Boat test for the 2006 Albemarle 360 XF with boat pictures, boat specifications, and boat test results. Includes pricing, videos, engine test reviews, and ratings for the 2006 Albemarle 360 XF.

I liked the classy-looking, optional teak-and-holly sole (in place of the standard carpet), but I didn’t care for the exposed rod stowage racks above the settee. They would be cleaner looking (and more secure) if concealed, perhaps behind a Pullman berth that could be added above the settee.

The engine room is nicely sized for a 36-footer, thanks to hydraulic rams that lift the aft end of the bridge deck, creating about four feet of headroom when you stand between the Cat C9s and easy access to all vital components. Ironically, the only awkward part is ingress into the space, where the opening under the bridge deck is just three feet high (above the cockpit sole) and at which point there is a set of narrow, nearly horizontal steps that you must negotiate to traverse the Onan genset below. For routine checks, there’s a 22”x36” day hatch in the bridge deck that affords easier access to the centerline side of the engines.

With the bridge deck lowered into place, our tanks full of fuel, and the last of the ad-miring public ushered ashore, we set out to take the final measure of the 360. The commercial ships lining the Miami shipping channel seemed a fitting backdrop to our performance trials, underscoring the Albemarle’s functional fitness to her intended purpose. Acceleration was quick; plenty of low-end torque from the Cats got us out of the hole easily, and the turbo boost above 1600 rpm brought the 36 up to a top hop of nearly 38 mph. Sound levels approached 93 decibels, high but not unusual for an open bridge, and subjectively not objectionable.

Outside the inlet, seas were relatively calm with just a foot or so of chop, but when we found some monster wakes, the 360 took them in stride. Steering was nice and tight, allowing me to carve S-turns at full throttle with no cavitation, no vibration, and little drop in speed. Backing down hard, we took some water under the transom door (Haigler explained there was a gasket missing on our test boat), but the scuppers were up to the challenge and drained the cockpit within seconds.

By the time we got back to Sea Isle, the boat show had closed. But we continued to get admiring looks, this time from the legion of workers breaking down the exhibits. With her no-nonsense attitude, the 360 clearly has broad appeal.

Albemarle Boats
(252) 482-7600

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