Re: [AlbinVega] Albins with outboards, 9.9 hp and "longshaft" ?

[Brian Hofler]

Recently I checked a Vega 27 for purchase, and it does not have any inboard, but the previous owner had an outboard with a "long shaft". (Previous to the current owner.) [ Sorry is this seems to be a superfluous redundancy in clarifying the clarifier. ]

What, in terms of a Vega, would be the length of the long shaft outboard?

Is that one of those basic questions like, how high is the bracket?

Assuming I can find the bracket, how is the shaft measured in terms of it's length?Second real biggie question.

Does anyone who has an outboard go offshore with their Vega, and has it been a problem, assuming some rough seas were encountered?

Is an engine "really" necessary when going off shore?

In the back of my mind I feel this is a loaded question, after doing some reading about the Pardeys and others circumnavigating without any engine at all!! (At one point I was fearful of going crazy, but the doctor said it was nonsense and all in my mind.)

Bob
s/v Second Nature[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

[reefmagnet]

"BEarly1227" bearly1227@... writes:

|
| Does anyone who has an outboard go offshore with their Vega, and has
| it been a problem, assuming some rough seas were encountered?
|
| Is an engine "really" necessary when going off shore?

No. It is actually better to not have an engine. Then you wont trust the
engine and would sail accordingly I have crossed the atlantic (the
wrong way from New Foundland) with a close to faulty inboard. I rather
use the outboard instead of the inboard (short shaft) when I'm sailing
close to shore with all sail up. Works for me.

--
/Jonny
Opera Software
phone:+47-24164370 fax:+47-24164002

 

[reefmagnet]

Bob,
We had a Nissan 9.9HP longshaft outboard as an interim motor after the
Albin got to costly to maintain and the Yanmar was installed. I couldn't
remember the length so I just visted the Defender Industries site @
www.defender.com and checked. They list the Nissan as a 9.8 (maybe a typo?).
Length for the short shaft is 15" and for the long shaft, 20". Overall I
liked the engine. It was mounted on a lift and lower bracket. We did have it
overshore while sailing in some pretty heavy stuff. The engine was doused by
numerous following seas. When we finally made it back to the Golden Gate
bridge the wind died. The motor started on the first pull. Fuel economy
wasn't great as 2 cycle engines aren't as efficient as four stroke engines.
It had no problem pushing the boat at hull speed. They are considerably
lighter also. The problem with the fuel is the unburned portion goes into
the water. A lot of places are banning 2 cycle engines. Other problems are
that in a chop when the waves are steep and quick you will lift the prop out
of the water. It will rev up very quickly and then back down as the prob
submerges again.
If you plan on installing a wind vane for self steering you will have to
mount the engine off center. Once while motor sailng in light winds we got
caught by a gust. The boat heeled and dunked the engine. We sailed into the
slip that time. The fix was easy, hosed off everything, filled the cylinder
with gas and oil through the spark plug hole, turned it upside down and
drained it into a bucket. Put the plug back in and away she went. As to do
you really need one offshore? Imagine you've been sailing for three days
through sloppy stuff, you're tired, you're friends are partying ashore.
You're 30 miles away and the wind has just gotten light. And then you figure
out its coming from where you want to go. You will not get there that day.
Especially if you're dealing with tides and currents going the wrong way.
Another scenario is your batteries are dead, it's night, you're becalmed, a
large ship is about to run over you. Need I say more?
Are you going to carry a dinghy? If so you'll probably want an outboard
for it. Many times rowing won't cut it. I'd consider a 4 stroke engine with
a long shaft around 6HP. You can carry it on a sliding bracket on the stern
and lower it when you need it. You'll have to fabricate a bracket for the
the dinghy stern or you'll be hitting bottom alot. Also be sure to carry a
spare prop and tools to change it with. We are on our 3rd prop for our
dinghy outboard. One last thing is the lift and lower bracket requires
considerable backing for the weight of a 9.9.
We had to redo ours after the stern developed a dented look. Good luck!
Walt, Lyric #120

 

[reefmagnet]

Bob,
We had a Nissan 9.9HP longshaft outboard as an interim motor after the
Albin got to costly to maintain and the Yanmar was installed. I couldn't
remember the length so I just visted the Defender Industries site @
www.defender.com and checked. They list the Nissan as a 9.8 (maybe a typo?).
Length for the short shaft is 15" and for the long shaft, 20". Overall I
liked the engine. It was mounted on a lift and lower bracket. We did have it
overshore while sailing in some pretty heavy stuff. The engine was doused by
numerous following seas. When we finally made it back to the Golden Gate
bridge the wind died. The motor started on the first pull. Fuel economy
wasn't great as 2 cycle engines aren't as efficient as four stroke engines.
It had no problem pushing the boat at hull speed. They are considerably
lighter also. The problem with the fuel is the unburned portion goes into
the water. A lot of places are banning 2 cycle engines. Other problems are
that in a chop when the waves are steep and quick you will lift the prop out
of the water. It will rev up very quickly and then back down as the prob
submerges again.
If you plan on installing a wind vane for self steering you will have to
mount the engine off center. Once while motor sailng in light winds we got
caught by a gust. The boat heeled and dunked the engine. We sailed into the
slip that time. The fix was easy, hosed off everything, filled the cylinder
with gas and oil through the spark plug hole, turned it upside down and
drained it into a bucket. Put the plug back in and away she went. As to do
you really need one offshore? Imagine you've been sailing for three days
through sloppy stuff, you're tired, you're friends are partying ashore.
You're 30 miles away and the wind has just gotten light. And then you figure
out its coming from where you want to go. You will not get there that day.
Especially if you're dealing with tides and currents going the wrong way.
Another scenario is your batteries are dead, it's night, you're becalmed, a
large ship is about to run over you. Need I say more?
Are you going to carry a dinghy? If so you'll probably want an outboard
for it. Many times rowing won't cut it. I'd consider a 4 stroke engine with
a long shaft around 6HP. You can carry it on a sliding bracket on the stern
and lower it when you need it. You'll have to fabricate a bracket for the
the dinghy stern or you'll be hitting bottom alot. Also be sure to carry a
spare prop and tools to change it with. We are on our 3rd prop for our
dinghy outboard. One last thing is the lift and lower bracket requires
considerable backing for the weight of a 9.9.
We had to redo ours after the stern developed a dented look. Good luck!
Walt, Lyric #120

 

[reefmagnet]

Walt,

Thank You very much for this very comprehensive reply.

Probably not much more than any other experienced sailor would know, however
I am still a newbie to this sailing game. Basically you articulated the
reasons that are totally realistic. I have some coastal experience. Enough
to know the truth of your words.

Behind my question was a decision to buy an Albin whose internal engine had
been removed, through hulls glassed over, and one of the former owners had
a longshaft which they kept. (Albin with no engine now).

Now it appears to be an Albin coastal cruiser (once another long shaft is
secured) vs. a Hunter 27 with an internal 12 hp Diesel for similar money ..
actually the H27 is less money overall, but my suspicion is that there's no
real comparison.

Ok, thanks, mucho gusto grasses ...

Bob