My 1977 Albin 25 Deluxe rebuild thread

[tribologist]

What’s your plan for fresh water plumbing? I did ours over this spring adding an electrical pump, water heater and a shower hose faucet. It made a huge lift on usability to be able to wash of dishes and heads in warm water. The pull-out handle has been very helpful too. It worked out quite well mounting the pump and heater under the port side bed.

[hetek]

Well, my mantra for this whole build was K. I. S. S.

I also also like the quirkiness of a 1977 Swedish boat. What is the norm in the US might not be in Europe. I probably got that trait from the fact my families 1976 SAAB (another Swede) had the ignition key in the floor between the front seats. Yes, there is a reason.

Some quirks I had to say no to, one being the seawater galley pump and faucet. Uhh… no. Another was the head’s direct overboard discharge. Definitely no!

My galley compromise? Keep the single fresh-water foot pump and faucet. Non-electric, no hot water heater. Warm water at best. Just the way Albin intended.

All the convenience of home? Nope. Still quirky? You bet! A 1977 foot pump with 1977 diaphragms? Absolutely not!

How about a newer MK 3 model pump with a fresh rebuild kit? Yeah, that’s the ticket!

Guess what I did last night?

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[WillieC]

Oh you’re not done until you sell it. Then you keep worrying about her care.

[hetek]

Correct you are, WillieC!

One summer I installed a bow thruster on a Sea Sport 27. Loved how it improved docking the boat. Put it up for sale 2 weeks later.

I think this is the 20th boat I’ve owned. The only boats I’ve bought new were two Donzis. All others were “in need of work”.

I’m often asked if I make money buying boats, fixing them up and then selling them. The answer is no, but it is cheaper than spending time and money laying on a psychiatrist’s couch.

“Hi. My name is Jon and I’m a boataholic”.

“Hi Jon!” (says AOG)

See? I’m on the road to recovery already.
Uh… Who am I kidding?!

[DesertAlbin736]

I do believe this must be the single longest running thread in AOG history. Jon I hope you're able get out on the water in between working on incremental improvement projects. Been there, done that. The years slip by, eight years since start of this thead. My ancestral roots are Pennsylvania Dutch. They had a saying, "too soon old, too late smart".

[hetek]

“Too soon old, too late smart”.

Guilty as charged. A very accurate statement, DA.

Have to add “Too often unlucky”.

My pickup truck died on the way home last night.
My son has “prior engagements” and his assistance is limited.
Work still sucks up my time. So…

I took a vacation this week to resolve all of the above and go boating.
Thanks to “Debby” and/or her sister storms, it will rain the entire week.

Holding pattern, here.

Ugh.

[tribologist]

Today woukd been interesting on LIS. My son was planning to go from Groton to Montauk today…

[DesertAlbin736]

Have you been to Block Island? That's one of the places we didn't go in our boat back in 2015 when we had our boat docked in a guest slip for a week at Norwest Marine on Pawcatuck River south of Westerly. We had other things going on with friends from AZ while staying at a rental beach house in Weekapaug. Besides spending time working on trailer brake repairs we only did two day trips on the boat. One downriver & over to the Thames & upriver as far as the sub base, where I graduated from sub school way back in 1971, the same year La Dolce Vita was built. The other was a run over past Watch Hill. But that was our last day there and had to get back to the ramp at high tide in time to haul out and trailer down to Chesapeake Bay. We did go over to Block Island on the ferry with friends and had a fun day. So I'd say Block lsland is a worthwhile stop on the way to Montauk or as a destination itself.

[tribologist]

Block tends to be terrible busy/expensive and quite a long ride in open water. We have not done it but our son has taken driftless out there.

[DesertAlbin736]

I take it back, it wasn't our 2015 East Coast Albin cruise when we took the ferry out to Block Island, but was actually 2 years later in 2017 when we returned to the same Weekapaug beach house and hung out with the same group of sailing club sailors, exept that time as part of a cross country RV road trip with our travel trailer instead of bring our Albin. I must be getting old, mixing up memories!

Here was the beach house where we a spent a week with friends. Except we slept in our trailer parked next to the house because so many others had taken rooms in the house.

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Only this time the owners put us to work earning our keep by helping replace old floor boards on the back porch of the 1940 vintage house with composite weather proof boards.

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Won't bore your with all with details of the rest of the 55 day/9,600 miles RV road trip that year, but a bunch of us took the ferry over to Block Island for a day trip. One of the fun things was to rent a gas powered scooter bike and ride around the island to see the sights.

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[hetek]

“Seas 2 to 3 feet…” is a typical run from Montauk to Block.
Unless it’s fog-bound. Then it is a mill pond but then you can’t see.

I’ve been 3 times. First was a ferry over from New London, CT. Second was a weekend trip from our home port in Southold, NY in a 26’ Carver in seas “2-3…”. The kids were either laughing or crying or both. The 3rd was with my brother-in-law in his 38’ Grand Banks. And the fog.

[hetek]

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I added two rollers to the trailer keel bunk nearest the bow.
I could have pushed it off the trailer with one hand.

She’s at her slip now and I visit daily and take her for a leisurely spin around the bay if I have enough time. Still getting used to close quarters maneuvering but slow and steady seems to suit me fine.

Dare I say that my 1977 Albin 25 deLuxe rebuild is now complete? Not saying that there is nothing more to do. There is ALWAYS something to do on a boat but I am very happy how she came out.

[tribologist]

Sweet Jon!! Congrats!!! Long ways coming. I remember you were considering selling yours just when we were looking for one. You have some catch up to do. We put 840 hours on ours while you been working on it. On the other hand, you probably own the worlds nicest Albin 25. So looking forward to see it! A tip, add vees on the back for it to center on. Makes a huge difference. Never have to go back in to tweek.

[RobS]

I met a few friends at The Shoals Fri evening and looked over and saw her sitting in her slip. Perfect time of season now to put some hours on her. Enjoy!

[WillieC]

I just stumbled onto this. It is so good to see that boat afloat!

Just putting around close to home is good. It takes a bit of work to go farther, spares, stores, plotting, planning. Enough that you should just quit working. Ha! If only.

Well done, Jon.