Dear Friends,
I have in front of me an article of September 6th 1993 published in Sid's
Rosens
Vega Newsletter from the Coglans about the alterations they made for long
distance cruising. I think those people travelled around the world, so they
are experienced.
I can mail this article to anyone who likes to have it, provided I have the
addresses!!!
Briefly they say the following:
1/water.
Extra flexible water tanks from Plastimo, under each bunk.
For water quality they added one teaspoon full of household bleach per 5
gallons.
(in my boat I have something better not based on chlorine)
2. Storm ports.
The wiondows in the main cabins are a weak point. The Coglans used wooden
strips as spacers, attached regular pieces of Lexan to the coach roof sides.
Through bolted.
Companionway. They made an acrylic cover for the companion way, out of yacht
acrylic, with a long zip in the shape of a reverse L
3 safety lines:
Permanent plastic coated stainless stell lines along the side decks, for
clip on before leaving the cockpit. For safety they always left the
fporward hatch rather than stepping out of the cockpit.The
moment you are stepping onto the side decks from the cockpit you are
extremely vunarable.
4.cooking: Two burner kerosine stove used.. Kerosine gives good heat,
available world wide. Not flammable in a cool state.'
In case you use propane, install a fan and a gas detector. Propane can leak
into your bilge and explode . (I know of one dutch Vega sailor who had an
explosion, fortunately only his boat was dammaged.)
5.lee cloth on banks.
superfluous not used.
6. charts and books. Send home what you donot need.
Light:
To save powder, take out the bulb in one of the two main cabin lights.
Install a kerosone latern, on the bulkheads of the forward end of the bunks.
For offshore the deackhead running lights are useless., you need a masthead
tricolour light. Unless you are running the engine sparingly use the lights.
(nowadays there are sun cells that load your batteries).
7 electronics: a depth sounder is critical. VHF is handy for Marine
forecasts.
(they dono mention cell phones , the article is too old for that).
8.Provisions: Avoid stowing foods in the bilge area,. tins get rusty and
everything ends up smelling of diesel. There is enough rooms behiund the
stove area, use the forepeak, Put vegies in nets they should get plenty of
air and light.
9. Rigginbg Beef up ypour rigging to one size above standard. Donot
overtightenj rigging. Expect some sagging in the mast beam, to the point
that you cannot opend the head door.
(I have found a remedy for this by reinforcing the beam by extra beams of
mahogony, which I srewed and glyued to the original construction. , since
then there is no sagging of the mast).
Every so often go around and tighten the mast bolts.
10 sailing be kind to your Vega when heavely laden. Use small sails in
stead of big ones. Max speed 4.5 knots.
11. Anchoring: 22 pound bruce, limited quantity of chaind (weight).
Ensure cockpit lockers have good watertight gaskets.
Install a piece of wood across the gap where the batteries go.
Carry some heavy fenders , even car tyres, for really ropey docks of for
when fishing boats raft up on you.
Log: use a Walker trailing log.
Have a full man-overboard set, including strobe light.Happy sailing,
Regards,
Henk Jansen
Naarden
The Netherlands
Vega Le Cygne 1782.
I have in front of me an article of September 6th 1993 published in Sid's
Rosens
Vega Newsletter from the Coglans about the alterations they made for long
distance cruising. I think those people travelled around the world, so they
are experienced.
I can mail this article to anyone who likes to have it, provided I have the
addresses!!!
Briefly they say the following:
1/water.
Extra flexible water tanks from Plastimo, under each bunk.
For water quality they added one teaspoon full of household bleach per 5
gallons.
(in my boat I have something better not based on chlorine)
2. Storm ports.
The wiondows in the main cabins are a weak point. The Coglans used wooden
strips as spacers, attached regular pieces of Lexan to the coach roof sides.
Through bolted.
Companionway. They made an acrylic cover for the companion way, out of yacht
acrylic, with a long zip in the shape of a reverse L
3 safety lines:
Permanent plastic coated stainless stell lines along the side decks, for
clip on before leaving the cockpit. For safety they always left the
fporward hatch rather than stepping out of the cockpit.The
moment you are stepping onto the side decks from the cockpit you are
extremely vunarable.
4.cooking: Two burner kerosine stove used.. Kerosine gives good heat,
available world wide. Not flammable in a cool state.'
In case you use propane, install a fan and a gas detector. Propane can leak
into your bilge and explode . (I know of one dutch Vega sailor who had an
explosion, fortunately only his boat was dammaged.)
5.lee cloth on banks.
superfluous not used.
6. charts and books. Send home what you donot need.
Light:
To save powder, take out the bulb in one of the two main cabin lights.
Install a kerosone latern, on the bulkheads of the forward end of the bunks.
For offshore the deackhead running lights are useless., you need a masthead
tricolour light. Unless you are running the engine sparingly use the lights.
(nowadays there are sun cells that load your batteries).
7 electronics: a depth sounder is critical. VHF is handy for Marine
forecasts.
(they dono mention cell phones , the article is too old for that).
8.Provisions: Avoid stowing foods in the bilge area,. tins get rusty and
everything ends up smelling of diesel. There is enough rooms behiund the
stove area, use the forepeak, Put vegies in nets they should get plenty of
air and light.
9. Rigginbg Beef up ypour rigging to one size above standard. Donot
overtightenj rigging. Expect some sagging in the mast beam, to the point
that you cannot opend the head door.
(I have found a remedy for this by reinforcing the beam by extra beams of
mahogony, which I srewed and glyued to the original construction. , since
then there is no sagging of the mast).
Every so often go around and tighten the mast bolts.
10 sailing be kind to your Vega when heavely laden. Use small sails in
stead of big ones. Max speed 4.5 knots.
11. Anchoring: 22 pound bruce, limited quantity of chaind (weight).
Ensure cockpit lockers have good watertight gaskets.
Install a piece of wood across the gap where the batteries go.
Carry some heavy fenders , even car tyres, for really ropey docks of for
when fishing boats raft up on you.
Log: use a Walker trailing log.
Have a full man-overboard set, including strobe light.Happy sailing,
Regards,
Henk Jansen
Naarden
The Netherlands
Vega Le Cygne 1782.