New to group - a few questions!

tomfentonvega2977beowulf · Nov 6, 2011

Welcome to the group, John. Would you tell us where you keep your boat?
There are many more experienced Vega owners than I who will explain the
workings of the group better than I could. Here is my tuppence worth.

This group is global, and many of the more active participants are base in
the USA. Albinvega.co.uk is the website of the UK Association, of which
Steve Birch is one of the head honchos, and the spares list on the UK
website is, as far as I know, effectively his. But whatever part you need,
it seems to be worth asking Steve if he stocks it. I have never known him
to say no.

The soft bung in your cockpit could be to cover one of the sockets into
which the table legs screw. These are a repeat of the sockets in the cabin
sole, on my boat at least, so there should be two. I seem to remember the
sockets are about 4 cm deep.

Tom Fenton
Beowulf V1977

winslowbuoy · Nov 6, 2011

Hi John - My boat 'Jenavive' is No 1768 so probably very similar to yours, where are you based.

As you say Steve Birch is a mine of knowledge on the Vega and runs the spares and technical information side of the Vega Assoc. of Great Britain.

The hole in the back of the cockpit is or was the pipe for pumping out the bilge and had a very simple lift pump in it originally, mine still works but many people have changed the setup for a more modern system.

The bronze plug in the keel is a drain plug from the bilge, if your boat was ashore in a cold climate, water in the bilge could freeze and expand damaging the hull, by taking the plug out when the boat is ashore you can keep the bilge dry.

Many boat owners have taken out their combi gear when replacing the volvo engines and dismantling and reassembling them is not for the faint hearted. We've all had to do it at some time and drawings and advice are available through the national vega club in your area.

I've had my vega since 1983 and she is still going strong. Good sailing

Mike
________________________________
From: John Denney johndenney1@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, 6 November 2011, 20:51
Subject: [AlbinVega] New to group - a few questions!
Hi all, I have just become the proud owner of a vega (sail number 1726) and I am having trouble finding information on this site.... I guess I am doing something stupid but can anyone clarify the following please?

1. there seems to be 3 websites, this yahoo group, another forum at Login Required | Albin Vega Forum and www.albinvega.co.uk/ - are they all linked in some way or are they separate entities?

2. when I try to search on this forum I get loads of messages which do not always seem very relevant and much of the content seems to be repeated making it difficult to follow? What am I doing wrong?

3. "Steve Birch" seems to be very knowledgeable and helpful and able to provide spares etc... does he have a shop / website were orders can be placed?

Sorry if these are stupid questions but I can't seem to get my head around how it all works!

....also
what is the bung for in the cockpit? I have a "loose fit" cover over a hole which appears to have liquid at the bottom - looks like bilge water!

my engine controls seem to be seized solid! I believe it has something called a "combi" - any idea how I free it off?

I have found a small bronze plug at the bottom of the keel - I unscrewed it and water escaped! Surely the keel is not full of bilge water!!!!

Again, my apologies if these issues are covered elsewhere but I cannot seem to be able to do an effective search. Thanks in advance.

ps is it possible to put pictures on here?

johnadenney · Nov 6, 2011

Hi Mike, many thanks - I have spent the last hour or so messing about with the forum and I think I now understand how it works! Its is easier to navigate about the site when the messages are not expanded!

I live near Warrington (UK) and the yacht is in my back yard at the moment - awaiting a bit of an overhaul. If there is a Vega owner near me I would love to have a chat... so many questions!

..... just to confirm - the hole in the cockpit is the bilge OUTLET?

I have a whale type pump in the port cockpit locker and the outlet is just loose in the locker - I have to pop it over the side and start pumping!

....as you may have guessed I am new to sailing and boat maintenance. I think I need to strip the engine control mechanism - oh gloom... can anyone describe how it is supposed to work - I guess the lever engages fwd or reverse, opens and closes the throttle and somehow changes the pitch of the prop!!!! Must be Scandinavian magic!!!

Thanks again.

John

stevebirch2002 · Nov 6, 2011

Hi John

Welcome and congratulations with your Vega purchase.

This is the vega Group, the one at proboards has not really taken off. This one on Yahoo has the most members and just about every vega owner a member.

Mike Freeman has answered most of your problems but please feel free to contact me direct (steve@...) or via this Yahoo Group.

Welcome

Steve Birch

johnadenney · Nov 6, 2011

Many thanks Steve, the yacht has been previously stored on the hard
for 12 years !!! so it has had plenty of time for all things
mechanical to seize up. I am guessing that I should overhaul the
mysterious combi system thing and I believe you supply kits? How do I
go about ordering one - plus an idiots guide of how to do it! Thanks
for the welcome.

John

stevebirch2002 · Nov 6, 2011

Hi John

I know your boat well, Ictinus at a guess? She was kept at South Dock in London for many years. Drop me an email and I will send back my contact numbers for a chat.
Cheers

Steve Birch Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703 berthed at Fareham, Portsmouth, UK

pjacobs55 · Nov 6, 2011

Hi John,
Welcome to boat ownership, and especially Vega ownership .... you chose a great little ship!
Most of your questions have been answered by others, but I'd just like to add that the "Files" section on this forum contains a file by Steve Burch called "Combi Instructions.PDF" and might be of interest. There're also numerous other files that are interesting too.

Keep those questions coming .... the forum has been a bit quiet lately!

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'

n6ric · Nov 6, 2011

Hi John,
Let me offer my welcome as well. While my boat is newer, it sat on the hard for 10 years before I bought it. I've pretty much gutted it and am doing a complete rebuild. I document everything I do on my website and it may be of some use. I'm in the process of reorganizing the pictures to specific tasks, so their easier to follow. Feel free to browse and ask any questions you like.
Fair winds,

Ric
s/v Blue Max
#2692
www.ric-maxfield.net

johnadenney · Nov 7, 2011

Wow!!! I am seriously impressed!! you are correct - I bought it from
Peter Birch - Hull Marina a couple of days ago. I believe he was the
owner when it was in London.

johnadenney · Nov 7, 2011

Thanks Peter - I am beginning to get my head around the system now..
although I am surprised that I seem to be generating loads of emails
as well as messages to the forum? I have found the files section - I
just need to find out where everyone keeps all the photographs of the
jobs they have done now... I prefer to look at a picture rather than
read instructions!

johnadenney · Nov 7, 2011

Ric - fabulous - just what I need!! Thank you so much.

johnadenney · Nov 7, 2011

Wow!!! I am seriously impressed!! you are correct - I bought it from Peter Birch - Hull Marina a couple of days ago. I believe he was the owner when it was in London.

stevebirch2002 · Nov 7, 2011

Hi John

Think you will find that you bought it from Peter Bush (Not Birch)!! Dont think she has been on teh hard for that long but I may be mistaken.....

Cheers

Steve Birch (07831 846997)

pjacobs55 · Nov 7, 2011

Hi John,
Thanks for posting all the photos ... brings back memories! I have a photo album link to my Vega on my blog www.sintacha.com
There may be some info for you there.

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'