Albin Vega mast information.

[lorenzotrenchi]

Hallo everybody,
I'm the owner of the albin vega nr. 349. I would like to buy a new mast for my boat, thus I'm studying the characteristics of the original mast in order to understand which mast to buy.
The original mast of my vega is a proctor, with a section of 140 mm x 90 mm, but I don't know the weight (the mast is still fixed on my boat, so I can't weight it yet). I read in the Vega design that the weight of the mast hasn't to be less than 2.5 kg/m and the measures of the section should be larger than 135 mm and 95mm. Does anyone know the weight of the original albin vega mast? Does it weight more than 2.5 kg/m? I searched on internet some information about the original proctor mast, without success.
I know that the latest vegas have a selden mast, for which more information are available. Does anyone know the measures of the section of the original selden vega mast?
Thank you for your help,

Lorenzo Trenchi.

 

[lorenzotrenchi]

Hallo everybody,
I'm the owner of the albin vega nr. 349. I would like to buy a new mast for my boat, thus I'm studying the characteristics of the original mast in order to understand which mast to buy.
The original mast of my vega is a proctor, with a section of 140 mm x 90 mm, but I don't know the weight (the mast is still fixed on my boat, so I can't weights it yet). I read in the Vega design that the weight of the mast hasn't to be less than 2.5 kg/m and the measures of the section should be larger than 135 mm and 95mm. Does anyone know the weight of the original albin vega mast? Does it weight more than 2.5 kg/m? I searched on internet some information about the original proctor mast, without success.
I know that the latest vegas have a selden mast, for which more information are available. Does anyone know the measures of the section of the original selden vega mast?
Thank you for your help,

Lorenzo Trenchi.

 

[Vega1447]

Hi Lorenzo,
I built an A frame to lift my Vega's mast last summer.

I reckon the mast weighs around 80-100kg...

John
V1447 Breakaway

 

[lorenzotrenchi]

Hi John,
I need the exact weight of the mast, without spreaders, shrouds and anythink else. According to my informations, the section weight should be in between 2.5 kg/m and 3.5 kg/m. It means that the all mast weight (9m) is between 22.5 kg and 31.5 kg.
Thank you
Lorenzo

 

[Vega1447]

Hi Lorenzo - it is *much* heavier than 30kg!

Maybe someone here knows exactly but the mast weighs about the same as
an adult male (80kg-100kg).

I rigged up an a frame with pulley blocks to lift my mast and using the
cockpit winch I was able to lift the mast with difficulty....

If it had been only 30kg it would have been easy!

John

 

[tim_klynn]

Lorenzo you estimates look ok to me. From a one design standpoint, as long as you stay in the one design paramters for min and max, I would guess whatever mast you choose is ok. Obviously, a lighter, stronger mast is the most desirable.

I would guess my (proctor) mast weighs less than 100 lbs including rigging, spreaders, tricolor, winches, and the roller furling attached. My mast is unstepped right now and I could weigh the whole assembly for you, but you can probably understand why I am not too excited about stripping the mast to a bare pole just to weigh it.

John does your mast really weigh 100kg?
I would suspect that it is either full of something (an emergency beer stash?) or you could suffer from the same problem I have-everything seem to be getting heavier and heavier the closer I am to turning 50.-Tim

Also-for those of you not familiar with the US system of weight and need to get a feel for how much a pound is-a case of beer (regular-not lite) weighs about 31 lbs, of course that is 24-12oz bottles-so you will still have to convert 12oz to liters I suppose.

 

[tiempo2010]

100 lbs including winches? They must be small plastic winches.

 

[lorenzotrenchi]

Hi Tim,
have you got a caliber?
Could you measure the wall thickness of the mast at the bottom. I think that the thickness is constant along the section. If the measures are enough accurate, I can evaluate the weight of the mast.
Could you tell me also the total lenght of your mast? Is your vega first or second series?
Thank you, Lorenzo

 

[tim_klynn]

Plastic winches...That gave me a chuckle.
I really think the my mast weighs less than my girlfriend, but of course I can't discuss that subject any further.
Next time I am out at the boat I will bring a scale and see if I am underestimating the weight. I know this is going to be one of those moments that my girlfriend is going to give me the puzzled look and say "you are going to do what?" as I head out to the barn in snow and subzero weather with the bath scale under my arm....
I guess either way it works out well for me-either the mast is heavier than 100lbs, which means that I am much stronger than I thought-or I am correct in my estimation. -Tim

 

[winslowbuoy]

Hi Lorenzo - I used to take my mast down in the winter and store bit in a shed.
It was easily carried by two people and I used to lift it onto trestles to dress
it with rigging etc on my own. I would guess that 30 - 35 KGs is about right.
Mike________________________________
From: John Kinsella John.Kinsella@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, 10 February, 2011 17:42:54
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: Albin Vega mast information.


Hi Lorenzo - it is *much* heavier than 30kg!

Maybe someone here knows exactly but the mast weighs about the same as
an adult male (80kg-100kg).

I rigged up an a frame with pulley blocks to lift my mast and using the
cockpit winch I was able to lift the mast with difficulty....

If it had been only 30kg it would have been easy!

John

 

[tim_klynn]

Lorenzo
I'll bring my calipers out and measure the wall thickness next time I'm out there. How soon to you need the info (the boat is currently in a barn about 25 miles away)? I'll take a string and give you an outside circumference of the section as well.

I think my Vega is a series 2, it is #1874 built in 1973. I think the Vegas with the silver masts are Series 3.

 

[vegatern]

Lorenzo,
At the back of the manual that came with the boat are the specifications for the rig if it is to be used in class racing. I assume this would be an original, unaltered rig. Perhaps this will help.

"Total length on the mast not to be less than 9000 mm.

Measurement marks (black painted bands, 25mm wide) shall be located on mast and boom as follows. The upper edge of the mast's lower band shall be located 811 mm from the lower end of the mast, The lower edge of the mast's upper band shall be located 7900 mm above the upper edge of the lower band (8711 mm above the lower end of the mast). The inner edge of the boom band shall be located 3300 mm from the bottom of the mast's gooseneck track.

An imaginary point of intersection between the foreside of the mast and the extension of the forestay not to be more than 9084 mm above the lower end of the mast

The weight of the mast including spreaders, tracks, spinnaker boom eye, shroud and stay tangs, steaming light with electric wiring, and sheaves for the halyards, but excluding stays, shrouds, halyards, winches or extra mast top light, not to be less than 30 kilos. This corresponds to a weight of the mast tube profile (without luff groove) of approx. 2.5 kilos per meter. The dimension of the profile not to be less than 135x95 mm and of uniform thickness and not tapered. The mast's center of gravity (equipped according to the above) not to be lower than 4450 mm above the lower end of the mast.

The bolts for the main shroud tangs not to be located lower than 8600 mm above the lower end of the mast, and the tangs for the lower shrouds must not be lower than 4450 mm above the lower end of the mast.

The spreaders to have a minimum length of 755 mm, measured from the mast to the position of the main shroud, The mast to have a track for the mainsail slides. Internal halyards must not be fitted in the mast.

The boom: Length from boom end to mast 3500 + or - 50mm. The boom to have a maximum profile height of 105 mm and a minimum weight ( including roller reefing gear and mast slide) of 6.75 kilos.

The length of the spinnaker pole measured from the center line of the yacht to the extreme outer end of the pole must not exceed 3100 mm, when the pole is set athwartships and horizontally. The spinnaker pose not to be carried higher than 2075 above the lower end of the mast.

All shrouds and stays to be 1X19 stainless steel wire rope, minimum diameter 5mm. An inner forestay must not be fitted on the yacht. Attachments of the main and lower shrouds must not be moved from the foot rail. A trimming device on the bridle of the backstay may be used."

Craig Tern 1519

 

[lorenzotrenchi]

I read the manual. The problem is that the two indications for the weight of the mast, give both a lower limit for the weight (2.5 kg/m and 30 kg for the entire mast). The modern mast profiles, with a section greater than 135mmx95mm, weight about 3.3 kg/m, that is more than the 2.5 kg/m given in the class rules. While the sections that weight about 2.5 kg/m, are smaller and measure about 125mm x 85 mm. I guess that the weight of the original albin vega mast is more than 2.5 kg/m, and it is about 3 kg/m. In this case my choise is the 3.3 kg/m section. Else, if the weight of the original mast is really 2.5 kg/m, maybe I will buy the smaller profile.

Thank you for the information,

Lorenzo.

 

[Vega1447]

Hi Mike
I can't argue with you but am very surprised.

I had a 1-1 lifting tackle for my mast on my A-frame coming back via a
turning block on the side deck to a standard Lewmar single speed cockpit
winch.

It took all my strength to winch the mast up a foot or two so that it
could be lowered to a horizontal position - and the halyard (a 10mm
diameter 20m jib sheet) was bar tight...

Maybe there was a lot of friction in the system???

John

V1447 Breakaway

 

[winslowbuoy]

Hi John - Just going on practical experience, I helped Steve Birch lift his mast
out and replace it at Fareham SC and they have a derrick with a simple Handy
Billy type tackle (two sheaves at one end one at the other) and from memory it
was a relatively easy lift with good control over the mast throughout.

There must be some other factor in your set up although I have heard of people
filling their mast with foam etc to stop internal wires rattling, if this got
wet it could account for the weight difference. and you do have a healthy amount
of precipitation in Eire.
Mikel

________________________________
From: John Kinsella John.Kinsella@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, 11 February, 2011 10:37:33
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: Albin Vega mast information.

Hi Mike
I can't argue with you but am very surprised.

I had a 1-1 lifting tackle for my mast on my A-frame coming back via a
turning block on the side deck to a standard Lewmar single speed cockpit
winch.

It took all my strength to winch the mast up a foot or two so that it
could be lowered to a horizontal position - and the halyard (a 10mm
diameter 20m jib sheet) was bar tight...

Maybe there was a lot of friction in the system???

John

V1447 Breakaway

 

[Vega1447]

Yes - but that Handy Billy is a 3-1 setup (or is it just 2-1?) so
obviously *much* easier than 1-1..

I'll definitely use multiple pulley blocks next time..

You are right about the rain here in Ireland but I don't think that
explains my impression of the weight of my mast.

I may just be wrong!

John

 

[tim_klynn]

Ok, I went out to the boat to get some measurements for Lorenzo and I took along my girlfriend and trusty bath scale to weigh the mast.

My plan was to have her hold the mast while standing on the scale while I photographed the scale with both her and the mast on it, then have just her on the scale and photograph her weight. She refused once she knew that everyone would then know her "winter weight".

So plan B: I stood on the scale and she took the photos.
The results are Tim and mast: 261.6 lbs
Just Tim: 173.4 lbs
Thus the mast weighs: 88.2 lbs

I have to note that this includes the roller furling, the 2X4 lashed onto the mast to hold the roller furling, and everything attached to the mast (non-plastic winches etc),wiring, spreaders, tricolor,deck and steaming lights but doesn't include standing or running rigging.

So this tells me 2 things:
1) I was right in guessing the mast weighed less than 100lbs
2) It is time for me to lose some weight before we go to the BVI this spring.

If the mast tube is 2.5kg/m then just the tube only weighs about 38.5 lbs which means all the other stuff on the mast weighs about 50 lbs. As a guess I would say the roller furling is about 30 lbs which leaves 20 lbs for the rest of the gear.

I know someone is going to say "the standing rigging is part of the mast" so I just went and weighed the standing rigging: 21.8lbs

This did not included the forestay (as it is in the roller furling), but did include: wire, turnbuckles, topping lift and backstay adjuster. So if one includes the standing rigging, the mast weight is 109.8 lbs.

If one claims running rigging is part of the overall mast weight, that would mean to get to 200 lbs the running rigging would have to weigh 90.2 lbs, which I guess is possible, but I would think that using lead core lines for halyards would contribute to excessive heeling.....

I don't doubt that in trying to pull the mast up from a horizontal to a vertical position that a guy might need over 200 lbs of force on the line if the pulling line only has a small angle to the horizontal mast because a lot of the force is going horizontal rather than vertical.

Hope this clears up the mast weight dilemma, it is amazing what lengths I will go to do avoid sitting at my desk when we get some nice weather after a long period of snow and cold... -Tim