Albemarle 246 1987 vs Albemarle 280 XF 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Albemarle 246 1987 or the Albemarle 280 XF 2013?

The Albemarle 280 XF 2013 is the longer of the two at 27,1 feet overall. The Albemarle 246 1987 comes in at 25,0 feet, making it roughly 2,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Albemarle 246 1987 has a documented max rating of 290 hp. Engine specifications for the Albemarle 280 XF 2013 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Albemarle 246 1987 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Albemarle 280 XF 2013 is certified for 8. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Albemarle 246 1987 or the Albemarle 280 XF 2013?

The Albemarle 246 1987 has the bigger tank at 12 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Albemarle 280 XF 2013. That 10-gallon difference translates to roughly 30–50 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Albemarle 246 1987 and Albemarle 280 XF 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Albemarle 246 1987 and the Albemarle 280 XF 2013 are built by Albemarle. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Albemarle 246 1987 vs Albemarle 280 XF 2013

Albemarle

Albemarle 246 1987

1987

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Albemarle

Albemarle 280 XF 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Albemarle 246 1987 vs Albemarle 280 XF 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Albemarle 246 1987 vs Albemarle 280 XF 2013 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

The Albemarle 246 1987 carries a rated maximum of 290 hp. Engine data for the Albemarle 280 XF 2013 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Albemarle 246 1987 carries 12 gallons versus 2 gallons in the Albemarle 280 XF 2013. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Albemarle 280 XF 2013 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Albemarle 246 1987 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Albemarle 280 XF 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Albemarle 280 XF 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 27,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Albemarle 246 1987 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.

Measurements / Dimensions

Length overall - Detail25.00 ft

Length overall - Detail27 ft. 1 in. (8.25 m) Overall: 29 ft. 1 in. (8.86 m)

Length - Feet25

Length - Feet27.08

Length overall - Meters7.62

Length overall - Meters8.86

Length overall - Inches300

Length overall - Inches349

Beamnot available

Beam9 ft. 6 in. (2.9 m)

Beam - Metersnot available

Beam - Meters2.9

Beam - Inchesnot available

Beam - Inches114

Deadrisenot available

Deadrise24℃

Draft [max] - Detailnot available

Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (0.61 m)

Draft [max] - Metersnot available

Draft [max] - Meters0.91

Draft [max] - Inchesnot available

Draft [max] - Inches36

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - DetailDry: 9,500 lbs. (4,309 kg)

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg4309.12

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.95

Height - Detailnot available

Height - DetailWaterline to Windshield: 7 ft. (2.13 m)

Height - Metersnot available

Height - Meters2.13

Height - Inchesnot available

Height - Inches84

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Gal12

Fuel tank capacity - Gal2

Fuel tank capacity - Liters454.25

Fuel tank capacity - Liters757.08

Engine makeChevrolet

Engine makenot available

Horsepower290 hp

Horsepowernot available

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typeGas or Diesel

Drive typeinboard

Drive typeInboard - Twin

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail200 gal. (863 l)

Operational Info

Boat typePower

Boat typenot available

Storagenot available

StorageTransom Fishbox / Livewell (Port and Stbd.): 22 gal. (83 l) Cockpit Fishbox (Port and Stbd.): 54 gal. (204 l)

Water capacitynot available

Water capacity21 gal. (79 l)

General Boat Info

Makenot available

MakeAlbemarle

Modelnot available

Model280 XF

Model Yearnot available

Model Year2013

Body / Hull

Hull materialnot available

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typenot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Albemarle 246 1987 vs Albemarle 280 XF 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Albemarle 246 1987 or the Albemarle 280 XF 2013?

The Albemarle 280 XF 2013 is the longer of the two at 27,1 feet overall. The Albemarle 246 1987 comes in at 25,0 feet, making it roughly 2,1 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

What is the maximum horsepower rating for these boats?

The Albemarle 246 1987 has a documented max rating of 290 hp. Engine specifications for the Albemarle 280 XF 2013 were not available in our database — check the OEM spec sheet or manufacturer's website for confirmation.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Albemarle 246 1987 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Albemarle 280 XF 2013 is certified for 8. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Albemarle 246 1987 or the Albemarle 280 XF 2013?

The Albemarle 246 1987 has the bigger tank at 12 gallons, versus 2 gallons on the Albemarle 280 XF 2013. That 10-gallon difference translates to roughly 30–50 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Albemarle 246 1987 and Albemarle 280 XF 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Albemarle 246 1987 and the Albemarle 280 XF 2013 are built by Albemarle. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Albemarle 246 1987 full specs ← Albemarle 280 XF 2013 full specs