So...what do you do?

[Russell]

Let me know when you come down to Norfolk again and we can get together. I keep my boat at Vining's Landing in Little Creek and there is room for one or two boats to anchor in there as well as rent a slip.

[snewman]

I was looking at the mapthat displays member's home port and discovered I may be the only member of the group from the midwest (Hutchinson MN) so I thot I'd better post this.(I didn't put a pin in the map yet cuz I can't figure out how to do it.)
I started my career as a deputy sheriff, went to law school and for the last 35 years have been practicing law. I have also been active in local politics having served two terms as a MN State Representative and am a heartbeat away from runing for our state Senate seat.
Most of my mispent youth was spent in a duck blind or fishing.
About 25 years ago my wife thought it would be good if we picked up an avocation we could do together. No way she is going duck hunting, golf wasn't my gig so we ended up sailing. We've owned three sailboats, sailed the great lakes, west coast of Florida, the Florida Keys and the Virgin Islands. Just like tomcat rio, we started to get a little old, or lazy, so we bought a "stink pot". We brought our 27' A family cruiser "Quo Vadis" home from So Carolina last October on a trailer we had made for her in Ohio. Initially we had some problems with contaminated fuel and transmission-engine coolant leaks plus some other more minor difficulties. This group has proven to be very gracious with sharing information and ideas, for which I thank the members.
We spent the summer on the Mississippi between MPLS and Winona MN. She is a perfect boat for the river and I really never before appreciated the Ole Miss as a recreation area. It is beautiful!
In January we are hauling Quo Vadis to the keys for our winter vacation and intend to take a look at the areas we could never get into with a sailboat. If you are in the the lower keys and see a 27AFC with a blue hull, a smiling old man and a beautiful old woman, hail us and we'll buy you a beer.
Scott snewman@hutchtel.net

[jumpjet231]

Interesting group on here. I just saw this thread.
After twenty years in the Marine Corps and MC reserve, my family moved back to the Eastern Shore of MD. While in the Corps I lived in NC, FL, TX, MS, Italy, and Japan. I flew the AV-8B Harrier (aka jumpjet) along with various other aircraft during my career. "Wave-Off" is name of my Albin and it is the procedure for a botched landing at the aircraft carrier. After leaving active duty I landed a job flying for FedEx. I currently fly an Airbus 300 mostly domestic due to my small children. Thanks to all on this board for the wealth of info.

[jillsusan]

Small biz here-- 25 years. Distribution of clothing. New York- keep my boat in huntington

My dad had boats when i was young.

I remember his 23 foot Penn Yan 23 footer- flybridge- 400 lbs worth of people on top
sheesh- what a ride.

then there was his 28 foot aluminum hull Marinette. boat did 35 mph-- at that time- mid 70's it was a rocket for that type of boat.

then he had a 40 ft egg harbor-- what a boat-- like a tank. the wood work was amazing-- i only appreciate it now that i see the egg's on the sound at my marina and just like wow! how nice are the interiors of those boats.

I loved all the boat shows etc. So much fun even though my dad is and was nuts.

Love fishing and just being on the water. just ownign a boat is great fun. never gets old. used to do the sharking and tuna thing on the south shore. Now just love being on the sound. fantastic- you sit and fish- while looking a billion dollar homes and cliffs etc. what is better than that? travel to fishers island and watch the people sit in their ivory towers wondering how i could have the nerve to be in their view.

[LarryOwen]

Let me know when you come down to Norfolk again and we can get together. I keep my boat at Vining's Landing in Little Creek and there is room for one or two boats to anchor in there as well as rent a slip.

We have thought of Little Creek as well as Lynnhaven Inlet/Bay as possible stop-over sites (have family at the south end of Va. Beach). Will keep you in mind for next season's trip!

[Mariner]

John, it's funny that you would have bumped this at this time. I just so happened to come here this morning to do so myself. As many of you probably know, I have been working in mortgage for the last seven and a half years. Well, as of Monday, that changed. I left the company I was working for and today I am accepting a position at a yacht brokerage here in Tacoma. I'm excited to be working in an industry that I have a passion for, even if it is a tough time in that industry. Anyway, I will be sharing more information as it develops.

[joe.baar]

Mariner, Much good luck with your new career. I know you'll be happier, and I wouldn't be overly concerned about the industry's strength in this economy. Cheers.

[jcollins]

John, it's funny that you would have bumped this at this time. I just so happened to come here this morning to do so myself. As many of you probably know, I have been working in mortgage for the last seven and a half years. Well, as of Monday, that changed. I left the company I was working for and today I am accepting a position at a yacht brokerage here in Tacoma. I'm excited to be working in an industry that I have a passion for, even if it is a tough time in that industry. Anyway, I will be sharing more information as it develops.

Good for you and good luck with the new career!

[jcollins]

<bump for new members>

[lawrento]

Hi Albin Owners,
I grew up in Singapore Y1958, my parents were migrants from China.
Love boat when my father brought me fishing when I was 9 years old ..
Graduated in Mechanical engineering, serve the army as a Vehicle specialist and start my career in Oil n Gas.
Industries goes into a recession during 1982-83, change to Building sector for 5 years and year 1986 decided to try out on my own in Electronic line.
Till today, I've manufacturing plant in Indonesia, Singapore and electronics component distribution network in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai India.
My boating history began in year 1984 with a wooden 26x4ft wooden boat driven by a 25hp evinrude OB, in year 1997 a 20ft Dynaglass local made fibreglass boat, in year 2000 a 26ft Center console and at last year 2009 bought my first Albin 28TEFD Y2003 and this year 2010 my second Albin 31TE.
All this made possible by a supporting wife and two wonderful boys age 18+, 20+ .... going to university soon.
I sincerely wish to thank all the Albin Owners here for their valuable contributions.
Should You be in this part of the world, give me a call .. will be great to see You guys !

[SeaJAlbin28]

Wow---Interesting stuff here---we are a very diverse group.

I (Chris) graduated college with a degree in psychology and behavioral sciences in 1974, and immediately went to work providing services to children and adults with intellectual and other forms of developmental disabilities. Am still in that field of work, and direct an agency in Washington, NC which serves 300 people each day through a broad range of educational, vocational training, and residential services. My wife, Judy, has recently retired from a career as a registered nurse, and most recently worked in home health care and hospice services. She does a little bit of quality improvement consulting work, but has not fully come to grips with the fact that she is 'mostly' retired.

We are reformed sailors----as we got older we both began to have problems with arthritis and degenerative disk disease, and it became more and more difficult to handle lines and winches and to navigate around the narrow decks of a sailboat. We bought our 2001 Albin 28 TE just about 3 years ago, and named her after ourselves (Chris and Judy.....CJ.....SeaJ.....get it?). In the beginning, we joked that when we made the transition from sail to power that we had "gone over to the dark side"...our sailing friends reinforced that with a lot of crummy jokes that involved wheezing and gasping for air. But, over the past few years, we have really come to appreciate how much more we use the boat, the ease with which we get away and return to our slip, and that at 10 knots we feel as though we are flying! Its also very re-assuring to know that we can outrun a storm, or get somewhere much faster if the need arises.

We mainly use the SeaJ for weekend and occasional week-long cruising---its tight quarters down below but we are good friends so we do just fine. Our boating grounds are the ICW in NC, the Neuse and the Pamlico Rivers, and the Pamlico Sound across to Ocracoke Island. When I retire in about 5 years we hope to devote more time to longer voyages and, who knows, maybe that will include a bigger Albin!

[kathylsails]

I'm a psychologist and my husband is a retired IBM'er. We are also sailors who have made the leap to power boats. There are so many places to go here in Coastal NC and so little time! We just got our Albin 30 FC and really appreciate having the aft berth. We had a great time on her over the 4th of July weekend and can't wait to do more cruising. It's so cool to be in contact with the rest of you Albin lovers!

[hetek]

Just read through and found I haven't posted yet, so here goes...

I work in the telecommunications industry as a network technician / network management. When I started 26 years ago it was all analog copper and very limited bandwidth. I started at the ground floor (one step up from sweeping it!) and have now advanced to the top network technician level. Now it's all digital fiber optics in the GIgahertz world.

In the late '70s I gave up on school and quit after one year of college. I started working in a car dealership's parts department. Next, I worked at a local marina painting boat bottoms and basic yard work - a seasonal thing. I decided to get a "real job" so I worked for a marine electonics company testing and repairing fish/depth finders. Wasn't very happy there, though, so I went back to the job I liked: the marina. I went from painting boat bottoms to rigging brand new twin engined $100k+ Boston Whalers. I actually liked this stuff and loved going to work every day but it just didn't pay much. I've been in telecommunications ever since and FINALLY went back to college at night and got my degree.

Boats? My fist was a home-built Glen-L "TNT". I was supposed to be an 11' semi-flat bottomed race boat but when I measured it, it was 12'. Guess I didn't "measure twice, cut once". I still have that boat in my parent's garage loft. Next came Checkmates, Bajas, Donzis... Then Penn Yans, Pacemakers, Boston Whalers and Carvers. My recent Albin 27AC purchase makes boat #15 for me. My wife says I need to go to "Boaters Anonymous"! I think she's right.

My cruising grounds are primarily the Peconic Bay/Shelter Island area of Long Island, NY. Been to Block Is., Mystic and Essex, CT also. JUST MISSED the Essex Island NE rendezvous! Looking forward to next year...

[glk34]

I have worked with provincial power company for 30yrs. The last 12 years I have been Senior River control operator. Started boating in 1991 with an able 20' full keel sailboat. My dad and I went partners on her. Learned the ropes and loved it. 1995 we bought a Tanzer 26 sailboat which we had til this spring when an opportunity to buy an Albin 25 came along. After much good fortune being able to sell the sailboat we acquired the Albin. Not many A25s in eastern Canada but the few we have seen we liked the layout and mobility of the design.
Most of our boating (many hours) has been spent on the inland water system of the St John river and its lakes. Wonderful place to cruise. Over 100 miles of cruising the main river and many more doing the lakes. Lots of marinas and access to towns and even our provincial capital.
My wife and i have 3 or 4 more yrs before retirement, so we should be very comfortable with our new old albin and hope to do Brador lakes in Cape Breton and more. The ability to tow a boat to locations sure opens possibilities. Trailering closer to some albin events or rondevous would be great.

Chris
Iron Jack 337

[joe.baar]

I grew up on the beach south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock in southwest Seattle, 1950-1961. Member of Sea Explorer Ship "Challenger" 1958-61. Graduated West Seattle High School 1961. Attended Reed College, Portland, Oregon 1961-63 and graduated from the University of Washington in 1965 with a BA in French. During the Vietnam war I served in the US Army Transportation Corps Railway Operating Company, Fort Eustis, Virginia, 1967-70 as training NCO and locomotive engineer.

After discharge I worked for a contractor to the Washington State Department of Health in Alcoholism Program Evaluation and later started a small business building ship models. Worked part-time at a Lake Union boatyard helping commission Taiwan-built Tayanas and Babas, mostly cutters and ketches in the 30-42 foot range. From early 1977 through the end of 2009 I was employed by Group Health Cooperative, a large local health-care provider, managing their database related to utilization, practitioner demographics and claims processing. I retired from doing other peoples' work on 1/1/2010.

I finally married in 1989. We have four children - all Suzanne's and all out of the house by now - and five grandchildren to date. We live in Ballard, a northwest suburb of Seattle which was annexed under protest in 1906. The protests continue. My interests remain family, current events, maritime and military history.

In July 2007 we took a fit and purchased what I tell friends is a "large, powerful motor-yacht", our beloved m/v Liberty, a 1995 Albin 28TE. As far as I can tell we did this to give me something to do in "retirement", along with clearing out the garage. The Port of Everett marina is just slightly less expensive than marinas closer to home so we've been moored there since we took delivery.

Fair winds and calm seas to all.