23 years old on Vega 1863

Jan 14, 2007
23
Dearest Vega Community,
I graduated from the University of Georgia last December and always had dreamed of
living on a sailboat. Seeing this as an ideal time I bought Vega 1863 "Alpha Lira" on
northern Lake Champlain. I worked at west marine in Burlington Vermont for a few
months living aboard the boat while I outfitted it (with an employee discount) and learned
to sail it on the lake. I then took it down the Champlain canal system to the Hudson River,
Re-stepped the mast and took it to New York City and then sailed down the east coast to
St. Simons Island Ga where I currently live. I used the postings on this user group
countless times when outfitting the boat and it certainly saved me time and afforded me a
tremendous wealth of Vega knowledge. Thank you all. I researched boats before I bought
mine but still feel utterly lucky in happening to choose such an auspicious boat for my
trip. I have a small question to add. I tore the mainsail in heavy seas off of Hilton Head
South Carolina. I was able to jiffy reef the sail above the tear and have to go on day sails
in this fashion currently (roller reefing the main wont work with the tear). Before I spend
300 dollars which I've been quoted to replace a couple sail sections I was wondering what
my alternatives were (the sail is over 25 years old). Where do vega owners go to have new
sails made and what ballpark do they run? Also, there are a lot of Vegas sailing the seas,
are there any sites that might carry used Vega mainsails that are younger than my current
one? I am going to try to include a couple pictures in low resolution of my trip. If anyone
wants to see more or get a couple in higher resolution email me. (I don't want to post a
lot of high resolution pictures for fear it might bog down peoples computers or email
boxes.) My other email is Rtennysonjohnson@.... Cheers.
VegaChamplain..jpg, Lock Picture.jpg,Offshore Fish.jpg
 
Apr 30, 2000
197
I have a Doyle main with two upper full length battens and two lower partial battens. It was about $1100 a few years ago. At the time, I think they called it their Durasail. Well built and a good purchase. I wouldn't put money into your old main - the material is at the end of it's useful life. I hang on to my old original Ratsey and Lapthorne sails "just in case", but not sure in case of what. I bought my 110 jib from Cruising Sails Direct (or is it Cruising Direct Sails?). A premade Catalina 25 headsail?has almost identical dimensions as a Vega sail and much cheaper than a custom sail. North owns the company so North cloth is used.?I'd recommend this for any of you using hanked on sails like I do. Bill Bach, V1071?
 
Jul 26, 2004
90
Hi and welcome!

Others will have other, and quite possibly better, solutions, but a
good source for used sails is Bacon's in Annapolis. They have been in
business for nearly half a decade and ship all over the world. You can
put the dimensions (which you can also get on their site) into their
finder and get back a choice with descriptions, condition and price of
what they have on hand.
The site is: baconsails.com.

And good luck. Keep up posted. (You'll need to upload all photos to the
website. And I hope you do.)

Jody
Snipp
Vega 2140
 
Jul 6, 2007
106
Hi,

I bought my a Dan Neri book (complete guide to sail
care & repair) and two years ago my main broke at the
foot under heavy seas (3 foot of it).

I repaired it (does not looks pretty but it still
stands there today), it cost me in total about £30
(mostly material that I still have most of it left and
continue to use in other repairs)and a lot of time and
work (about 1 hr per foot of swaing I recon).

The truth of the mater is that the sail can be
repaired but as soon as you get a bit of a blow all
the weakness will show and not at the best of times.

So get the book, read it and it will tell you how to
spot weaknesses before they are beyond repair and with
some luck before they become a problem, plus and more
importantly how to take good care of sails in the long
term.

Find a sail luft and get all the materials from them,
this guys tend (admittedly you will find assholes at
some places) to be very pro small budget sailor.

Good luck with your dream!

Roger
 
Apr 28, 2000
691
Aloha Home Boy! (sixth generation from Williston, VT, I own property
in North Troy)

Having spent the last thirty years in Hawaii, far away from original
sources for Vega stuff, I found that pretty much any sailmaker can
provide. Prices vary considerably though so it pays to shop. I'm
sure others on this board will have suggestions.

I'd like to hear about your adventures, especially on Lake Champlaine
and the St Lawrence, for the web site and because we expect to be
sailing there in a few years. Photos would be great too. Please
email me directly.

Malie ke kai

Chuck Rose
SV Lealea, V1860