Buying an Albin Vega - how do I know I am not getting ripped off?

tim_klynn · May 17, 2009

To avoid getting "ripped off" hire a surveyor to inspect the boat before buying it. Owners may not be trying to cheat you, but they may be unaware of problems.

I just bought a Vega after looking for about 2 years. Your budget seems reasonable for the US.

It all depends on your idea of what exactly tip top needs nothing to go cruising is (watermaker? new engine? windvane? refrigeration? solar panels? or just first rate physical condition) You are probably on the low end of reasonable for a really outfitted boat.

When I started looking, I was looking for inexpensive "fixer uppers", but then realized the parts (engine, sails etc) to make a boat tip top would cost more than boats that already had relatively new engine/sails etc.

The boat I bought is in excellent condition, but I am sure I will spend many thousands of $ and lot of hours on it before I take it on any extended ocean crossing journey.

stevebirch2002 · May 17, 2009

Hi All

Dont mistake a cheap Vega as the most cost effective way of ending up with a Cruising Vega ready for anything!

I know of one Vega (In the UK) which cost a mere £2000 but ended up costing over £13000 with all the modifcations and renovations needed. Mind you she is a fine Vega and winning most of the races on The Solent.

Engine = £4000 inc fitting
Sails = £2000 as a minimum
Standing Rigging = £500 plus
Running Rigging = £200
Windows = £550
Instruments = £500 plus

This is just a start, if you cannot do the work yourself then budget the cost of a marine craftsman!
Cheers

Steve B

pjacobs55 · May 17, 2009

hauraki_blue:
It sounds like you're looking for a new boat, so you'd better add another zero to the expected price, LOL

Seriously though, I live in Canada and have a Vega in pretty good condition that was just valued at $21,000 in a recent insurance survey. I think boats in the price range you're looking at will easily double in cost by the time they're equipped and made cruise ready. The exception to this is when you find a distress sale of a very good boat ... someone just has to part with it due to illness or some other reason (like having two boats and one slip).

A look at other 30-plus year old boats will reveal just as widely fluctuating prices. Location, condition, owner's expectations, are all factors. In cruising the internet I've found one country that seems to have a lot of Vega's in the lower price range is Sweden.

My experiences buying any type of vehicle have always been that it's better to initially spend more on a better unit, than to go the "cheap and rebuild route".

Hope this helps, and good luck in your search. The Vega is a very good choice for a seaworthy pocket cruiser.

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'

sailshiva · May 17, 2009

Definitely get a survey to insure the boat is sound structurally and mechanically.

We just sold our Vega, and some friends nearby just sold theirs too. Both boats were in good condition inside and out, though of course showed their age in various ways--thinning gel coat on the curved edges of the coach roof for example. Both had sound engines, good sails, sound standing rigging, roller furling, reasonably new running rigging, dodgers, ground tackle, heaters, cookers, and heads. Both boats sold for $12,000. If the new owners want to sail the inland waters of Puget Sound and Georgia Straits, they don't have to do much more than put their clothes aboard and take off. BUT, if either new owner wants to circumnavigate, they'll need to invest in things like more water storage, solar chargers, water makers, self-steering, and possibly beef up the mast support. But you could buy a brand new boat off the show room floor, and still have to do most of those things to go off-shore

Personally, if I were going off-shore, I'd buy the basic boat--a good sound Vega like the two mentioned above, and have the solar panels, water maker, etc. added, since those are often finicky systems even when they are brand. I wouldn't want to relyi on a used water makerf on someone's old if I were in the middle of the Pacific.

The other consideration--how much time do you have? A project boat, like a project house usually takes about 5 times as long to fix up as you think it will. And, even if you do all the work yourself, it takes about 10 times as much money as you imagine. Yeah, a new engine is about $6500, but there's the water strainer, the mounts, the exhaust, the muffler, the connector cables, the fuel lines, whew. Pretty soon you're talking serious poverty.

Good luck,
Sheila

j.hunter9999 · May 17, 2009

I love all of these comments! Especially the comment about drinking beer while sculling!

There really is no short answer here. We bought a Vega for the same reason...a well designed boat for a decent price. If you're on the 5 year plan, then you have some time to make the Vega what you want. The downside to buying someones else's "cruise-ready" boat is that it might not be YOUR "cruise-ready" boat. The things they've determined are necessary for happy cruising may not be what you need.

We bought a fairly barebones (original) Vega and plan to take the next few years sailing and refitting with the things we identify needing. That process may not work for everyone. But, since I've been doing all my own work, I know whatever we do will be correct. If you decide to go that route, there are a couple good books for reference.

I think if you are looking for a Vega with a stove, oven, heater (all propane), extra room in the berths, a conversion to the v-berth so that half can be used as a workroom, a larger head, a newer deisel, and extra water tankage, 10,000 USD might be a little on the low side. However, if you're patient, you should be able to find something similar pretty reasonably.

As for a sculling oar, I agree with Alisdair...its just too hard to drink a beer (or a nice rum and lime) while you're sculling. That said, I rarely use the motor for much of anything (unless I have to be at work on Monday). We once lost the wind about a mile out from the marina. It was relatively calm...so I broke out one of the dinghy oars and rowed. Luckily, the wind came up about 30 minutes later.

We have the original MD-6A. If it ever goes for good, I'm going to mount a small outboard and oar locks on the coamings. After a few years, I'm sure I'll be installing a Beta.

Bets of luck. Be patient. Definitely get a survey.

Jack,
Bella - V2620

davidcoutts2 · May 19, 2009

Hauraki blue

First off, Age, The vega,s (Over 3000) were made so older is slightly cheaper, my Vega is 1020, when i bought it 10 years ago it cost £7.500 and that was reasonable with old engine! the boat now has new engine rigging,wiring, bulk heads, sails etc etc in other words everything was renewed, now if i sold it i would expect £13.500, remember cheap means requires new engine " £4000 sails £1500, rigging £400 etc so on top of everything you are still looking at between £10.000 and £13.000 the vega web site gives you prices of boats for sale the more you pay the better equiped the boat (Not better the boat) as the Vega is a classic and one of the best sea boats in its class.

Good luck in search

Albin Vega 1020

brettgoldstone · May 19, 2009

I saw a very nice Vega on Lake Taupo 5 years ago. Buy that and save yourself the trip up here. Better still buy yourself a nice H-28 in Auckland.
Brett

________________________________
From: hauraki_blue zanekr@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2009 1:17:56 PM
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Buying an Albin Vega - how do I know I am not getting ripped off?Hi Sheila, and all the others.

Thats a good dinkum name downunder (I am in New Zealand) for a lass.

Well, I have plenty of time. In fact, I live in New Zealand, and am just in the planning stages. I have a five year plan to make this all happen. Look forward to leaving the life as a debt consumer behind (at least partially) and go sailing.

I discovered a Swedish trading site (their version of E-bay perhaps), and the prices there for a well equipped good condition Vega are around 70-100K Kroner. Very reasonable. Might be the better route to go.
Then do what I have to do for upgrades.

I've considererd a lot of boats, from Contessa's to Vertues'. For whatever reason, Vegas' seem to be the most competitive price wise. Whether this is because of the number that were built, I am not sure.

Anyone considered ditching the engine and doing a Pardey with the sculling oar? Or are the waters around USA and Europe just too busy for that to be a reality?

Cheers.

vegatern · May 19, 2009

I think that $10,000 is a bit light though in this market you may well find something. I think I would allow perhaps that much more to fit her the way you want.
Having had a couple of sailboats without engines, and then with, there is no doubt in my mind that the "has" boat gets more use. It's just a matter of physics and human nature. It is much simpler to turn the key and get out of a crowded harbor before hoisting, or to ask friends to go for a sail "next weekend" knowing that traffic or wind strength and direction won't cause a problem at the landing. I found this to be true living aboard, and not, as well. Intuitively one would think that liveaboards sail all the time, but unless one is fastidious about putting away the breakfast dishes in the morning, it is unlikely that after getting home from work, washing up, folding laundry, and getting the cat box out of the cockpit, there will be much interest in an evening sail . . . though perhaps I'm just a lazy slob.
Craig Tern #1519