Dyke today. I was carrying out a Pre-Purchase Survey on this Swedish built Albin 27. The Albin Vega was designed by Per Brohall in 1964, for Larrson Trade AB, builders of Albin marine petrol engines, who were looking for a way to increase sales of their engines. A wooden prototype was built in 1965 and extensively sea-trialled, and from this prototype the moulds were made for the Albin Vega. The company soon became Albin Marine, and concentrated on boat building, by 1971 replacing their own Albin engines with Volvo Penta diesels in the by then very popular Vega. Nearly three and a half thousand Vegas were built, until production stopped in 1979, and they have a remarkable reputation for seaworthiness. At least three have circumnavigated, and one has even explored Antarctica.

Hardy Seawings 277

I was back in Brundall today Surveying this Hardy Motor Cruiser for Pre-purchase. These boats are built locally about 3 miles from my home.

Hardy Marine has now delivered well over 4,000 boats worldwide and the build quality and owner support shows in the resale values when owners decide to change.

It all started in 1976 with John Hardy building small motor sailers designed by Colin Mudie in North Walsham. In 1977 a new site, also in North Walsham, was purchased and a purpose-built factory was constructed and in 1982 extended to its current size and layout.

The early and mid 1980’s was a particularly busy time for the company and in the late 1980’s Andrew Wolstenholme designed the Seawings range of sports cruisers to augment the smaller cruiser and fishing boat designs.

The guys at Broadland Boat Centre lifting her out for Survey

All the recent Hardy boats have been designed by Andrew Wolstenholme who is arguably
one of the best in the business in the UK and involved with many boat designs built here on the Norfolk Broads.