Review of Albin Stratus

Albin Stratus anno 1983.

Basic specs.

The Albin Stratus is a sailboat designed by the Swedish maritime architect Peter Norlin in the early eighties. A few hundred boats have been produced. The Albin Stratus is built by the Swedish yard Albin Marin AB.

Looking for a new boat? Find a Albin Stratus or similar boat for sale

Hull

The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season.

Interior

Interior of Albin Stratus.

Chart table of Albin Stratus.

Galley of Albin Stratus.

Rig

The boat equipped with a fractional rig. A fractional rig has smaller headsails which make tacking easier, which is an advantage for cruisers and racers, of course. The downside is that having the wind from behind often requires a genaker or a spinnaker for optimal speed.

Keel

The keel is made of lead. Compared with iron, lead has the advantage of being 44% heavier, which allows a smaller keel and hence less water resistance and higher speed.

The boat can only enter major marinas as the draft is about 1.80 - 1.90 meter (5.91 - 6.21 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.

Engine

The boat is typically equipped with an inboard Volvo Penta MD11 diesel engine at 23.0 hp (17 kW), which gives a max speed about 5.5 knots.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

Stability and Safety

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Albin Stratus is 1.92, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.

Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.0 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

Immersion rate

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Albin Stratus is about 183 kg/cm, alternatively 1027 lbs/inch.
Meaning: if you load 183 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1027 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

Motion Comfort Ratio

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

The Motion Comfort Ratio for Albin Stratus is 24.9.

Comparing this ratio with similar sailboats show that it is more comfortable than 42% of all similar sailboat designs. This comfort value is just below average.

L/B (Length Beam Ratio)

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

The l/b ratio for Albin Stratus is 3.25.

Compared with other similar sailboats it is slimmer than 54% of all other designs. It seems that the designer has chosen a slightly more speedy hull design.

Ballast Ratio

What is a Ballast Ratio?

The ballast ratio for Albin Stratus is 43%.

This ballast ratio shows a righting moment that is higher than 66% of all similar sailboat designs. A righting moment (ability to resist heeling) just above average.

D/L (Displacement Length Ratio)

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

The DL-ratio for Albin Stratus is 253 which categorizes this boat among 'light crusers & offshore racers'.

50% of all similar sailboat designs are categorized as heavier. This boat has a precise average ratio between displacement and length!

SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

The SA/D for Albin Stratus with ISO 8666 reference sail is 18.1, with a 135% genua the SA/D is 21.1.

The SA/D ratio indicates that it is faster than 66% of all similar sailboat designs in light wind.

Over- / underrigged

The Albin Stratus has more rig than 62% of all similar sailboats, which indicates that the boat is slightly overrigged.

RSP (Relative Speed Performance)

What is Relative Speed Performance?

The Relative Speed Performance for Albin Stratus is 58

The relative speed performance is 58 which means that a it is faster than 58% of all similar sailboat designs.

Maintenance

Bottom Paint

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 32m² (344 ft²).
Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Note: If you use a paint roller you will need more paint than if you use a paintbrush.

Rig

Dimensions of sail for fractional rig.

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

**Guiding dimensions of running rig**
Usage	Length		Diameter
Mainsail halyard	33.8 m	(110.9 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Jib/genoa halyard	33.8 m	(110.9 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Spinnaker halyard	33.8 m	(110.9 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Jib sheet	10.7 m	(35.2 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Genoa sheet	10.7 m	(35.2 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Mainsheet	26.8 m	(87.9 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Spinnaker sheet	23.6 m	(77.4 feet)	14 mm	(0.55 inch)
Cunningham	4.3 m	(14.1 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Kickingstrap	8.6 m	(28.2 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)
Clew-outhaul	8.6 m	(28.2 feet)	12 mm	(1/2 inch)

Boat owner's ideas

This section is reserved boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

Finally

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Albin Stratus it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us. Criticism helps us to improve.

References

[Ref 1]: ISO 8666 Small craft — Principal data.
[Ref 3]: ISO 12215-5 Small craft — Hull construction and scantlings.