Just signed the contract on 1977 A25 Deluxe!

[Robdog.1]

Don't have hull number yet, but after some cosmetic work and a little upholstery and canvas, she'll be getting prepped for the Loop and some inland lake exploring. Boat has a Yanmar 40 hp with 170 hours and a Mermaid reverse cycle AC unit. Sitting on a triple axle aluminum trailer custom built for the A25.
Should be interesting to see speeds/ fuel burn at cruise. Ill post some "before" pics soon if anyone is interested.
Let the adventure begin!!!!

[Desertboater]

Congratulations on finding the boat you wanted with a modern engine. I won't have possession of the one I bought until later in the spring when I drive to Illinois to pick it up but I'm interested in what cosmetic work you will be doing. Mine will need the hull insulation/vinyl stripped off and something (paint or insulate?) put in its place. There are lots of web pages where you can find photos of interiors, different seat designs, etc. for the A25.

[Robdog.1]

Same situation here, I went to Florida from texas to find this one. Exterior refresh, polish, sand and refinish teak rails. Interior is actually very nice, but needs all new cushions/recover in aft cabin so I'll probably recover forward cushions as well. Headliner in good shape. All new canvas being made in Sunbrella.
I have the sail rigging but don't plan on re installing it, if anyone needs rigging?
I'll save the rest of my budget for all the things that are going to break as soon as I start using the boat!
You planning on using your boat on Lake Meade? Meade and Powell are on my cruise list this year, if fuel doesn't keep going up!

[Desertboater]

Lake Meade is not high on my list but that is probably due to all the stories my next-door-neighbor in Las Vegas tells about the congestion at the ramps and the challenge with rocks that are now too close to the surface. The marinas have been forced to move several times due to the falling water level over the last few years. I've been working up in the Pacific NW for the last 2 years and have not kept up with lake conditions as the chore list is too long when I am home. There are marinas on the AZ side that probably are not anywhere near as crowded as the ones close to Las Vegas and would put you closer to the quieter sections of the lake.

Lake Powell is another story - that one is high on our list based on the photos from the blog on Ticaboo Travels & a web site of a C Dory owner who trailered their boat all over the country.

[NickScheuer]

Congrats, Robdog.1 !!! Your trailer sounds great! Our's is a 4-wheel but the 16" wheels and massive bearings appear up to towing cross-country. The trailer under our earlier sail cruiser ((1500 lbs lighter than the Albin) had four 14" wheels and much smaller bearing sets and we towed that vessel from coast to coast to coast (Laguna Madre).

We bought our 1976 DeLuxe in the fall of 2011. This season will be our first which includes a worthwhile adventure.

Sailing friends keep asking why we didn't opt for a sail rig. But after 60 years of sailing (for me; much less for wife), we felt ready for a "slow" motor cruiser. Besides, I'm of the opinion that the Albin-25 is not a very good "sailboat"; much more a "Motor Sailer".

Say, Desertboater! I noticed your mention of "insulation and liner" repair. Our boat has the liner sagging down off one side (bulkhead) in the aft cabin. Rather than try to refasten (adhesive?) I plan to just remove it and try something else. One idea I haven't pursued much further than identifying a couple of sources on the internet is "insulating paint". I am "feeling my way" here because our previous sailboat was built with Airex cored hull and deck, and so was rather well insulated against condensation of any sort. I'm afraid the monolithic hull construction of the Albin will exhibit condensation, but perhaps my worry is not all that justified.

Let me know if you want a hand "hitching up" when you come to Illinois. (Maybe you will want to have a look-see in the wheel bearings, etc)

[Robdog.1]

Money has been wired! I guess I'm committed (or should be!). She's getting a full wet sand bottom paint removal, new bottom job, new boot stripe, hull and topside 3 stage polish/wax, new canvas, AGM batteries, GPS/DSI combo unit and a new name...to be determined by myself and my two teenage daughters.
Trailer gets new bearings.

[Robdog.1]

image.jpg

[NickScheuer]

Same color scheeme as ours, Robdog. Does one need to use a photo hosting site to post photos here? Or can it be done straight from one's Document files?

[Robdog.1]

I just attach from existing photos on my iPad, but it will ask if you want to use a URL.

[Robdog.1]

image.jpg

[NickScheuer]

I LOVE black & white. My 21 ft Dovekie rowing/sailing cruiser had black topsides, white deck and white bottom. N Herreshoff once said "there are only tewo colors appropriate for a boat, white or black, and only a fool would paint a boat black".

I wouldn't be surprised if a top stripe were in our Albin's future.

[NickScheuer]

Obviously IT WORKED! Many thinks for the image tip Robdog. I thought I'd done it like that previously, but must've missed something.

[Robdog.1]

image.jpg

Glad you got photos working. Your canvas is exactly what I'm planning on having made, in black. I hope you don't mind that I took a screen shot of your boat and emailed it to my canvas shop!
How do you like it? Any drawbacks or things you'd change?
Looks great. Did you recover interior cushions? Mine is functional but tired, going to replace/recover all of it.

[NickScheuer]

Our Albin came with two sets iof canvas and two sets of bows; the other is smaller and has no screening. We like the larger one. During our very hot summer last season we mostly used the boat with the canvas in-place, with all the side panels rolled up. I'm seriously considering building a hard top. It would use the same side canvas/screen/plastic windows we have now, just recut with beaded top edges to be hung fom the hard top.

Our previous sailboat had canvas over the cockpit similar to our Albin's, so we have lots of experience with this sort of thing. I'd rather have permanent shade (hardtop) that is already in-place when rain is encountered. Rigging canvas quickly in a squall can be a Chinese Fire Drill.

We got our new blue-grey cushions last season. Our old ones were REALLY dated in color and pattern.

[Robdog.1]

I think I hit the button too many times and doubled the pictures!
I'm having most all of my work done at the same yard/canvas/interior shop all at once to just get it done for the best price. Should be finished buy end of May if there aren't any surprises.
Your boat looks great. Keep me updated on hardtop cost and ideas.