My 1977 Albin 25 Deluxe rebuild thread

[tribologist]

Bump!!! Wanna see more!

[nebulatech]

And, yes, my wife is already looking at a kitchen remodel project for me.

I bet this is what happened...

I second; I'd love to see updates too!

[tribologist]

And, yes, my wife is already looking at a kitchen remodel project for me.

I bet this is what happened...

I second; I'd love to see updates too!

August... They have IKEA on Long island Two weeks!

[hetek]

Ha! All of the above!

Actually, spring has been a slow start for me because... I'm working on the house!

I ordered a 10 yard dumpster to lighten the past 20 years of accumulation collecting in my garage, basement and shed and it appears that I was 10 yards too short. "Pick this one up and bring me another".

Unfortunately, my Albin has had to take a back seat to spring cleaning, but not for too long I hope. I tell myself she is just taking an extended hibernation. "Sleeping in" as I would say.

This years' plans? All over the map! It's been a crazy COVID (both wife and daughter) and thing are, well, still a bit crazy. I'm still waiting for normal. I've been thinking about everything from attempting the Great Loop to just plain selling Albin and moving on. Depends if I retire or not.

Decisions... Decisions...

Stay tuned. I'm getting the itch again. I feel a cruise in my future.

[nebulatech]

2 x 10 yards? Is that first down and second down?

Keep the Albin. At this point, it's an appreciating asset.

[tribologist]

No Erie this weekend anyway..…. Gale warning and Lock 17 is plugging up the canal with boats….

[tribologist]

Bump!! Did you get some hours on the boat this summer? You are getting close!!!

[hetek]

Sadly, no. My dad asked me the same thing just this evening.

I told him I just put a new winter cover on.

He asked what I had left to do to make it seaworthy.

"Put the bilge plug in."

Mostly because I work in the telecommunications business, I've been working 60 hour weeks for over a year now.
What was "boat time" becomes sleep time. Plus, my go-to transporter just sold his business. I could rent a U Haul pickup truck, but...

Like I said... sad.

We will see.

[tribologist]

Dang.. get yourself a milk house heater and try to get it finished in the winter. You are so close!

[hetek]

Funny you say that Ulf...

If I think about it, it takes me about 2 hours to build the winter cover framework and about another 1-1/2 to put the cover on and tie it down.

Yeah, I know... I'm slow.

But, should that really stop me from FINALLY taking out my boat for a spin?

Either "A", I find something isn't right and needs tending to, or "B", it works great and I can hit the ground running.

Hmmm... Fall weather isn't all that bad...

[tribologist]

I cover ours with some a frames and a Harbor Freight tarp. I make sure its easy to open it so i can get in. Most of the wiring was done under tarp. Its hart to do anything on the exterior. Besides bottom plug, whats left to do?

[WillieC]

Remember, you will NEVER be done.

I hope you can get enough of a break in your life to get out. You deserve to enjoy the fruits of all your hard work. You can make it perfect later.

[hetek]

Besides the plug? Just normal seasonal commissioning: test run engine, fuel up, charge and install batteries...

I didn't install my new wipers or VHF yet but would substitute some Rain X and a hand-held VHF in the meantime.

I hear ya, WillieC.

"Life is too short... Enjoy it while you can".

I just lost a life-long friend this past Saturday. We met when I was 14 and he was 13. I'm 62 now. He had just turned 60 this summer.

We met when he saw me staring at a boat on a mooring in front of his parent's summer home. He told me he knew the owner and that it was built from plans. He introduced me to the owner, I bought his old set of plans, I built the boat (took me 2 years on a teenager's budget) and still have the boat to this day. It's a Glen-L "TNT".

We've done LOTS of boating together over the years. A kid and his boat kind of stuff. Some hell-raising thrown in too. Our poor parents!

He's my daughter's Godfather and would always embarrass me when he called me his best friend in public. He put up a good fight. I'll miss him.

I know... Gotta enjoy the Albin. The finishing can come later.

[WillieC]

So sorry for your loss. But it is a wake up call and time for reflection, at least for me. There have been four deaths this past year close to us, even if removed by time and distance.

Breathe deep and live well. No guarantees for tomorrow. Regardless of the boat.

[DesertAlbin736]

Sympathy & condolences on the loss of your friend. 60 is much too young to be shuffling off this mortal coil. And as we age the years seem to fly by at a faster & faster rate. I just turned 70 this week (still in good health thankfully). Our first charter cruise in the San Juans was 10 years ago & that seems like yesterday. Ten years from now I'll be 80 & these next ten years are sure to go by faster than the last ten.