Chuck and Laura's bosun

vega1860 · Jul 29, 2007

Bree is a very cautious kitty. She did not leave the cabin, except to
poke her nose out of the companionway a few times to sniff the weather
for the entire voyage. She did not leave the cockpit until we were
tied up at the dock in Port Angeles and she has still not left the
boat. Bree has always been content to snooze on a sail bag or in a
locker when we have gone sailing and this trip was no exception.

Chuck and Laura Rose
SV Lealea, V1860
Honolulu
(Port Townsend, WA)

mphalv · Jul 29, 2007

Hi Clint,

While living aboard Double Fantasy on a mooring in Florida, we had our
live-aboard cat, Blackie, aboard. We made a hatch board with a cat flap so that
she could go in and out of the cabin at will. If we were at a dock, we could
lock the cat flap so she could not get out.

At night, we could often hear her scampering about topsides, chasing bugs,
blue herons that had perched on the foredeck, etc. One morning, we could not
find her anywhere on the boat. I called her and heard a pitiful, faint meow
astern. There she was, perched in our dinghy, which trailed about 10 feet
behind. She was wet and some pissed, but otherwise unharmed! She never fell
overboard again. Like Bree, she did not like to be in the cockpit while we
were at sea. I think cats make excellent traveling companions, at least ours
did.

Melanie Halvachs
V1826 Double Fantasy
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mphalv · Aug 1, 2007

Yes, I wish I could have seen it. I've often wondered how long she was in
the dinghy.

Melanie
V1826 Double Fantasy
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fotofundi · Aug 3, 2007

This request is aimed mainly to Chuck & Laura - when they have settled
down that is - although I'd be interested to hear from anyone else in
the meantime.
I have two problems, the first is that after 35 years under almost
continuous sunlight, the deck on 'Little Star' is much the worse for
wear with an increasing number of areas where the gelcoat has lifted
and broken away, leaving patches of bare fibreglass beneath. The
second is that for several months of the year trying to do any work in
the cabin results in being drentched in sweat. I hope to tackle the
first problem this winter and to do so will require some form of cover
for the deck.

On the AVA website there is a picture of Lealea at rest with a full
awning that looks like it would keep the sun off the deck, the cabin
cool and maybe allow me to repair the deck during the winter.

Chuck, do you have any dimentions, drawings etc for the awning? I am
moored bows to the pontoon (no side access)and so have to be able to
make my way from the bows to the cockpit whenever I board. Also, being
6'3" tall I have to raise the gooseneck and end of the boom so I don't
keep clobbering my head when moving around - that's bad enough in the
cabin!

Cheers

David
V1696

pelagicasd · Aug 4, 2007

Hi David, First, where are you located? Second what color are your topsides?
If anything but white it will absorb heat during the warmer months. How are
your side decks and fore deck doing? Any soft spots? Delamination is a
concern and best dealt with in the spring. Tedious but not overly hard to
fix.
If you are looking for awnings we have a bow awning we are no longer using.
If you can find a copy of the 2005 West Marine catalog look on page 1092. If
your interested let me know. Walt

fotofundi · Aug 5, 2007

Hi Walt/Judy

We are both in Sunny Cyprus, the boat spent its first 23 years in the
Gulf and the remainder here so the deck has had a good dose of UV and
heat over the past 35 years. The topsides are a pale grey. About 20
blisters have appeared during the past 4 years, all of these are due
to delamination of the gelcoat in various areas, including a large one
over one of the main windows, of all places! There are also some
crazed areas that will need grinding out. There are a few blisters
that have not 'burst' yet at the foot of the mast on the fore and aft
wood reinforcing beam. Not looking forward to what I might find beneath!

Am planning to remove all signs of delamination, scrub clean with
fresh water(when they connect us up on the pontoon)let her dry
thoroughly use epoxy to repair and then give the topsides a two-pack
paint job in pale grey with white on the anti-slip areas. The hull
looks OK except for where it has received the odd knock and been
repaired in the past - before I owned her.

Because of the heat between May and September I aim to start in late
October and get it all finished before the winter rains start in
January. Some form of awning is essential to protect the deck from
unexpected downpours and give me shade to work in

Would be interested in the bow awning but anticipate the cost of
getting it here would far outweigh having something made up locally -
hence the reason for my posting. Thanks for the offer though

Cheers

David
V1696

vega1860 · Aug 6, 2007

Aloha David,

Lealea's anings were custom made by a long time friend who happens to
do canvas work for a living in Honolulu. Sorry, I have neither
dimensions nor drawings at hand. When we were required to moor bow to
temporarily we left the forward awning off but I think it would be a
simple matter to design one with a zipper or twist-lock fasteners at
the forestay that would allow easy access over the bow.

I can tell you that they make all the difference in comfortable living
and working on deck or below in hot weather and, of course, they
allow you to work on deck or in the cockpit in the rain as well.
There is a compromise in ventilation vs sun protection though. The
paint on the side decks along the toe rail and the forward grab rails
are showing signs of "Sunburn" but the brightwork and paint on the
cabin top and in the cockpit still look like they've been freshly
refinished. Note: it's been ten years now since we painted and
refinished the brightwork with Cetol.

Malie ke kai,

Chuck Rose
SV Lealea, V1860
Honolulu
On the hard in Port Townsend

fotofundi · Aug 7, 2007

Aloha Chuck

Good to hear from you, are you planning to put the awning up again
assuming you brought it with you? If so could I ask a favour for a few
pix from different angles?
Do you have any other solid supports for the Sunbrella material apart
from the aluminium pole suspended from the backstay? It looks like you
may have a rope from the mast to the backstay at the ridge of the
'tent' and also from the upper shrouds to what I presume is the
aluminium pole at the stern. If so are these rigged 'free' with the
awning draped over them?
Any pictures and description would be helpful - getting something made
here is expensive so I want to keep it simple but get it right.

Best Wishes

David

vega1860 · Aug 17, 2007

Aloha no David,

The forward awning attaches to the pulpit and and the forestay forward
and to the spinnaker pole fitting on the mast aft via "D" rings sewn
to a web reinforcing strap running full length. The main section has
a similar strap with a "D" ring forward where it attaches to the mast
and two more rings in the spine or ridge where the topping lift is
used to support the center section by way of a doubled piece of light
line with a loop in the middle. The sides have bolt-ropes stitched in
which attach to the upper shrouds forward and to the aluminum pole
aft. The pole is hung from the backstay athwartships. There are also
two after curtains with channels that slip over the pole. The
curtains are attached to the main section with twist-lock fasteners
and are tied down to the stern rail with light line. There are
grommetsw at intervals along the lower edge of both sections for
attaching with light line or stretch cord to the lower life lines.
The main section has zippered openings on either side of the cockpit
for access from the dock when in a slip. the botom edge of the entire
setup is designed to follow the upper lifelines. The whole thing
folds up into a reasonably small package and is easy to stow, taking
up about as much room as the main and working jib and when the sails
go up the awnings just go in thier place except for the pole which is
easy to stow in a cockpit locker.

We have since added spray cloths that attach to the stern rail and
lifelines to the first stanchion aft. This latest addition has
greatly improved privacy in the marina, keeping the curious from
peeping into the cabin from astern. It has also proven to help keep
the cockpit somewhat drier at sea.

We will certainily be putting the awnings back up as soon as we get
the mast stepped again and get the boat back in the water. I'll get
some more pictures as soon as I can.

Malie ke kai,

Chuck Rose
SV Lealea, V1860
HOnolulu
(On the hard in Port Townsend)

fotofundi · Aug 19, 2007

Aloha Chuck, and a BIG THANK YOU for the detailed description that
makes it much easier to understand how it works on the website picture.

When you get the awning back up again I would really appreciate a few
pictures from various angles. These plus your description should
enable one of our local sailmakers to produce a duplicate for LS.

In the meantime I have rigged a short awning over the aft part of the
boom with two lines from the main shrouds. It works well but shades
the solar panel fitted to the doghouse so I'll have to move that to
the pushpit or get a flexible panel that can be hung over the boom
when the awning is up.

Cheers, and thanks again

David
V1696

pjacobs55 · Aug 19, 2007

David,
There is a good article on an awning made for a Pearson Triton 28 at

http://www.dasein668.com/projects/summer06/awning

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'

fotofundi · Aug 20, 2007

Thanks Peter, looks interesting, just off for a couple of days sailing
so will study it when I get back

Cheers

David
Little Star V1696

giani28582 · Aug 26, 2007

Has anyone installed a bimini on their vega. At least to be used when in port?
Gianni
Puffin 1554

Chuck Rose vega1860@... wrote:
Aloha David,

Lealea's anings were custom made by a long time friend who happens to
do canvas work for a living in Honolulu. Sorry, I have neither
dimensions nor drawings at hand. When we were required to moor bow to
temporarily we left the forward awning off but I think it would be a
simple matter to design one with a zipper or twist-lock fasteners at
the forestay that would allow easy access over the bow.

I can tell you that they make all the difference in comfortable living
and working on deck or below in hot weather and, of course, they
allow you to work on deck or in the cockpit in the rain as well.
There is a compromise in ventilation vs sun protection though. The
paint on the side decks along the toe rail and the forward grab rails
are showing signs of "Sunburn" but the brightwork and paint on the
cabin top and in the cockpit still look like they've been freshly
refinished. Note: it's been ten years now since we painted and
refinished the brightwork with Cetol.

Malie ke kai,

Chuck Rose
SV Lealea, V1860
Honolulu
On the hard in Port Townsend

rchrdcoe · Aug 26, 2007

I intend to get a bimini installed, possibly with a windshield to
zip in. For in port I have an awning above the boom from the mast to
the backstay. For sailing in sunny Fl., a bimini is more important
than a dodger.
Richard V1812

giani28582 · Aug 29, 2007

Hi Judy
I agree it can get very hot especially while motoring in the ICW.
I had a rough time when I went on my trip in north June and installed a store bought bimini when I got back.
I can't use use it with main up just with the jib. it is a pleasure to sit under it whe donefor the day and have that cold one.
Regards,
Gianni
Puffin 1554

skipperjs skipperjs@... wrote:

tom_rutter · Aug 30, 2007

I improvised with some tent poles and a tarp when I was living aboard, but I
don't think it would work at sea.

Tom

thomasonpj · Aug 30, 2007

In Sweden they sell awnings for the Albin Vega at

http://vegamarin.jetshop.se/

If you want to check out them click on the menu Sittsbrunnskapel med
bågar.

If you click on the link kontakt oss they have information for
international orders and a mail address.

Paul Thomason
Vegabond 1485

Chuck and Laura&#39;s bosun

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Chuck and Laura's bosun