Hi,
There are a couple of things that should be done before purchasing a boat... First on that list should be taking a couple of sailing courses...
After that, there should still be experimentation in order to see
what are your preferences, and what suits you best... You'll end up with some criterias that should orientate your purchase, if you decide to make one.
And after that,
you should try out the boat, if possible. I can say how it feels for me, but you're a different person and may get a different opinion from another person here. Point is, at that time,
it should be you that figure up how it is, what will be the pros and the cons, and ask rather about eventual conception issues, and ways to solve them without spending a great amount of cash you won't want to cope with, than on if your project is doable or not.
Most of the time, I'd say that almost everything is doable,
but not necessarily secure, confortable, or up to your very needs, or very making a lot of economical sense. Furthermore, sometimes, getting a design to suit what you want may end up costing you more than a newer, fresher design from a decade later... which is why often the initial price point won't be the best indication that you'll spend less for your purchase than with another another one which may be in better condition, or with another model. It can/
but may not be very close to the total you'll spend to revamp the boat.
Sure, too, to think about, as I'll point out, there are some elements you'll see and have to deal with the Alberg 30 - that may indicate you that the boat will fit you well... or not particularly well.
First point:
I would try to make the less mistakes I can on my boat, especially if it's the boat I plan to stick with as I found a family. The repairs and troubles encountered by not being particularly handy with a boat you own may cost you a couple of hundred, and often thousands of dollars...
Getting a little education, and some practice,
will truly help you not spend your cash for nothing, especially if you're tight on budget.
Secondly, the Alberg 30 is not a huge boat, but is somewhat slow in giving you feedback. You'll make errors, you won't notice them really quickly. An error on a boat you pay 1-2k for, without any engine, without sails that cost you a couple of hundreds each, won't be what you'll crave for.
I'd really suggest you to take try to manoeuver out a boat singlehand before making a boat purchase, and to try out any boat you may purchase for something like one or two hours. Being sure you appreciate what you get is essential. You don't want to ask yourself what where you thinking about two-three months after getting the boat. And on that boat, you may get a better sense of what it'll be like, than by listening to our impressions.
The Alberg 30 is not a high-end nor a low-end production boat, it's a little over average boat in terms of quality,
but it is quite old, and a couple of these suffer some delamination, osmosis, blistering or other issues, such as issues on their engines. These won't be necessarily easy to detect unless you are accompanied by a professional marine surveyor, and get to run those engines.
Be sure to have a good look at particular points where some extra attention is required, and have a professional surveyor that has no interest vested in the sale with you if you ever make the purchase. Be sure your boyfriend likes the boat as much as you do, as he may have a different take on the boat. Contact him/her (the professional who will inspect the boat)
after you have inspected the boat thoroughly, and have found little, or no issues at all, or issues you are ready to deal with. Otherwise, if you don't know much about sailing, boat layouts, and this kind of stuff, you may end up with a little more than a wreck.
They aren't particularly fast nor slow, are somewhat confortable,
but do have a habit of hobby horsing when conditions aren't at their best. At the same time, some people will get to deal with it, and accomodate theirselves, especially if they don't get far away, it'll be possible to just come back home and stop the adventure right when you have got past the point where you enjoy sailing. I tell you that because if you are not so skilled, I'd rather forgive, at least initially, any idea of pulling the trigger and trying to push your luck when the water is not calm, and there is a lot of wind.
It'll be progressive, and you have to start somewhere to end up somewhere.
The layout of the Alberg 30, I think you may want to get a better look at it,
it'll show you that's there isn't so much extra space, and you may end up feeling a little too squeezed, with the feeling that things are cramped.
These can take load, but I mean it all depends: if you want to spend the day or maybe a couple of days out, there will be no problem. If, however, you plan to spend a couple of weeks out... having a tiny space to deal with, with two children, for weeks, and having to figure out where you have placed this or this, and store things in a particular configuration as you have not a lot of storage space (unless you work on that, which is what you may want to do) may not help you: to be running into each other, may prove that on the long term,
what was adequate for two wasn't for four, especially when they grow up.
You should read on them, if you plan to buy one of them. It will hint you the particularities, and from there, you'll see the good, the bad, and the ugly - and what is workable, and what is not, or not without a lot of cash.
Alberg 30 are not so pricey to purchase though, nor the worse ones you could pick. But, if I were you, I wouldn't make the purchase beforse having done a couple of sailing courses, getting a better opinion on what other options are, and having someone who's job will be to tell you the truth about what he sees as issues on that boat you may, may not purchase.
Finally, if you ask me, with the proper knowledge, and some practice, would I buy one, I'd say probably no. It might not be the best choice at that price point (under 30k). And you? It may not be the one you'll be happy with. It may not be the one you'll want to pick if you try other ones before settling. I'll say it once again,
these are fine, quite affordable vessels, but not the very best you may get for what you plan.
Follow my advice, do read on boat purchasing, learn what to look for, read on what to care for on older boats: on the internet, there is a lot of information you'll be able to grasp fairly quickly.
And I support
@Jeff_H's answer, he has given you other options that look to him (and to me, also) more compatible with what you want.
Oh, and
be sure to have considered all other aspects of a boat's purchase (such as maintenance costs, setting apart a budget for any repairs, and all the other related expenses, the time for taking proper care of the ship) before making your decision.
This is the way you won't regret it.
That said, have fun and take care.