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This guide is to help owners of Albacores identify the builder, age and sail number of Albacores. As created, this resource focused on Albacores built and sailed in North America, UK built boats are also identified where significant numbers have been imported to North America. In time, this resource can be extended to include many UK builders as data is developed. Rules require that the sail number of all Albacores be engraved in keel aft of centerboard case or in transom in letters at least 1 inch high. This rule did not go into effect until about 1968- boat # 2000. Boats built prior to this date may not have this identification on the hull. There are some boats built later than this point that did not comply with this rule. If a 3 or 4 digit number as described above is found in a boat, it is most likely the sail/hull number for that boat. If such a number is not found, then other means must be used to identify the boat. Prior to boat #2000 there may be some duplication of numbers as several builders in different countries started their own numbering sequence. Boat numbers higher than 2000 should be unique regardless of country of manufacture or use. The following are descriptions for each builder and give approximate dates and ranges for sail numbers they produced. Numbers on sails with a boat are also a good indication of the boat number, but as sails are frequently lost or purchased second hand, this is a less reliable method of identifying a boat. If you have a boat that is not pictured here, please photograph it (view of cockpit from the stern is most helpful) and send photos to webmaster@albacore.org. We will try to identify the boat and add it to the listing. Information sources for this document include: CAA Measurement Records, notes by George W Roth, Mar '04 USAA Boat Registry 1990 Canadian Albacore Handbook Various USAA and CAA Yearbooks Various articles and histories appearing in class newsletters: -USAA-Albacourier, -NAA- Alive and -CAA- Shackles and Cringles Personal recollections from various class members Original compilation by Peter Duncan, 2004 Once you have identified your Albacore, you can add it to the class registry by clicking on the following link: Register my Albacore. Early Albacores Fairey Marine Mk1 Boat #Range: 1-700 Date 1954-1964? The original Albacores. Hot molded construction- 3 ply mahogany hulls (there are a reports of a few experimental boats made with 2 ply and 4 ply construction). Outer ply diagonal to waterline. Stern deck extends 20 inches forward of transom. Fitted with rotating masts- aluminum with Sitka spruce tapered tip. Full width centerboard slots originally fit with steel centerboard (˜ 60 lbs).  Fairey Marine Mk 1 Albacore #86- under restoration in 2001 About 75 boats shipped to North America. Original shipment to Hyannisport, MA in 1957: #260-275. A few older boats were also shipped to Toronto, Canada for use in the junior training program at RCYC. Hull/Sail numbers can be identified on brass plates affixed to carlin under stern deck or on centerboard case. Mk 1 boats also had a production serial number (about 1/2 inch in height) embossed on the inside of the transom. This number does NOT correspond to the sail number assigned to the boat, but Peter Duncan does have a list that can be used to identify the sail number if the production number is know.  Fairey Marine Mk 1 Interior view Albacore #86 In original form these boats had open bench seats. Air bags were secured under seats for additional buoyancy to aid in self-rescue. In the UK many of these boats were sold as kits for owners to finish to their preferences (#652) is an example of a kit boat. This resulted in considerable variation in the fit out details. In addition many of these older Faireys have been modernized with new decks, sealed tank seats, wood centerboards of near full thickness and aerofoil section, and all aluminum rigs. 
From early advertisement. Mk 2 Boat #Range: 700-1700? Date 1964-1969 Hot molded construction- 3 ply mahogany. Outer ply parallel to waterline. . Cockpit built with open bench seats These boats were built on a second set of molds that were built to replace the original molds destroyed in a fire at Fairey Marine in the1960's. Other than the change in the planning orientation, these boats were very similar to Mk 1 boats. Canadian builder McGruer and Clark (see below) imported partially complete hulls carrying sail number 700-716 from England. These boats, except for #716, were fit out with narrow (1/2 inch) centerboard trunks (for metal centerboards), had four (rather than 2) external bilge keels and no internal floorboards. A layer of fiberglass was laminated on the entire inside of the hull. Most of these boats were delivered to Muskoka, Ontario and few have survived as the fiberglass tended to trap moisture in the hull plys and accelerate dry rot. (Note there are also fiberglass boats built by Grampion and Whitby that with numbers that duplicate those built by Fairey Marine). 
Fairey Marine #1458 as fit out by Weathermark in UK Whitby Boat Works Mk1 Boat #Range: 1-333 Date 1961-1965 Fiberglass laminate construction. Stern deck extends 16 inches forward of transom. Wood splash rail on bow deck with triangular wood block at center joint. Fitted with non-tapered masts. Narrow width centerboard trunk (3/8" wide). Originally fitted with steel centerboard (˜ 60 lb). Some boats may have been retrofit (or possibly original) with aluminum centerboards. Wire centerboard pennant lead to a shaft with 10" diameter drum for mechanical advantage. No bow tank. Seat/side tank combination constructed in fiberglass. Metal hoop traveler- 14 inches wide mounted on transom. Standard rig was an untapered aluminum mast and boom. Mk 2 Boat #Range: 2000-4000 Date 1967-1972 Fiberglass laminate construction. Stern deck extends 16 inches forward of transom. Fiberglass splash rail on bow deck. Fitted with non-tapered masts. Full width centerboard trunk (1" wide). Originally fitted with aluminum centerboard (˜20 lb). Wire centerboard pennant lead to a shaft with 10" diameter drum for mechanical advantage. Many boats retrofit with home made wood centerboards. 
Whitby #3626 These boats were built with wood thwarts and centerboard cases as shown in photo below. Seat tanks extend from bow deck to stern deck (not full length). 
Whitby #3626 - interior view Grampion Marine Mk1 Boat #Range: 710-835 Date 1964-1967 Fiberglass laminate construction. No stern deck. High crowned transom with sliding track traveler on top. Teak splash rail on bow deck with small wood web at centerline joint. Fitted with non-tapered aluminum masts. Full width centerboard trunk (1" wide). Originally fitted with aluminum centerboard (˜ 20 lb) with plywood cheek plates. Rope centerboard pennant. Many boats retrofit with home made wood centerboards. Bench seats made from teak with air bag floatation. Two large blocks of Styrofoam floatation installed under bow deck. Centerboard cap and thwart made from teak. A 2 x 3" aluminum builder plate with boat number stamped in is installed on aft part of centerboard cap. These plates are frequently lost or corroded to point of being illegible on older boats. Many early boats had large forged bow eye on bow stem until these were banned in the class rules. Mk 2 Boat #Range: 2000-4999 Date 1967-1972 Similar deck and hull to Mk 1, but seats in Mk 2 are constructed in fiberglass laminate and form floatation tanks, Bow has a full bulkhead with large circular cut out just ahead of the mast. Teak centerboard cap, thwart and splash rail. 
Grampion Mk 2- number unknown. In rough condition. Thwart missing. McGruer and Clark Mk1 Boat #Range: 2700-4699 Date 1967-1975 Fiberglass laminate construction. No stern deck. High crowned transom with sliding track traveler on top. Fitted with non-tapered masts. Full width centerboard trunk (1" wide). Some boats have slotted side decks with shelf below for jib fairlead track and cleats. Centerboards were built from composite layup of 1 x 1" strips of spruce (light) and mahogany (dark). Rudders the same. Most rudders kick-up, with swept back, trapezoidal profile in Tufnol head. 
McGruer and Clark Albacore #4204 
McGruer and Clark Albacore #4204 
McGruer and Clark Albacore #4204 Gulf-Atlantic Marine (Charlie Dore) Boat #Range: 3500-3547 1969-1970 Anyone with owning one of these boats, please provide a photograph to webmaster@albacore.org Fiberglass Albacores from 1970's to Present Sailing Dynamics (Sindle) Boat #Range: 3543-3565, 4711-4716, Dates: 1970-1971 Precursor to the Newport boats (see below). May have used the same tooling. Anyone with owning one of these boats, please provide a photograph to webmaster@albacore.org Newport Boats Mk1 Boat #Range: 5292-5299, 5425-5444, 5460-5469, 5480-5499, 5943-5966, 5979-5998, 6301-6303, 6318-6327, 6340-6351, misc. additional numbers up to 6375. Date 1972-1978 Newport Boats were built by Harry Sindle. These boats are most readily identified by their stern decks. Unlike early Whitbys, which also had stern decks, the thwart and centerboard case of the Newport boats was all fiberglass. They also had a fairly large bow tank and black vinyl rubbing trim along the gunwale.  Newport Boats #5297  Albacore #5425 showing large stern buoyancy tank, one of the most distinctive features of the Newport Albacores.  Albacore #5425 showing the bow tank construction, centerboard case and thwart.  Newport Boats placed their brand mark on the aft buoyancy tank near the floor. The emblem was a foil adhesive and many have been lost, faded or corroded over the years. This one is still in readable condition. Hull #/Racing Sail number were embossed in foil. Annapolis Boats Boat #Range: 3569-3579, 3585-3599, 4700-4708, 4729-4742, 4746-4781, 5207-5221, 5232-5246, 5252-5291, 5405-5422 Date: 1971-1973 Annapolis Boats built on the Eastern Shore in Maryland. They built about 100 boats in the early 1970's and most were sold in the Chesapeake area, but some migrated far away. Annapolis boats had bow tank flush with seats. Side seat tanks stop 2 ft short of transom. Aluminum strut ahead of mast. Jib tracks on seat tanks with separate molding to extend inward. Slightly rolled CB trunk. Wood thwart, bolted to seats. Little overlap onto seats. Full height transom- often with traveler track on transom. Tiller port. Built with black vinyl trim around edge. Side deck flat with 1 inch lip inside. Jib track depression in side decks. Many rigged with non-tapered masts. Anyone with owning one of these boats, please provide a photograph to webmaster@albacore.org Tom Allen Boats Mk1 Boat #Range: 3580-3584, 4717, 4743-4745, 4758, 4787-4796, 5237-5246, 5400-5404, 5910-5924, 5936-5942, 5969-5973, misc. additional numbers up to -6120 Date 1971-1975 Fiberglass laminate construction. Open cockpit with minimal sized seats and bow tank. Side seat tanks end about 3 feet ahead of the transom. Minimum width side decks with flat profile.   Allen Mk 1 #5923 Mk 2 Boat #Range: 6212-6255 Date 1976-1978 Fiberglass laminate construction. Redesigned side hiking decks with angled surfaces for greater comfort. Chicago Sailcraft (Don Dodson) Boat #Range: 4719-4728, 4782-4786, 4797-5206, 5222-5229, 5424 1970  Chicago Sailcraft #4799 Skene Mk1 Boat #Range: 1904-1914, 2405-2449 and 4100-6700 Date 1968-1979 Fiberglass laminate construction. Aft edge of foredeck laid out as a smooth and continuous curve from side deck where the shrouds pass through to the aft edge of mast partners and on to the other side deck. Fiberglass thwart, fiberglass seats used as buoyancy tanks. Thwart set well aft in cockpit and additional braces (look like small thwarts) between front of centerboard case and seat tanks. Centerboard case is of constant height ahead of thwart (not rolled to floor as on Mk 2). Bow tank had a small lip at aft edge to help retain items stored on half-height tank. Interior gel coat often a grey speckled finish. Small round transom ports were common. Made in a wide variety of hull and deck colors. 
Skene Mk 1 - #6040
Mk 2 Boat #Range: 6800-7310 Date 1978-1983 Hull molded off official Canadian Standards plug. Aft edge of foredeck laid out in straight segments from side deck to aft edge of mast partners and on to other side deck. Decks and seats use same color for antiskid and smooth areas. Typically equipped with a tapered proctor D section aluminum mast and round aluminum boom. 3/32 inch standing rigging. Highfield lever jib halyard tensioner. Natural finished mahogany centerboard and rudder. High end boats were occasionally equipped with Mark Lindsey foils. Boats frequently developed chronic seat tank to hull joint problems after 10-15 years but can be fully restored with additional fiberglass to rebond the flange joint.. Most hulls white or off white with 6-8 deck/seat color options. Interior gel coat often a grey speckled finish. Small round transom ports were common. Made in a wide variety of hull and deck colors. Detailed photos of Skene Mark 1 (#6781) Hapco Marine (I) Boat #Range: 5449-5459, 5472-5479, 5900-5909, 5925-5934, few others up to 5968 Date: 1973-1974 I think these boats were built off the Annapolis tooling or a modified version of the Annapolis tooling and as such, have many similarities to the Annapolis boats.  Hapco #5930 These boats had tall and very square seat tanks with wood thwart that had very little overlap on seat. Half height bow tank (same as seat tanks) with a full height bulkhead in the forward part of bow. Not the distinctive roll to the aft 2 feet of the seat tanks. 
Rondar Mk1 Boat #Range: 6430-6650 Date 1975-1976 Rondar built a three piece Albacore consisting of hull, interior, and deck moldings. Rondars have a full height bulkhead extending from the chain plates to just forward of the mast.. Rondars have the advantage of an aft mounted thwart making them very crew comfortable. Riverside Boat #Range: 6304-6315, 6332-6340, 6350, misc. additional numbers up to 6801 Dates: 1976-79 Riverside boats were molded from a Rondar boat and carry many similar characteristics. These boats have a high arching thwart set aft in the cockpit. The seats, thwart and bow tank are all one mold. The bow tank has a stepped construction with small "shelves" ahead of each side stay. 
Ontario Yachts Mk1a Boat #Range: 7311-7699 Date 1984-1989 Ontario Yachts took over the Skene molds and continued production with almost no change from the Skene product (addition of OY oval name plate in transom, is the only outward difference between the Skene and OY product. Fiberglass laminate construction. Anti-skid areas on deck and tanks usually colored in contrast to white surrounding areas. Tapered masts- usually SuperSpars M2, some Proctor D. 
Ontario Yachts Mk1a #7312 Mk1b Boat #Range: 7352-7699 Date 1983-1989 Foam Core construction using the same hull and deck tooling as in the Mark 1a boats. Seats/floatation tanks were redesigned forward of the chain plates and consisted of a vee shaped bulkhead from chainplates to centerline just ahead of the mast and a half height bow tank between bulkhead and bow. The seats between the thwart and bow tank were opened to provide additional flooding space during a capsize and could be used as storage for wet gear while sailing. Anti-skid areas on deck and tanks sometimes colored in contrast to white surrounding areas. Tapered masts- usually SuperSpars M2, some Proctor D. 
Ontario Yachts Mk 1b #7526 as re-rigged by Hapco Maine in 2002. Note control panels over thwart are not original. 
Ontario Yachts Mk 1b (#7374) showing half height bow tank with two large opening . Mk 2a Boat #Range: 7700-8100+ Date 1989- Revised bow section of hull, with a finer bow entry. Deck similar to the Mk 1a/1b boats, but set a half inch forward on the hull. Transom sheerline scooped to allow tiller to clear completely above transom. All hulls white (except for a few "eggshell- off white hulls produced around #7940-7950). Anti-skid areas on deck and tanks usually colored in contrast to white surrounding areas. Most boats equipped with foam/fiberglass laminate composite centerboards and rudders. Tapered masts- usually SuperSpars M2.and a Superspar B2 boom. Only difference between Mk 2 a and Mk 2b is foam core construction and tank layout. Mk 2a is glass laminate construction with half height bow tank and aluminum deck strut just ahead of mast. Crew seating area is also a closed floatation tank. 
Ontario Yachts Mk 2a #8023 Mk 2b Boat #Range: 7700-8100+ Date 1989- Revised bow section of hull, much finer bow entry- more closely approximates Woof bow shape, but was not molded from a Woof. Deck same as Mk 1a/1b boats. Transom sheerline scooped to allow tiller to clear completely above transom. All hulls white (except for a few "eggshell- off white hulls produced around #7940-7950). Anti-skid areas on deck and tanks usually colored in contrast to white surrounding areas. Most boats equipped with foam/fiberglass laminate composite centerboards and rudders. Tapered masts- usually SuperSpars M2, some Proctor D. Only difference between Mk 2 a and Mk 2b is foam core construction and tank layout. Mk 2b is foam core construction with full height bow tank. Most boats have a large open storage compartment in port side of bow tank (Hapco Marine ordered several hulls- 80xx numbers- with full bow tank and no storage compartment). Open area (no floatation tank) below crew seating area. 
Ontario Yachts Mk 2a #8057 as rigged by Hapco Marine. Note full bow tank without storage compartment. Boats completed by Ontario Yachts have storage compartment. Hapco finished boats do not. 
Ontario Yachts Mk 2a #8057 as rigged by Hapco Marine Porter Boat #Range: ˜ 7000-7500 Fiberglass hull with wood decks. Made in UK. Linton Boat #Range: Fiberglass hulls with wood decks. Built in UK. Decking of Mahogany & Sycamore with side decks flared to provide sitting out leverage. Linton built only one hull per month, all as composites, with GRP hulls provided from Rondar all in exact same "Sea Green" color. All orders were made to spec of customer, with no production produced on spec. Hulls were produced during mid to late 1970s with production cease in 1980. Only two Linton boats are in North America. Omega Boat #Range: 7373-7374 Only two boats imported to North America from UK. Early foam core construction. Date: 1984 Fosrite Plastics (UK) Boat #Range: 3566 1970 Only one boat imported to USA. Commercial Standard Corporation Boat #Range: 5230-5231, 5445-5448 1974 Anyone with owning one of these boats, please provide a photograph to webmaster@albacore.org Ballenger Boat Company Boat #Range: 5953, 6316-6317, 6330-6331, 6370 1974-1976 Anyone with owning one of these boats, please provide a photograph to webmaster@albacore.org Bay Area Association Boat #Range: 6328-6329, 6360, 6365-6369 1977 Not clear that any of these boats were ever built and sold. Anyone with owning one of these boats, please provide a photograph to webmaster@albacore.org SpeedSails/Holt Boat #Range: 7900-8100+ Date 1999- Fiberglass laminate hulls. Manufactured in UK by Holt and marketed by SpeedSails. Hull shape taken from plug boat built on the Woof mold. Minimal size bow tank and seat side tanks. Seat side tanks stop about 24 inches ahead of transom. Usually two small airbags installed to complete buoyancy system. As of 2004 no SpeedSails boats have been imported to North America. Annapolis Albacore Boat #Range: 3569-3579, 3585-3599, 4700-4708, 4729-4742, 4746-4781, 5207-5221, 5232-5246, 5252-5291, 5405-5422 Date: 1971-1973 Annapolis Boats built on the Eastern Shore in Maryland. They built about 100 boats in the early 1970's and most were sold in the Chesapeake area, but some migrated far away. Annapolis boats had bow tank flush with seats. Side seat tanks stop 2 ft short of transom. Aluminum strut ahead of mast. Jib tracks on seat tanks with separate molding to extend inward. Slightly rolled CB trunk. Wood thwart, bolted to seats. Little overlap onto seats. Full height transom- often with traveler track on transom. Tiller port. Built with teak or black vinyl trim around gunwale. Side deck flat with 1 inch carlin inside. Jib track depression in side decks. Many rigged with non-tapered masts made by Kenyon. Hull number on very small aluminum plate inside transom. Anyone with owning one of these boats, please provide a photograph to webmaster@albacore.org 
Annapolis #4753 with minor modifications* *Note: Slotted thwart and supports for turning blocks not original. Previous owner reports that boat had wood splash guards on foredeck. (with thanks to Jeff Wagner for photos). Wood Albacores Fairey Marine (see above under Early Albacores) JD Young Mk 1 Boat #Range: 5000-6000 Hot molded construction using 3 ply. Outer hull planks run fore and aft similar to Fairey Marine Mk2 hulls (In fact, Fairey Marine actually built the early hulls and sold them to JD Young for decking and internal fit out, Fairly flat bow deck. Flat but very wide side decks. Thwart located well aft in cockpit. Closed seat/flotation tank construction. Small bow tank. 
JD Young Mk1 #5471 as restored in 2003. Note cut down transom is not original. 
JD Young Mk 1 #5471 Interior Mk 2 Boat #Range: 6100-7500 Outer planks make diagonal with waterline. Side decks are crowned and rounded on gunwales. Woof All: Woof built about 150 Albacores using three layer cold molded plywood hull and plywood deck and centerboard case. Full length seat tanks sealed to serve as floatation. Separate bow tank of relatively small volume. Centerboard case width near class allowable maximum of 30mm. Well shaped contoured side decks make for comfortable hiking. Approximately 15 Woof's have been imported to North America as of 2004. Mk1 Forward end of seat tanks angled aft towards the boat's centerline. No floor stiffening. Aft swept thwart overlapping onto seat tanks. Mk2 Forward end of seat tanks angled forward towards the boat's centerline, longitudinal and athwartships stiffening in the floor. Thwart at right angles to centerline and butting into the inboard side of seat tanks. Mk3 Forward end of seat tanks tie into open bulkhead connecting chain plates, deck, and hull to centerline. No thwart, only angle bracket structure connected between the confluence of the seat tank and floor and the top of the centerboard cap. Longitudinal and athwartship stiffening in floor. 
Woof Mk 3 #6857Whitehouse Boat #Range: 6997, 6999, 7000, 7141*, 7142, 7243 Date: 1980-1981 Thin wood core with fiberglass on inside and outside to make 3-layer hull. Only 6 boats built. No thwart. Centerboard trunk braced with brackets attached to the floor of cockpit. * number was later exchanged with Woof #6644. Today you will find #6644 is a Whitehouse hull. Davis Boat # Range: 1805, 1811, 1812, 3100-3104, 3725 -3729, 3733 Date: 1966-1969 
Davis Albacore #3729 
Knight and Pink Boat # Range: 7355 Kingsfield Boat #Range: Cold molded plywood hull construction with outer layer of wood making an acute angle with the waterline for a striking appearance. Somewhat higher crowned fore deck. Seat tanks run the full length of the hull but are open and not sealed forward of the thwart. Inboard surface of seat tanks extend forward to bow tank and form storage shelves for life jackets or other wet gear. |