Stupid Questions - Volume 2

C

coldnorthtoy

.
Oct 30, 2019
57
As promised. :p These are a little more out there, and in this case,
unless they've actually been done, I'm just looking for ideas and
suggestions, or maybe to put the bug into someone else's head so I can
share the suffering. :)

1) Wheel steering:
Has anyone ever converted a Vega to wheel steering? After having
spent an afternoon toodling about in 5 foot swells on a 42 foot ketch
with wheel steering, and having seen that my new neighbor's 23-foot
Georgian has wheel steering, I can't seem to get the idea out of my head.

2) Relocating main traveller to the cabintop:
Fits with question 1, in that it would be impossible to accommodate a
wheel without the traveller relocation, and I would eventually like to
enclose the cockpit.

3) Cutter-rigging a Vega, or two heads(ails) are better than one:
So, this one might be totally ridiculous, but I was standing on the
foredeck, drinking coffee, and not quite awake, and wondered if it
would be anything more than just 'cool' to add an inner headstay,
parallel the headstay, and starting at the spreaders or so, on which
to fly a staysail.

4) And adding a mizzensail, or while I'm at it...:
Kind of goes along with question 3, in that the increase in sail area
from the staysail ahead of the keel's center of effort would need to
be offset somewhere, would it be any more than 'neat' to run a
mizzenmast at or about the aft deck between coaming and pushpit? I
know that some Albin 37's were yawl-rigged, which is part of what
inspired this line of thinking.

Please don't get me wrong: I love my Vega as it is, but I also love to
daydream, and sometimes I need other people to tell me either that
it's a great idea or that I'm an idiot so I may subsequently poop or
get off the pot. :)

Thanks for reading. :)

Cheers,

Jonathan Lomas
Vega 2221
Victoria, BC
 
B

btfag0s

.
Sep 13, 2002
203
1. There's nowhere (sensible) to put a wheel.

2. Enclosing the cockpit would add a shed load of windage.

3 & 4 I give up.

You are contemplating adding a several tens of kilos of hardware, but I
don't see a related gain in performance. Vegas are nicely balanced as they
are. An extension to the stern to add a bathing platform would be a far
better proposition as the extra couple of metres to the LWL would increase
the maximum hull speed (not to mention marina bills).

Stop dreaming, go sailing, and get it out of your system!

Alisdair
 
S

stevebirch2002

.
Nov 8, 2001
1,818
Hi Alisdair

You beat me to it......

Just go sailing, the vega is just about perfect as she is........As the Nike say "Just do it.."

Steve B
 
C

coldnorthtoy

.
Oct 30, 2019
57
I don't at all disagree that it would be rather difficult to put a
wheel in with the current cockpit configuration.

I agree that a cockpit enclosure would drastically affect the windage
profile of the boat, but it would also add another 50% to my living
space while at the dock, and - assuming I am actually able to
configure it to allow for coverage underway - drastically increase the
comfort of voyaging in the famous Pacific Northwest rain.

I won't stop dreaming, but I shall probably try to keep my crazy ideas
to myself from now on. :)

Cheers,

Jonathan
2221
 
T

trevy_kins

.
Oct 31, 2019
230
Jonathan, I have seen a Vega with a full enclosure. It is wonderful -
adding as you say 50% to living space. The walls are removable. I am
going to try to make one. He had a simple triangulated cabintop traveler
system rigged up to accommodate it. My boat came already set up with a
fancy traveler mounted on the cabin top. I don't have a digital camera,
but if you really need it, I could try to post a pic. I think it is
made by Harken. Works great. Trev



________________________________

From: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Jonathan Lomas
Sent: June 16, 2008 4:31 PM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Stupid Questions - Volume 2



I don't at all disagree that it would be rather difficult to put a
wheel in with the current cockpit configuration.

I agree that a cockpit enclosure would drastically affect the windage
profile of the boat, but it would also add another 50% to my living
space while at the dock, and - assuming I am actually able to
configure it to allow for coverage underway - drastically increase the
comfort of voyaging in the famous Pacific Northwest rain.

I won't stop dreaming, but I shall probably try to keep my crazy ideas
to myself from now on. :)

Cheers,

Jonathan
2221
 
E

emmajen5

.
Feb 28, 2006
127
Jonathon,

There was a Vega for sale a little while ago in the San Francisco area
(I think) that had wheel steering. It looked, to me, like quite a
neat arrangement. I wish I'd kept the pictures now as it would be
interesting to look at again. Where are you in the Pacific Northwest?
Are you coming to the gathering at Maple Bay in August?

Garry
V. 2427
 
P

pjacobs55

.
Oct 30, 2019
1,459
Hmmmm ... the only stupid question is the one that goes unasked.

That said, my advice to you would be to put all the original systems
the Vega was built with into good working order, sail her for a
while, and discover the genius that went into the design of the boat.
You might find that your list of modifications has shrunk
considerably :)

I'm still surprised by little things I find out when sailing mine. On
a boat with such high production numbers and relatively few changes,
you can rest assured they got it right the first time.

The only exception to the above advice is the mainsail reefing
system: slab or 'jiffy' reefing is a far superior method to roller
reefing, and a very worthwhile modification, especially for a single-
hander.

Just my 2 cents worth ....
Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
 
C

coldnorthtoy

.
Oct 30, 2019
57
Thanks, Trev - good to know that the relocated mainsheet has actually
been done a few times. :)

Have you sailed a Vega with the cockpit traveller as well? Do you
find any substantial differences between that style and your cabintop
style?
 
C

coldnorthtoy

.
Oct 30, 2019
57
Good to know that someone else has tried it; thanks Garry.

I'm in Victoria BC, and yes, I'll be in Maple Bay - we're planning a
3-week cruising vacation with that event smack dab in the middle. :)
I take it that means you'll be there too?

Jonathan
 
C

coldnorthtoy

.
Oct 30, 2019
57
Hi Peter. I still haven\'t made use of those holding tank photos and
sketches you emailed me - one of these days, though. :)

I\'m lucky in that everything aboard her is in very good working order
(except for one sticky starboard main traveller car, but that only
pisses me off twice per adventure - once on the way out, and once on
the way back :D) and the genius that went into these vessels is
undeniable - I agree.

As with anything else that was designed for a broad market, the boat
contains all the necessary \'standard features\' and is set up in a
standard way so as to accommodate the largest number of customers\'
needs, and I believe that the boat does that INCREDIBLY well - she\'ll
take a family out for a lovely weekend, or a few folks out for a great
race, or 2 to 4 folks around the world quite nicely, but I doubt that
Mr. Brohäll had envisioned folks living aboard her long-term in
marinas, or that people would be single-handing her on a regular basis.

I\'m not looking to change who she is, just help her better serve my
specific needs so I sail her more, and sail her better.

Jonathan
2221
 
T

trevy_kins

.
Oct 31, 2019
230
Sorry, Jonathan, never sailed any other Vega. But I love the cabin-top
traveller and mid-boom sheeting. Particularly great for jybing in heavy
wind and no lines cluttering the cockpit. Trev



________________________________

From: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Jonathan Lomas
Sent: June 17, 2008 9:14 AM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Stupid Questions - Volume 2



Thanks, Trev - good to know that the relocated mainsheet has actually
been done a few times. :)

Have you sailed a Vega with the cockpit traveller as well? Do you
find any substantial differences between that style and your cabintop
style?
 
E

emmajen5

.
Feb 28, 2006
127
I'm just up the street from you in Nanaimo and, yes, at the moment the
plan is to be at the get together. I'm planning a cruise around it as
well.

Garry
 
V

vsschreffler

.
Apr 22, 2008
47
Albin Vega 27 San Francisco
I know your musings were an old post, but don't feel badly for
dreaming. It's fun--i do it myself whenever possible.

Victor
Blue Fin
V1553
 
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