Albin 36 Trawler
Built 1979–1993
About the Albin 36 Trawler
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1979–1993
- Length
- 35.75 ft
- Waterline
- 31.25 ft
- Beam
- 13.17 ft
- Draft
- 3.5 ft
- Displacement
- 18,500 lb
- Hull
- fiberglass
- Hull / keel
- semi-displacement
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 350 gal
- Water
- 220 gal
- Holding
- 40 gal
- Water heater
- AC + engine
- Steering
- hydraulic · Hynautic
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 350 gal
“Fuel Tank: 1 x 350|gallon” — search excerpt (1987), denisonyachtsales.com · “Fuel Tank Capacity (gal): 350 gallons” — search excerpt, marinesource.comListings repeat a spec guide's 350 gal and likely copy it; no builder figure could be checked. Owners report replaced or modified tanks.
-
Water 220 gal
“Fresh Water: 1 x 220|gallon” — search excerpt (1987), denisonyachtsales.comOwners describe two fresh-water tanks, port and starboard; a listing's total matches our earlier figure of 220.
-
Holding 40 gal
“Holding: 1 x 40|gallon” — search excerpt (1987), denisonyachtsales.com
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Water heater AC + engine
“Electric and engine powered hot water tank” — search excerpt, kijiji.caA builder brochure page listing the Albin 36 Trawler's standard equipment has been posted on TrawlerForum, but its water heater entry couldn't be checked. One broker listing shows an electric and engine heater. No capacity was found.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster unknown
One boat for sale (posted on both the Albin Owners Group and TrawlerForum) lists a bow thruster, and a UK buyer on the owners' group planned to fit one, mentioning the Vetus 55 as common. That's too few boats to call it a common retrofit.
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Steering hydraulic · Hynautic
“We just blew a seal from our lower helm unit ... Our vessels is a 1981 Classic 36. ... Does anyone know what units Hynau” — owners' association (1981), albinowners.net · “79 Albin36 with hynautic steering” — search excerpt (1979), trawlerforum.com · “Albin 36 Trawler hydraulic steering ... My upper helm steering wheels just spins and no rudder movement. My lower helm w” — search excerpt, trawlerforum.comOwners of a 1979 and a 1981 Albin 36 (on the Albin Owners Group and TrawlerForum) report Hynautic hydraulic steering at both helms. No builder document was found online, and the builder's spec brochure listed by the Antique Boat Museum couldn't be checked.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on engines, hp (Lehman), twin-engine start year — left blank rather than guessed.
Taiwan-built single-engine trawler, over 500 built. Solid fiberglass hull with full-length skeg/keel protecting the running gear; lots of exterior teak. The standard single Lehman cruises about 7.5 knots at 3 gph; later single 210 hp Cummins does 9-10 knots, and post-1990 twin 210s reach about 14 knots. Owners' group: albinowners.net. About/over 500 built (HMY).
Engines fitted
-
Ford Lehman 135 / 120 (6-cyl) — 135 hp, diesel, single
standard
HMY: a single 135 hp Lehman was standard for many years (about 7.5 kn on ~3 gph); its BoatUS note says 125 hp. Early boats show the 120 rating: a 1979 Albin 36 on Trawler Forum and a 1979 by-owner listing both have a single 120 hp Lehman.Sources: hmy.com · trawlerforum.com · powerboatlistings.com
- Ford Lehman 6-cylinder (standard for many years) — diesel standard
-
Cummins 210 hp (6-cyl) — 210 hp, diesel, single
factory option
HMY: newer boats with a single 210 hp Cummins cruise at 9-10 kn.Sources: hmy.com
-
Cummins 210 hp (6-cyl) — 210 hp, diesel, twin
factory option
HMY says post-1990 boats with twin 210 hp Cummins reach about 14 kn; an Albin Owners Group member reports a 1989 Albin 36 with twin 210 hp Cummins, so twins appeared at least by 1989.Sources: hmy.com · albinowners.net
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Generator
Single boats only, all different: a 1978 owner on TrawlerForum says the first buyer ordered an Onan 3 kW; on the Albin Owners Group, two 1980 double cabins have a Westerbeke 4.0BCD (4 kW) ahead of the main engine and a newer Yanmar 5 kW, and a 1979 aft-cabin owner says theirs had one originally. Many seem ordered new; no builder source confirms it.
Manuals and brochures online
- Spec sheet Albin Marine Inc. - Albin 36 Trawler Technical Specifications Brochure (Antique Boat Museum, object 2023.20.69; catalog record, scan not viewable in text) — hub.catalogit.app
Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.
Known problems for this model
-
Rusting steel fuel tanks fuel
Owners name the original ferrous fuel tanks as the top concern; they rust from saltwater and from deck leaks dripping onto them, and most need replacement on older boats.albinowners.net
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Teak decks need regular recaulking deck
Teak decks need recaulking every few years; many owners strip them and lay fiberglass with nonskid instead.albinowners.net
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Window leaks deck
Leaking windows are the third item Albin owners routinely list, often tied to the deck and tank problems.albinowners.net
Engines & parts
Ford Lehman 120 (6D380 / 2715E) parts: good
Factory standard engine — you entered “Ford Lehman 135 / 120 (6-cyl)”
Marinized by Lehman from the Ford of England 'Dorset' 2715E six-cylinder (380 cu in) industrial/truck diesel; Ford built the Dorset base engines 1964–1984. Base-engine internals interchange with the Ford 2715E, and marine-specific parts (raw water pumps, heat exchangers, injection elbows, gaskets, lift pumps, air filters) are widely stocked. American Diesel Corp (founded by former Lehman people) still sells parts, publishes spare-parts lists and gives technical advice. Rebuilt and used 120s are also sold by salvage yards.
Parts sources: American Diesel Corp, Go2marine (Ford Lehman parts collection), Fred Warner Marine & Outdoors
Common problems (2)
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Chronic oil leaks engine
Most 120s weep oil somewhere; owners often trace it to the rear of the engine near the heat exchanger (head/head gasket area) or to the drive seals of the gear-driven injection pump. Moderate oil use is treated as normal on these engines.trawlerforum.com · marineengine.com
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Fuel leaks at injection pump, lift pump and return lines fuel
Slow diesel drips usually come from loose bleed screws or banjo washers, perished rubber injector return hoses, a failing lift-pump diaphragm, or worn internal seals in the Simms or CAV injection pump, which needs a pump shop to overhaul.yescenters.com
Maker’s service schedule (16)
| Engine oil & filter change | 200 hrs | “After first 15 hours running .... 1. Change Engine Oil ... Every 200 hours running ..... 17. Change engine and transmiss” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 200 hrs | “Every 200 hours running ..... 18. Change all engine and fuel oil filters.” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Change oil in fuel injection pump | 50 hrs | “Every 50 hours running ...... 13. Check cleanliness of intake air filter. 14. Check (exchanger) zinc pencil. 15. Change” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Transmission fluid change | 200 hrs or 1 yr | “Change oil every 200 hours of operation or at least once each season under normal conditions” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Valve clearance check / adjust | 400 hrs | “After first 15 hours running .... 3. Adjust valve clearances. ... Every 400 hours running ..... 22. Adjust valve clearan” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Injector test / service | 400 hrs | “Every 400 hours running ..... 21. Remove and service injectors.” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Engine pencil zincs | 50 hrs | “After first 15 hours running .... 4. Check (exchanger) zinc pencil. ... Every 50 hours running ...... 14. Check (exchang” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Drive belts inspect / replace | 200 hrs | “After first 15 hours running .... 5. Adjust belt tension. ... Every 200 hours running ..... 16. Adjust belt tension.” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Air filter / intake silencer | 50 hrs | “After first 15 hours running .... 8. Check cleanliness of intake air filter. ... Every 50 hours running ...... 13. Check” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Clean fuel lift pump | 200 hrs | “Every 200 hours running ..... 19. Clean fuel lift pump.” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Clean injection pump cover filter | 200 hrs | “Every 200 hours running ..... 20. Clean injection pump cover filter.” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Remove raw water pump and check drive coupling | 400 hrs | “Every 400 hours running ..... 23. Remove raw water pump and check drive coupling. Place dab of grease on coupling halves” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Adjust idling speed (if required) | 400 hrs | “After first 15 hours running .... 10. Adjust idling speed (if required). ... Every 400 hours running ..... 24. Adjust id” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Check engine/propeller shaft alignment | 6 mo | “After first 15 hours running .... 9. Check engine/propeller shaft alignment. (twice annually, minimum).” — manufacturer (1986), marinedieselbasics.com |
| Replace Borg Warner transmission oil cooler | 1,200 hrs | “Suggested replacement is at 1200 hours.” — manufacturer, img1.wsimg.com |
| Inspect drive damper | 2,500 hrs | “Inspect your drive damper if you have more than 2500 hours on the engine.” — manufacturer, img1.wsimg.com |
Service part numbers (3)
| Raw-water impeller | Jabsco 1210-0001 | “6D380 5850-0001 040 3/4" NPT Flange SK33 3298 1210-0001” — manufacturer, marineengine.com · “Breakdown of 2C48 Pump ... 9 1 1210-0001 IMPELLER” — manufacturer, marinesurveyorontario.com |
| Raw-water pump kit original 2C45 pump (Jabsco 5850-0001) |
Jabsco SK33 | “6D380 5850-0001 040 3/4" NPT Flange SK33 3298 1210-0001” — manufacturer, marineengine.com |
| Raw-water pump kit Lehman 2C48 replacement pump (Jabsco 10950-2401 type) |
Jabsco SK239 | “Service Kit SK239 - Comprising Key 7/8/9/17” — manufacturer, marinesurveyorontario.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Steering
Hynautic — K-series pressurized hydraulic steering (H-series helms, K-series cylinders) parts: obsolete
SeaStar bought Hynautic and kept making components and rebuild kits for years; after Dometic bought SeaStar, Hynautic pages and parts were removed from Dometic's site. Helms H-21 through H-52 and cylinders K-6 through K-31 are discontinued. Seatech Marine Products publishes SeaStar direct-replacement equivalents (e.g., H-50/H-52 replacement kits usable in the pressurized system with a non-vented fill plug) and offers rebuild services; independent hydraulic shops rebuild helms and cylinders for roughly $250–350 each. Kobelt/Accu-Steer also supply steering and power-assist equipment used on larger boats.
Parts sources: Seatech Marine Products (Hynautic alternatives & rebuilds), Kobelt (marine steering systems)
Common problems (3)
-
Helm pump shaft seal leaks steering
The upper helm shaft seal deteriorates from sun, salt and dirt and weeps oil; raising system pressure is only a stopgap, and the helm must be removed and resealed.samsmarine.com · trawlerforum.com · youtube.com
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Cylinder rod seal leaks steering
Damaged wiper/rod seals let fluid out the end of K-6 type cylinders.facebook.com
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Olive-type tubing fittings leak steering
Some owners dislike Hynautic's olive compression fittings on plastic tubing because they are prone to leaks.trawlerforum.com
Model sources (7)
hmy.com · albinowners.net · pacificyachting.com · trawlerforum.com · powerboatlistings.com · albinowners.net · albinowners.net
Other Albin models
- Albin 40 Trawler 1987–1993
- Albin 43 Trawler 1979–1990
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.