This is my first post here of what will be many I'm sure. First I can't say how happy I am to have found an owners group for Albin. While I did idle about the yahoo group it wasn't too helpful to me since I prefer power to wind; however I did enjoy reading Mishaps' adventures. For me this is a better place.
About 3 years ago I found the 28 TE at a boat show and immediately fell for it. The lines, the lay out, the power, the bow thruster. It all made me quiver. My father was looking to move up (he presently owned a 22' Grady, I own a center console) and I was desperately trying to convince him that this WAS the boat for him. Him and I would constantly kick the tires everyonce and a while at boat shows and dealers but nothing ever came through for various reasons.
Well it took 3 years but my father (and I as his adult son with more boating experience; I used to work on boats and have a 100 GT Masters Tag) is now the owner of a 2001 28 TE, with 315 Yanmar diesel, engine box, pilot house, and more goodies -pics to follow later.
The boat was purchased through a broker from Albin Head Qtrs. in Cos Cob and everything went smoothly. Our madien voyage was from Greenwich, Ct. through western LI Sound, down the East River and finally cruised the South shore of Long Island to FI Inlet. It was a fun trip especially the sloppy and confused 4-8' seas we witnessed from the East River to FI Inlet. As usual, the predicted weather didn't last long, winds switched and so did the seas. We could of went the inside route, but the boat was handling it fine - or should I say the auto pilot was doing a great job, I was merely watching the boat at this point. We took this and other 28's out for trials, but this one was definately by fire and it stood the test.
The boat is tied behind my old man's home in Babylon on LI's South shore, and if any of you are from the northeast you know we have been having rather wet weather lately. But that hasn't stoped me from using the boat as often as I can; especially since i took a week off work and flew up from Miami to work on it and use it.
The boat was surveyed, and for the most part it passed with flying colors. However, during my time and my fathers time with and on the boat some of it's 'idiosyncrasies' are popping up and I am looking forward to correcting them with due time - Oh, the joys of owning a boat!
Anyway, I'd like to say that one day my father would join this list, but he isn't a 'computer guy' as he says it and unfortuantely he doesn't enjoy being a boat owner as much as he should....then again I'm something of a fanatic in almost everything I do so maybe he just doesn't ssem to enjoy owning boats as much as I do.
Nevertheless, I look forward to sharing stories, ideas, and tips with all who visit this site and learning things in the process. I can't wait to start repairing and tweaking things on the boat....just the other day I pulled out one of the portoles to see if it were responsible for a small leak in the galley area....it wasn't (next guess is the rub rail through bolt) but it sure was fun learning how to remove and rebed the window.
Cheers!
Brian
