The Albury Runabout

This is the best fast outboard boat of its size that I know of. Brooklin, Maine–based photographer Ben Mendlowitz, who owns one named ABACO, would agree. It features the rare and magical combination of a Mercedes-like ride with Porsche-like maneuverability. Ben’s ABACO has covered hundreds of miles in all kinds of weather since arriving in Maine 13 years ago, mostly with Ben alone searching out camera subjects, but often with me steering and Ben shooting photos.

Benjamin Mendlowitz

The Albury runabout is a sturdy, stable, yet surprisingly nimble runabout for her size (almost 20’ LOA). She can be strip-planked or cold-molded.

Together, in April and May of 1996, with a brand-new 90-hp Honda four-stroke for power, we ran ABACO 1,200 miles up the Intracoastal Waterway from West Palm Beach to Georgetown, Maryland. Even earlier, Ben had fallen for Albury outboard boats, especially this one, through chartering in the Abacos. In all her traveling, ABACO has seen her share of rough seas, both driving into them, and with the waves coming at her from abeam and astern. She feels solid, and indeed she is. For her type, she’s fairly heavy, weighing in loaded at 2,400 lbs., so pushing her fast takes power.