new member jemfromystic

[jemfromystic]

well-i am surely a newbie! to using a site for advice and sharing the pleasure of owning an albin. i've had my '87 27ft cruiser since 2001. used it in 2003 and 2004 in fisher's island sound on week-day evenings so i wouldn't run into trouble. loved it but for external reasons i put it away til just now. it's back in the water--on sunday a friend and i went down to the marina and put a charge on the batteries, checked what we knew to check, eventually we sprayed a touch of ether and turned the key and my sweet boat started up and ran smoothly!! what a boat. but being a life-long coastal sailor and having bought this thing with a now 'gone' partner (who knew engines, boats and the waters) i am completely overwhelmed. do i learn how - or do i sell it? that i have to decide this summer. so you guys are going to be my everyday 'reads'! thanks for being here.

[Legacy]

By all means keep the boat, sell the car, the house and of course all the cats...

If you haven't already, take a boating course through Power Squadron, US Coast Guard, BoatWise or any other provider. You'll learn the basics and meet fellow boaters that could turn into boating pals. Usually more fun to have people on board with you.

Stay safe and have some fun.

Now about the ether....

[jcollins]

Don't sell! You wouldn't sell your car just because you didn't know how to replace a fan belt...well, maybe some would. I'm not much of a DIYer either. But, I'm learning from the more experienced around here.

Welcome to the group. Post some pictures of your boat.

[jemfromystic]

thanks for the welcome -- i've taken the courses but they don't help with how complicated each repair &/or maintainance is. right now i just want to get it so i'm confident enough to leave the dock but need to replace filters, zincs, fix the ignition, and the bilge pump etc, etc. your site has already been helpful. i think if i learn to hang around the yard more i'll learn from the locals but not knowing the terms makes conversations incomprehensible. I think terms are a gender thing, it's a problem for women trying to break into softball, sailing, business... but i did notice other women here, i'm curious to learn how they are managing.

[jcollins]

These tasks seem daunting. Most folks try to be helpful and some will just jump in and give you a hand. This site and hundreds of others on the Internet will help you gain the knowledge you need to get started. Google is your friend.

[RicM]

When I bought my Albin it was my first diesel and it was too big for the yard I had been with for a couple of years. I moved to Wickford Ship Yard, a real old fashioned boat yard, not a Brewers' Style "MARINA". Well the locals were crusty and taciturn. It took a while. They even hazed me a little to see if I was one of those "dick head city boys", and if I had a sense of humor. I wasn't and I did. Now I'm a regular, and I would not trade that position for the CEO position of any Fortune 500 company. View it as a conquest, hearts and minds to be won over with charm and humor. Be wiling to do a dirty job that doesn't require expert knowledge (help someone with a big pile get to the dumpster). Soon you will become part of the ebb and flow there and it will feel like the place on earth you were born to be. Worth the work, trust me.

[jleonard]

Where in Mystic? I am at Gwenmor.

[jemfromystic]

i've been at mason's island marina for about 6 years now. it's a good marina with nice people. a lot of these years i had health problems that didn't allow me to be boating and jack and eileen, the mother and son owners/managers here, were really supportive. no swimming pool/arcade or miniture golf but i chose this marina because i liked the positioning - really sheltered in stormy weather and it's been good. i had a smaller sailboat before this and kept it in the thames and behind avery point. but here i can extend the season. i have pictures from thanksgiving '04 - coming in through noank, watching seals at play, with a gorgeous sunset as the backdrop. how long have you been keeping your boat in mystic? i am finding this site helpful! very helpful!

[jleonard]

We've been in Mystic and Gwenmor for close to 20 years. Had a 34 Mainship for 14 of those, now the 40 Albin.
Do you now Alain and Debbie of French Wave?

[Don from Mystic]

Small World. Jem, Your boat is the reason I bought my 27! I have my whaler ("Jen") at my small dock across from MIM's travel lift. I admired your boat when you used it (and your slip faced my dock) and while it sat on its perch at the marina. Jack and Eileen (friends also) felt you would not be selling when I was looking - Im so glad youve put it back in - I heard about your wiper coming on - mine did that too (in November), turrned out to be a defective switch on mine-

Alain on French Wave is a great guy. He uses the boat alot, it burns a tiny bit more that my gal/hr avg but its twice the boat. Many of the gas boats havn't gone out much due to fuel$$.

Jem your boats sistership is on my mooring between Browers and MIM.
Hope to see you on the water.
Don

[Don from Mystic]

PS - I have the owners manual for your specific engine. Its a small book with quite a wealth of info - If youd like a copy lemme know.

Dont think the "gender thing" is a barrier. I taught Mechanics for many years and many of those years my year-end awards went to young lady's - some of whom are very successful at their trade. Our curriculum evolved (sadly) ito more theoretical stuff and I now use a PC more than a wrench with the kids.
D

[jemfromystic]

i've been watching your boat. kyle told me when you were looking and when you bought and both eileen and jack pointed you out to me. but i haven't seen activity when i'm down there. i will yet. yes the wipers turned on without me and i had taken the blades off in the hope of replacing them. not the easy fix i had hoped for and as you may have seen the glass is now gouged!
my 'no-name' albin left the dock yesterday and took a little ride to ram island, without me i'm afraid but i will be using it during the next few weeks. i'd be very glad to get the engine manual. i don't have a copy. thanks. looking forward to seeing you and boat more closely before the end of the season. joan

[Don from Mystic]

Hi Joan-

Saw your boat pass me yesterday and said hello to your crew -

Didnt see the results on your glass but its no biggie. Remove the glass and any shop that cuts tempered flat glass (like for school busses) can use yours as a pattern. Several years ago I helped build a down easter and the glass wasnt a problem we made plywood patterns of what we wanted and it was cheap and easy (call around). Glaze in the new glass with a sealant like 5200 - (Eileen sells it or comparable stuff)

If you see a fellow with a skinny black lab at the dock - that's me - say hello !

The Yahoo Albin Cruisers site is great as you may know.There are some really diesel savy members that helped me alot in this learning curve- always owned gas boats-I have been printing some of it - youre welcome to copy any thats helpful.

See you in Mystic Harbor

Don

[Don from Mystic]

PS ( I always forget somthing)-

NEVER use either on a diesel. Gas engines are much lower compression and a judicious shot is tolerated (though fires and blown head gaskets have been noted on occasion). I understand some use silicone lube in place of either in diesels but havent looked into it at all. A diesel could literally blow up not being able to move the piston fast enough to absorb the excessive pressure from the detonation/explosion-

[jleonard]

WD40 is good to use for starting a diesel as it is basically kerosene.

In Mystic there is a glass shop next to the PooPoo plant near the train station. I recently had a glass panel made up to replace the one I ruined when removong it to seal up a leak ..old glass is very brittle.
Jay