Keel Drain Plugs and Screws

[chris20636]

I have a 1976 Vega #2933 that I recently purchased. (I previously
owned 1968 #265) I had it hauled out for the winter. On the 1968
model there was a drain plug for the bilge. I did not readily find a
drain plug on the 1976 model, however it was getting dark by the time
I looked. I know that some Vega owners have glassed over the drain
plug. My questions are:

Did all 1976 model Vega's come with drain plugs originally?
Should it be in the same location on the keel as the 1968 model?
(port side, bottom of the bilge)

I want to make sure that this drain plug existed and have an
approximate location, before I go scraping the paint to look for it.

While looking through the discussion messages, I saw that someone had
a small screw that was below the drain plug to drain the void that is
in the aft part of the keel. My questions are:

Is this drainage screw a standard feature on all Vega's? Or do you
think this was an owner modification?
If/When I find the drain plug, does anyone have an approximate
location, relative to the drain plug, where this screw might be found?

Thanks,
Chris Stevens
V-2933
Chesapeake Bay

 

[vega272002]

Chris, have Vega #2902. 1976. Drain plug located on starboad side rear bottom of keel.Jim. Boat is for sale with new Beta diesel.

 

[stevebirch2002]

Hi Chris

The early Vegas had the drain -plug on the port side whilst the later (diesel) Vegas had the drain plu on the starboard side. All Vegas had these fitted as standard as it stopped the keel splitting when it became very cold in Scandanavia whne the boats were on the hard and ivariably some water was always in the keel. The approx place for the drain is starboard about ten inches forward of the rudder shoe and about six inches up from the bottom of the keel. Try using a metal detector as it is made from bronze so should not be too hard to locate. The bilge in the later diesels are slightly different as they onloy have the one space whereas some of the pertol vegas had an extra void, as discussed, below the drain. By the way the VAGB holds stocks of the drain plug and cost £5.50 each.

I hope this has been of some use.

Happy New Year to all Vega owners. The latest VAGB NEwsletter will soon be available. Its finished but I havent printed it yet.

Kind Regards

Steve Birch VEga "Southern Comfort" V1703

 

[araujo318]

Steve,
Do you have the whole fitting or just the plugs available? I have
used a bronze reducing bushing and a plug as a replacement but i am
not satisfied with how far this arrangement protrudes from the keel.
Jim
Vegabond, 1870
Wickford, RI

- In AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com, "Steve Birch" steve@a... wrote:

 

[stevebirch2002]

Hi Jim

I only had the plugs made but they should screw in so they \are flush. I will get some complete fittings made sometime in the new year but not sure when.

Kind Regards

Steve Birch Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703 - Southampton UK