Albin Ballad 30 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for an Albin Ballad 30 means weighing a 1971–1982 Swedish-built racer-cruiser whose 1,500-hull production and active owner survey make it a well-documented used boat, though seldom seen in North America. Most examples carry a hard racing history that now reads as either proven durability or a caution on original gear. The design remains popular as a sporty family cruiser and club racer, and ex-charter boats are common on the resale scene.
Layouts on the Used Market
Charter four-cabin layouts are the more common configuration available used, but both standard and charter versions turn up. Ex-charter examples are common and often reflect heavier use, so interior wear and rig fatigue deserve a closer look. The boat’s six berths in two cabins include two awkward pilot berths, and headroom is limited by sleek deck lines—about 6 ft 2 in at the companionway dropping to under 5 ft in the forward compartment. Galleys are small but adequate by modern standards, and the GRP inner moulding keeps décor stark yet robust.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, heating, autopilot, chartplotter, solar, dodger, and life raft are commonly fitted, meaning most buyers can expect a reasonably equipped boat for temperate cruising. AIS appears only as an occasional owner upgrade rather than standard kit. For buyer consequence, the meaningful clusters are power and energy—solar paired with a repower or charging setup eases anchor life—and navigation and safety, where chartplotter, autopilot, and life raft together cover passage-making basics. Canvas such as a dodger supports the long, well-protected cockpit, while heating extends shoulder-season use.
What to Inspect
Early iterations built from 1972 through early 1974 may have an Achilles heel in a mild steel mast truss under the cabin sole, with nearly a score known to have rusted and failed, sometimes loosening masts or rarely splitting the keel leading edge; almost all survey problems sit with 1972–73 sub-hull-#200 boats. Albin switched to galvanized trusses in early 1974, so confirm build date. Deck gear and spars, if original, should be treated with caution given the fleet’s hard racing background. Note also the boat has no bow anchor locker.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets run through the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Greece, and Switzerland. For a buyer, the short checklist is: verify truss type on any 1972–early-1974 hull, budget for possible rig or deck-gear renewal, expect basic interiors needing refresh, and favor later repowered examples with common safety and navigation kit already aboard.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Albin Ballad 30. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 9 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 6 | $13,098 | — |
| Oct 25 | 2 | $14,947 | +14.1% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $9,505 | -36.4% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $23,174 | +143.8% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $17,351 | -25.1% |
| Apr 26 | 4 | $7,813 | -55.0% |
| May 26 | 1 | $9,505 | +21.7% |
| Jul 26 | 2 | $10,883 | +14.5% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $12,810 | +17.7% |
Where they're listed
Albin Ballad 30 listings appear across 5 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 10 (52.6%), followed by Germany and Greece.
Country view
19 listings · 5 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $9,814 | 10 | 1 | 52.6% |
| Germany | $15,720 | 4 | 1 | 21.1% |
| Greece | $13,392 | 2 | 1 | 10.5% |
| Netherlands | $20,262 | 2 | 0 | 10.5% |
| Switzerland | $2,481 | 1 | 0 | 5.3% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comfortina 35 | 35.83' | $ 121,924 | 26 | 5 |
| Albin Ballad 30You are here | — | $ 11,644 | 19 | 3 |
| Custom 30 | 29.75' | $ 19,633 | 16 | 1 |