Aluminium Boat - Alma Blue 341

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dexneverathome

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Hi all,

I’m considering pulling the trigger and buying an Alma Blue 341 aluminium sailboat. There is very little online about them that I can see.

Can anyone point me to decent info not made up by AI!

Any info at all would be appreciated.

TIA
 
As it is a Danish boar from 40 odd years ago and probably built in very small numbers would guess few here have even heard of it, never mind any direct experience. The designer was well knowb abd respected so if thinking of buying as with any old boat it is condition that matters. suggest you engage a surveyor familiar with aluminium construction for advice on whether it is worth buying at the price asked.
 
Hi Tranona,
I’m in the U.K., the boat is in Mexico. I’m wondering if I’m having a mad moment. It ticks a lot of boxes, it’s aluminium, manageable for me single handing, cheap( he admits she needs work).
 
dexneverathome said:
Hi Tranona,
I’m in the U.K., the boat is in Mexico. I’m wondering if I’m having a mad moment. It ticks a lot of boxes, it’s aluminium, manageable for me single handing, cheap( he admits she needs work).
Click to expand...

Run away very fast.....................................
 
Yeah, part of me thinks that.

But, another part of me thinks it’s worth a look. I’ve an engineering background, am quite good at spotting issues.
 
Retired engineer says 'run away very fast'.

I have no idea of the amount of beer tokens that you are willing to spend on a) the boat and b) importing it into the UK, but you will find some good aluminium boats in the UK/EU (even with the issues of bringing it into this universe).
 
dexneverathome said:
Hi Tranona,
I’m in the U.K., the boat is in Mexico. I’m wondering if I’m having a mad moment. It ticks a lot of boxes, it’s aluminium, manageable for me single handing, cheap( he admits she needs work).
Click to expand...
"cheap" says it all. Somebody's abandoned dream. Let it (slowly) rot away there. Any old boat in that situation is to be avoided as they are money pits if you try to actually use them and limited where you can use or sell on as you most likely can't take into the US or Europe so only possible for water gypsies in the Caribbean or Pacific.
 
Unfortunately, aluminium boats are renowned for rapid corrosion unless very great care is taken with them. I recall in about 1991 berthed in Cork, watching a famous aluminium boat named War Baby berth close by. Before all the warps were attached another crew member was hanging anodes over the side. The famous story about dropping a penny into the bilge and it corroding a hole right through the hull is only slightly fabricated, great care is needed with isolating any attachment and retrieving any loose item on the hull.

If you can get someone to carry out a very comprehensive photographic survey inside and out it just might be worth pursuing but be prepared for replacing some hull panels.
 
My background is electrical, so am well aware of the corrosion challenges. Additional anodes may be required on the hull, but hanging them over the side seems a bit pointless, they must be secured to the aluminium to be effective.

I need a week away, so a survey in person may be in order, I might just get lucky, if I don’t, I will have had a week somewhere new.

Back to my original quest…anyone out there with some info….
 
dexneverathome said:
Additional anodes may be required on the hull, but hanging them over the side seems a bit pointless, they must be secured to the aluminium to be effective.
Click to expand...
War Baby, in her day, was one of the world's best known cruising boats, Sparkman and Stephens 61 | YACHT

I think that if the owner thought it worthwhile to use overboard anodes, presumably connected in the approved manner, then it was probably a good idea.
 
dexneverathome said:
My background is electrical, so am well aware of the corrosion challenges. Additional anodes may be required on the hull, but hanging them over the side seems a bit pointless, they must be secured to the aluminium to be effective.

I need a week away, so a survey in person may be in order, I might just get lucky, if I don’t, I will have had a week somewhere new.

Back to my original quest…anyone out there with some info….
Click to expand...

If there were, you would have heard by now.

A week in Mexico to check it out personally is a good idea.

So would be the purchase of a TIG welder should you go ahead..................................... ;)
 
In a sense the hull material is irrelevant. It is a big old cruiser racer from an obscure builder so really only suitable for somebody who wants to spend their life in obscure places fixing it up! Have a nice holiday in Mexico and report back on what you find. Do you have a link to the boat in question?
 
The paintwork looks good exceptionally so for an 83 boat which at that time were notorious for paint adhesion. The inventory alone is close to the $19K so ostensibly not a bad buy. It will obviously cost a bit to import into UK / Europe though. As Tranona says would make a good low cost water gypsy boat.

From what I have gleaned though it's not Ocean rated though but has obviously like many other boats crossed the Atlantic at some time.
 
apparently, displacement is about 5k and the lead keel(quality mark for me) draws 2.2m. If the numbers are correct, she will be amazing into the wind. I can’t imagine that she’s tender.

Where have you gotten the info that she’s not ocean rated?
 
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