Albin
Albin Ballad 30
The Albin Ballad 30 is one of Northern Europe's most recognisable production sailboats. Designed by Per Brohäll for Albin Marin and built from 1971 to 1998, roughly 1 525 hulls left the yard — one of Sweden's most successful racing-cruisers — IOR-era regatta liquidity. With 9.14 m LOA, 2.84 m beam, and about 3,200 kg displacement, the model sits in the sweet spot for couples and small families cruising the Baltic, Skagerrak, and North Sea. Per Brohäll shaped the Ballad 30 with IOR-era influence — a T-keel, fractional rig, and responsive hull that still wins club races on the Swedish west coast. Roughly 1 500 Albin-built hulls plus a handful of BODA variants give the model deep spare-parts liquidity. albinballad.se maintains an active owner association with rigging guides and Baltic rally calendars; Scanboat and Blocket show steady turnover among crews upgrading from smaller Maxi or Vega hulls. Pricing reflects keel-bolt survey outcomes, teak coaming condition, and whether the boat was club-raced with deferred rigging replacement. BODA variants are rare but should be verified in registration before survey. West-coast listings often highlight recent sail wardrobes — treat that as separate Capex from hull and rigging condition when comparing two Ballads at similar price. Expect 65 000–165 000 SEK annual baseline in Sweden when service records are complete — rigging replacement timing and survey-led deck work are the largest variables on club-used hulls. FairHelm tracks Albin Ballad 30 listings because these hulls trade constantly on Blocket, Scanboat, and German brokerage sites. Buyers are rarely choosing between "good" and "bad" boats — they are choosing between documented maintenance and deferred work. A polished teak cockpit or new plotter does not cancel unknown rigging age, keel-bolt corrosion, or moisture at chainplates. That is why survey discipline matters more here than brand romance. For Nordic ownership, Albin Ballad 30 works as a coastal weekender with occasional longer passages when equipped for cold-water sailing: reliable heating, solid ground tackle, and a realistic technical reserve beyond berth and insurance. Compare adjacent models in FairHelm's [model guides](/en/yachts/models/) and read survey notes before committing a deposit. The cheapest asking price on Blocket is rarely the cheapest boat to own over three seasons. When you shortlist a Albin Ballad 30, build a simple survey scorecard: hull moisture, rigging age, drivetrain service, and chainplate integrity. Owner forums and yard quotes from Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Helsingør help you separate cosmetic refresh from structural deferral — especially on boats marketed as "ready to sail" without invoices.
At a glance
Quick facts
- Production
- 1971–1998
- LOA
- 9.14 m
- Beam
- 2.84 m
- Model
- Albin Ballad 30
Technical data
- Length overall (LOA)
- 9.14 m
- Beam
- 2.84 m
- Production years
- 1971–1998
Typical problems
- What keel bolt corrosion issues appear on Albin Ballad 30?
- T-keel bolts on long-lived Ballads need periodic survey; crevice corrosion at the hull joint can run 20 000–55 000 SEK to address properly.
- What wooden trim water ingress issues appear on Albin Ballad 30?
- Teak coamings and interior joinery on 1980s boats trap moisture if rebedding was deferred; soft wood near the companionway is a common survey finding.
- What aging standing rigging issues appear on Albin Ballad 30?
- Club-raced Ballads often exceed calendar replacement intervals; treat unknown rigging age as near-term Capex of 25 000–45 000 SEK.
- What deck core moisture issues appear on Albin Ballad 30?
- Genoa track and stanchion clusters concentrate load; rebedding localized zones costs 8 000–25 000 SEK when core saturation is found.
- What chainplate stress issues appear on Albin Ballad 30?
- IOR-era chainplate layouts stress deck laminate; internal rust staining near bulkheads should trigger ultrasonic or bore scope follow-up.
Design History
Albin Ballad 30 emerged when Scandinavian and North Sea yards were scaling reliable GRP cruising platforms for owner crews rather than charter fleets. Per Brohäll for Albin Marin shaped the hull lines and interior volume for predictable manners in Baltic chop and North Sea swell. Production ran from 1971 to 1998; registry and owner-club sources cite approximately 1 525 completed hulls.
The Ballad bridged Albin's mass-market Vega success toward larger offshore-capable cruisers. Long production from 1971 to 1998 means interior layouts and engine bays vary by year — survey condition and documented refits matter more than brochure model year.
Mid-production changes were mostly interior trim, engine options, and deck hardware rather than fundamental hull revisions. That means survey condition, winter storage history, and rigging invoices usually matter more than the model year printed on the brochure. When you evaluate a Albin Ballad 30 on Blocket, treat the maintenance story as part of the specification — not a footnote after the asking price.
Annual Ownership Costs
| Cost item | Low (SEK) | High (SEK) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marina berth | 18,000 | 38,000 | 9.14 m class, Stockholm/Gothenburg |
| Insurance | 8 000 | 22 000 | Agreed value and cruising area |
| Haul-out + winter | 12 000 | 28 000 | Yard package varies by region |
| Antifouling + hull care | 6 000 | 16 000 | Materials and labour |
| Engine / drivetrain | 5 000 | 16 000 | Service intervals and saildrive |
| Rigging reserve | 7 000 | 20 000 | Standing rigging age |
| Deck / structural reserve | 6 000 | 22 000 | Bedding, moisture follow-up |
| Total annual | 62 000 | 172 000 | Excludes major refit years |
Annual ownership for Albin Ballad 30 is predictable when service records are complete. Berth, storage, and insurance dominate fixed costs in Sweden. The largest variables are rigging replacement timing and any survey-led deck or drivetrain work triggered after purchase. Keep a separate technical reserve so routine season costs stay stable — especially on Blocket boats marketed as "ready to sail" without invoices.
Pre-Purchase Survey Checklist
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist: Albin Ballad 30
Hull, Keel and Underwater Body
- Moisture-map the underwater hull; document osmosis or barrier-coat history on Albin Ballad 30 GRP of this era.
- Inspect keel-to-hull joint, keel bolts (if external iron), and backing structure for movement or recurring fairing cracks.
- Check rudder bearings and steering linkage under load during sea trial.
Deck and Hardware
- Test bedding at stanchions, tracks, and winches; open nearby interior access if damp stains appear.
- Inspect hatches and portlights for seal compression and core moisture at corners.
- Verify chainplate areas internally for rust staining or soft laminate.
Rig and Sail Systems
- Confirm standing rigging age with invoices; treat unknown age as near-term replacement on club-used hulls.
- Inspect mast step, spreaders, and terminals for corrosion or fatigue marks.
- Operate furling and reefing systems under realistic load.
Machinery and Systems
- Review engine and saildrive service including cooling, exhaust elbow, and mounts.
- Audit batteries, charging, and owner-added electrical work for safe fusing.
- Check tanks, bilges, and hoses for age-related seepage.