New to group & in the market next fall.

K

k_setchfield

.
Feb 19, 2010
80
Hello everyone,

I've been lurking in the shadows for a while and haven't posted until now. My name is Kristopher, and my wife and I are interested in finding a good and inexpensive yet seaworthy pocket cruiser to purchase hopefully next fall to sail south for the winter. We live in New England and would hope to cross the gulf stream to Cuba and then on to central America's east coast and south from there.

Everything I've read has me thinking that I want a Swedish boat, and it sure seems that the blend of value, price, and seaworthiness of the vega is hard to meet. Since I work as a fiscal analyst I've run plenty of numbers on the vega, and it always comes out on top of any analysis I've run so far like: average purchase price per foot.

We've got no kids, are plenty comfortable being close and cozy together, and have lots of experience roughing-it and camping, etc. Years in the Volkswagen camper van have shown us that we could handle a small boat's living quarters. The only problem with extended voyaging that I see right away is that she's a runner and out at see she may get antsy to stretch her legs. I guess she could just go for a swim ;)

Anyway, we are in the market for a good (mostly) ready to sail vega. We don't want a big restoration project, but of course a bit of refitting is okay. So, any leads that any of you may have over the coming spring and summer and fall would be appreciated. Our preference would be to find a vega on the East Coast, and one with a trailer would be even better.

Nice to meet you all,
Kristopher Setchfield
 
F

frankdeba27

.
Oct 30, 2019
80
Dear Kristopher,

We have a Vega, on the East Coast, with a trailer. It is completely refurbished; painted, new Beta diesel, new sails new rigging, new dodger, (or sprayhood), new roller furling, new lifelines, all control lines led to the cockpit, new cabintop cockpit winches, etc.etc. The only problem is that it is not for sale. BUT it is available for your inspection. It is stored for the winter, indoors, in Western Massachusetts. If you are close and would like to see it, contact me offline for exact location and appointment. I'd be happy to have you inspect it. The Vega is a great boat. We love it and can't part with it. But they are on the market. Luckily, we found one. Thank you,
Frank & Tena DeBaggis
Carpe Diem, Vega 2141
 
F

frankdeba27

.
Oct 30, 2019
80
Dear Kristopher,
We live Pittsfield, MA, about 43 miles or so from Northhampton. My email address is: fdebaggis@.... Contact me off group through that email address for directions. It will be great to give you a tour of the Vega!

As to whether I intended to be funny:

I do enjoy very much, making people laugh, although people often laugh when I do not intend them to. I haven't learned a lot over the years but I have learned that when people are laughing, and no one seems to be taking credit, I'm the man for taking the credit.

And I am not trying to be funny with what I said in the above paragraph. But if you're laughing, that's great. Thank you, for laughing.Frank DeBaggis
Carpe Diem, Vega 2141
 
V

vega1860

.
Apr 28, 2000
691
Welcome Kristopher,

As you have already done the research We won't bother extolling the virtues of the Vega. We listed several on the American Vega Association web site last year that would have been suitable and I am sure you won't have any trouble finding something just right for you.

Laura had competed in the Honolulu Triathlon five days before we cast off for the Pacific Northwest to begin full time cruising in 2007. Both of us are avid runners and bicyclists and we can assure you that there will be no shortage of exercise on a small boat at sea. Just being on the boat burns far more calories than you would imagine. After a long voyage strap on the runners and go exploring. We also carry two full size mountain bikes, disassembled, in the lazarette.

Welcome to the group and if you have any questions feel free to contact us directly. We have been living aboard together for fourteen years and Chuck lived aboard this boat for six years before that.

Malie ke kai,

Chuck and Laura Rose
SV Lealea, V1860

Albin Vega - The American Vega Association Home

Albin Vega - American Vega Association. Vega 27 sailing, cruising, living aboard, maintenance, repairs, events, information.
americanvega.org

Voyaging Under Sail, Cruising Lealea Home

Sailing Vessel Lealea. Captain Chuck Rose and First Mate Laura Wong-Rose, living aboard their Albin Vega 27at sea and in port. This is the cruising life.
cruisinglealea.com
 
K

k_setchfield

.
Feb 19, 2010
80
Thanks Laura for your kind introduction. My wife Lita will appreciate what you have shared about getting plenty of running and cycling and exercise on the boat. She's also an avid weaver, so we are having a fun time brain storming how she could weave aboard. She'd need a small "workshop loom" or a central american "backstrap loom" for sure.

I can see it now: she's in the cockpit on a nice day pressed back against the stern rail with her backstrap loom on with the other end tied to the mast under the boom. Hilarious. She's thinking about weaving flags while we sail. :)

It was also encouraging to hear that you two have been living/cruising for over a decade. Many would say that over a week would bee too long, especially with their spouse! I guess you really have to enjoy each other's company, which luckily we do. We really can't get enough of each other.

A few years back we put up a 30' diameter american style yurt and spent a year living off the grid in upstate NY. We collected rainwater for bathing, ran the whole thing on 90 watts of solar panels and a deep cycle battery. Had a composting toilet, etc... We had a blast! So I think cruising may be a good fit for us.

Two cats though...adventure cats, but still cats. They are our children. We're 35 & 38 and don't have human children...just feline. They've fared well when we've taken them camping in our vw camper van and even when we've taken them out in the canoe. They just don't like too much wind in their faces. So it'll be interesting to say the least to cruise with our two "boys."

Thanks again for saying hello. It's nice to e-meet you.

PS. if anyone else reading this has ever cruised with cats, how was it dealing with them and the litter box smell aboard?

Kristopher Setchfield
 
V

vega1860

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Apr 28, 2000
691
Kristopher,

Take a look at Bree: The Live Aboard Cat

I think that will answer your questions about the cats.

Can't help with the loom though. I still haven't figured out how to bring along an Electra Glide (Or even a Sportster) myself. There are some things you just have to leave behind. d;^)

Chuck Rose
Lealea, V1860

Albin Vega - The American Vega Association Home

Albin Vega - American Vega Association. Vega 27 sailing, cruising, living aboard, maintenance, repairs, events, information.
americanvega.org

Voyaging Under Sail, Cruising Lealea Home

Sailing Vessel Lealea. Captain Chuck Rose and First Mate Laura Wong-Rose, living aboard their Albin Vega 27at sea and in port. This is the cruising life.
cruisinglealea.com
 
W

winslowbuoy

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Jan 31, 2009
122
Kristopher - My wife used to bring her spinning wheel on my Vega but we never experimented with a loom, its not only the loom its all the raw materials.

With regard to cats I know a Belgian Vega owner carried a cat but I don't know how it worked out.
Mike
________________________________
From: vega1860 chuck@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, 11 March, 2010 16:55:03
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Cats aboard (New to group & in the market next fall.)


Kristopher,

Take a look at http://americanvega .org/lifeinthest icks/bree. html

I think that will answer your questions about the cats.

Can't help with the loom though. I still haven't figured out how to bring along an Electra Glide (Or even a Sportster) myself. There are some things you just have to leave behind. d;^)

Chuck Rose
Lealea, V1860
http://americanvega .org
http://cruisingleal ea.com
 
P

pelagicasd

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Jan 28, 2001
694
I'm more of a dog lover myself but cats probably cruise better. We met a number of cruisers with them in Mexico. One thing that does concern me is cat bites can cause a serious infection from a germ called Pasturella. As an ER nurse I've treated a number of folks who became infected after a bite. Most of them were feeding feral cats when they were bitten. I have seen people infected after they were bitten by there own cat though. It is a serious infection and cause death. It also

spreads very quickly. A hand bitten in the morning can be the size of a softball by the next day. If you are far from help you are going to be in big trouble. It usually responds well when treated with Augmentin which is a penicillin based antibiotic. I don't know what you should use if you are allergic to penicillins. Before cruising any distance from medical help talk with your vet and your doctor. Walt
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
From: mikeandv@...
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:11:10 +0000
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Re: Cats aboard (New to group & in the market next fall.)


Kristopher - My wife used to bring her spinning wheel on my Vega but we never experimented with a loom, its not only the loom its all the raw materials.

With regard to cats I know a Belgian Vega owner carried a cat but I don't know how it worked out.
Mike

________________________________
From: vega1860 chuck@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, 11 March, 2010 16:55:03
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Cats aboard (New to group & in the market next fall.)

Kristopher,

Take a look at http://americanvega .org/lifeinthest icks/bree. html

I think that will answer your questions about the cats.

Can't help with the loom though. I still haven't figured out how to bring along an Electra Glide (Or even a Sportster) myself. There are some things you just have to leave behind. d;^)

Chuck Rose
Lealea, V1860
http://americanvega .org
http://cruisingleal ea.com
 
V

vegatern

.
Oct 2, 2005
465
Kristopher, welcome. It appears you won't have any problem living aboard. I think you will find it an enjoyable experience.
In the 70's my wife and I lived aboard a little 22' gaff sloop. Built of wood, she was much smaller inside than the Vega. Kris was a weaver at the time and she built a Navajo style loom, which hung from the overhead. It worked well, and the thump, thump, thump of the forks was soothing while I read by the oil lamp. A similar loom would be easy to rig on the Vega as it could be hooked onto the overhead grab rails.
It was a rainy winter, one of the wettest in years, and we were on a mooring and so often we were caught on the boat, reluctant to bail the skiff and row to shore in the rain. Laundry was a bit of a chore of course and would pile up some. Walking with the clean laundry 6 or 8 blocks and then rowing it back out to the boat, still dry, took a bit of planning but on one bright day we were lucky and did a number of loads. As Kris handed each armload up to me from the skiff I placed them carefully in the forepeak. The boat cat, seeing the nice clean warm soft laundry decided it would be much more comfortable than his smelly old cat box and promptly pissed all over a pile of clean shirts. With a roar and one swift heave she flew out the companionway and over Kris' head, hitting the water with a splash. Kris eventually forgave me, and I think the cat did too,well at least a bit, though neither of us trusted the other completely after that.
The Vega is a good boat. I think you will find it so as well.
Craig Tern#1519
 
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