Coughlin's Offshore Cruising:
I ordered a copy of the Coughlin Offshore Recommendation from Sid about a
year ago and highly recommend it. Not only is it a compact treatise
offshore cruising but also is a great testimonial on the Vega: "we bought
our Vega w/6000nm on clock sailing in Pacific NW, put another 50,000mi on
her circumnavigating and have little doubt that she would make it around
again...etc." By all means republish it in installments or whole.
Engine Re-Power
I bought my vega 710 about 2 years ago now as a fixer upper for $5k and have
spent about a year and half fixing her up and improving her. Finally got
her up and sailing about August 1st and it's all been very worth the effort:
sails beautifully, as everyone says it would. I repowered with one of Steve
Birch of VAGB recommended Beta(Scotch modified Kubota) 13hp engines which
has been a perfect performer. Briefly: weighs 180lb, easy fit on existing
Albin engine supports, comes with flex connection. Will push Vega at
7.1kt(greater than 6.4kt hull speed) under calm conditions and 6kt
@3/4throttle(perfect). Plenty of reserve power for seaway. I did took a 6
day cruise on Lake Michigan this past September, a maiden voyage, where I
had to motor for a total of 23hrs at 5 to 6kt.mostly. Used slightly less
than 5gal. of diesel: about a quart and hour. Parts available from local
Kubota farm tractor outlet. Cost was for Beta was $4,200 plus shipping plus
about another $1,300 in prop, exhaust system, controls, and fuel tank
We won't mention my labor other than to say a significant amount of trial
and error was involved..
Keel Weeping
Appreciate the input of others on this subject. My two barrier coats and 2
antifoul coats blistered along the keek cavity under the bilge I noticed,
though the laminate seems okay.
Plan on trying just coating the bilge with epoxy this year and draining
sealing the plug with teflon. If problem persists, I know next year I'm in
for opening up the keel replacing the foam fill and re-epoxying.
Steve Wallace
V.710 "Windhover"
I ordered a copy of the Coughlin Offshore Recommendation from Sid about a
year ago and highly recommend it. Not only is it a compact treatise
offshore cruising but also is a great testimonial on the Vega: "we bought
our Vega w/6000nm on clock sailing in Pacific NW, put another 50,000mi on
her circumnavigating and have little doubt that she would make it around
again...etc." By all means republish it in installments or whole.
Engine Re-Power
I bought my vega 710 about 2 years ago now as a fixer upper for $5k and have
spent about a year and half fixing her up and improving her. Finally got
her up and sailing about August 1st and it's all been very worth the effort:
sails beautifully, as everyone says it would. I repowered with one of Steve
Birch of VAGB recommended Beta(Scotch modified Kubota) 13hp engines which
has been a perfect performer. Briefly: weighs 180lb, easy fit on existing
Albin engine supports, comes with flex connection. Will push Vega at
7.1kt(greater than 6.4kt hull speed) under calm conditions and 6kt
@3/4throttle(perfect). Plenty of reserve power for seaway. I did took a 6
day cruise on Lake Michigan this past September, a maiden voyage, where I
had to motor for a total of 23hrs at 5 to 6kt.mostly. Used slightly less
than 5gal. of diesel: about a quart and hour. Parts available from local
Kubota farm tractor outlet. Cost was for Beta was $4,200 plus shipping plus
about another $1,300 in prop, exhaust system, controls, and fuel tank
We won't mention my labor other than to say a significant amount of trial
and error was involved..
Keel Weeping
Appreciate the input of others on this subject. My two barrier coats and 2
antifoul coats blistered along the keek cavity under the bilge I noticed,
though the laminate seems okay.
Plan on trying just coating the bilge with epoxy this year and draining
sealing the plug with teflon. If problem persists, I know next year I'm in
for opening up the keel replacing the foam fill and re-epoxying.
Steve Wallace
V.710 "Windhover"