Length: 9.75m, Beam: 2.9m, Draft: 0.91m
Propulsion: Inboard
Engine: Perkins diesel 37hp
Construction: NZ Kauri hull
Owner: Barry Palich, Rippleside Vic.
The boat Albany was built by the Dutton family between 1932 and 1936. It was based on a Williams design but was 12 inches narrower than the design because of the narrow nature of the garage that it was built in. Built in Burnley Street Burnley and named after the then owners of the coach building business of Albert and Annie Dutton. From information gathered from Geoff Dutton, the grandson of the builders the boat was launched in the Yarrra River sometime in 1936.
Later possibly 1943 or 1944, the boat was taken over by the RAN and used as a pilot boat in the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay. The family was not compensated and it was not returned to the family so there is a period of some twenty years or so where no record exists of its location. The boat was located at Eildon Weir and brought to Paynesville by Colin Hudson who transported it by road; we do not have the dates of this purchase. Boat was named Taugeron when purchased from Eildon but after doing some research her name was changed back to the original Albany.
1994 it was powered by an old Holden grey motor connected to a Dodge gearbox and had a leather cone reverse. In 1999 this motor was replaced with a 37hp Perkins diesel and lightweight gear box. After replacing the motor and gearbox with a much lighter unit it was necessary to add more than 500kgs of lead under the sole.
In 2004 the boat began a total refit with all structural work carried out by David McCaskill and the finishing and furnishing by the owners. The hull of the boat was in surprisingly good condition and only one or two ribs needed replacement.