Carolina Classic Boats for Sale

Mac Privott and Edenton

Mac Privott joined Albemarle Boats in 1978, the year it was incorporated, and set up Carolina Classic Boats in 1991 in a shop on Midway Drive in Edenton. The 25 came out in 1993, the 28 in 1995 and the 35 in 1997, and the company moved to a new plant in 1998. The 32 followed in 2004.

Scott McLaughlin, who already owned Albemarle, bought Carolina Classic in 2011. In 2015 Murphy Alternative Investments bought both companies, and Albemarle now describes itself as "Albemarle Boats, The Carolina Classic." The Carolina Classic name has since been used on a larger Albemarle project, but the boats sold under the name on the used market are the 25 to 35-foot expresses.

The three you'll see

• 28: 28'5" overall, 10'6" beam, 30-inch draft, 24 degrees of deadrise, 256 gallons of fuel. BoatTEST lists twin Crusader 6.0 liter 375 hp gas engines as standard, with Volvo Penta and Yanmar diesel options. On the docks, the 28 is known for low to mid 30s knots on top and a cruise around 26 to 28.
• 32: 33 feet without the pulpit, 13-foot beam, 3'6" draft, 20 degrees of deadrise, about 18,000 lb without engines and 355 gallons of fuel. It has an air-conditioned cabin with a galley and stand-up head, and diesels up to 500 hp each.
• 35: 34'9" overall, 13'6" beam, 3-foot draft, 22,500 lb dry and 435 gallons of fuel. Marlin's review had twin 450 hp Cummins as standard, for about 32 knots on top and 30 at cruise.

The 28 is by far the most common. It suits a buyer moving up from a center console who wants range, a cabin and fish-fighting room with no outboards on the transom.

What to check on a used Carolina Classic

Gas or diesel. A 28 with gas inboards costs much less, but burns a lot more fuel and has less range. Diesels hold their value better. Price the boat by its engines: a diesel boat that needs a rebuild can cost more to fix than the price gap.

Stringers. These hulls are known for being heavy and well sealed, but they are 1990s and 2000s polyester boats with wood in the structure. On the owners' forum, a seller of a 1998 28 had a buyer's survey find rotted stringers. Other owners said that was rare and probably due to later engine mount work, and advised a second opinion and a core sample. Pay for the survey, and if the engines have ever been replaced or re-mounted, ask how the bolts were sealed.

Running gear. Pull the boat and look at the shafts, cutless bearings, struts, rudder ports and props. Ask when the shaft seals were last done.

Exhaust and water. On gas boats, check the risers and manifolds for corrosion and rust in the cylinders, which is how salt water gets into an engine.

Engine survey. On any twin-inboard boat, a separate engine survey with oil analysis is worth more than the hull survey alone.