Everyone:
As the invisible "moderator" who started this group on eGroups, I just
wanted to say thanks to everyone for contributing in ways that are
helpful and interesting to group members as well as tactful and
respectful (not all email groups are). As a new Albin Vega owner (1971,
#1240, "Allegro"
who posted a few questions early this spring when
commissioning our boat for launch, I speak firsthand about the value of
learning from the group's shared experiences and resources. Thank you
all.
We recently completed a week-long sail from southern Maine to downeast
Maine and had an outstanding sail on our Vega. We're very pleased with
how she sails and handles as well as the ingenuity of the interior
design. Our only problem, apparently due to my naiveté about structural
strength, occurred with preventer lines I had rigged from the boom for
downwind sailing to prevent an accidental gybe. We had blocks for the
preventers attached to the stanchion bases forward of the mast (to the
small steel strut at the base of the stanchion, not the base itself),
and with winds gusting to about 25 knots the weld broke on the
stanchions on both sides. That was a bit scary, to think of a piece of
steel flying through the air after snapping under that much pressure --
but fortunately no one was hurt and we re-rigged the preventer line
blocks on the shrouds. Having heard that people often snapped their
safety harness tethers to those struts at the base of the stanchions, I
was glad to learn from this experience that they're not very
strong--rather than learn by one breaking with a crew overboard
tethered to it!
Aside from this, not a single difficulty with the boat on a 7-day cruise
through many different conditions. A great boat we have!
One improvement I'm wanting to make now, and am curious whether anyone
has done such a thing, is to make a movable "helm seat" that fits onto
the combing on either side of the cockpit, allowing one to sit about a
foot higher than on the cockpit seat itself. Our Vega has a low dodger
(we have no idea whether it is original or standard for Vegas), and it
does not provide good visiblility through its forward window. To see
well one must stand, kneel on the cockpit seat, or sit on the combing --
which eventually becomes a literal pain in the arse. I'm thinking of a
simple wooden seat that would simply down on the combing and lock in
place with one's weight on it, but be removable to move to the other
side. It seems simple enough -- but I'm wondering if anyone has done
similar or something better? Again, thanks to all!
Tom
As the invisible "moderator" who started this group on eGroups, I just
wanted to say thanks to everyone for contributing in ways that are
helpful and interesting to group members as well as tactful and
respectful (not all email groups are). As a new Albin Vega owner (1971,
#1240, "Allegro"
who posted a few questions early this spring whencommissioning our boat for launch, I speak firsthand about the value of
learning from the group's shared experiences and resources. Thank you
all.
We recently completed a week-long sail from southern Maine to downeast
Maine and had an outstanding sail on our Vega. We're very pleased with
how she sails and handles as well as the ingenuity of the interior
design. Our only problem, apparently due to my naiveté about structural
strength, occurred with preventer lines I had rigged from the boom for
downwind sailing to prevent an accidental gybe. We had blocks for the
preventers attached to the stanchion bases forward of the mast (to the
small steel strut at the base of the stanchion, not the base itself),
and with winds gusting to about 25 knots the weld broke on the
stanchions on both sides. That was a bit scary, to think of a piece of
steel flying through the air after snapping under that much pressure --
but fortunately no one was hurt and we re-rigged the preventer line
blocks on the shrouds. Having heard that people often snapped their
safety harness tethers to those struts at the base of the stanchions, I
was glad to learn from this experience that they're not very
strong--rather than learn by one breaking with a crew overboard
tethered to it!
Aside from this, not a single difficulty with the boat on a 7-day cruise
through many different conditions. A great boat we have!
One improvement I'm wanting to make now, and am curious whether anyone
has done such a thing, is to make a movable "helm seat" that fits onto
the combing on either side of the cockpit, allowing one to sit about a
foot higher than on the cockpit seat itself. Our Vega has a low dodger
(we have no idea whether it is original or standard for Vegas), and it
does not provide good visiblility through its forward window. To see
well one must stand, kneel on the cockpit seat, or sit on the combing --
which eventually becomes a literal pain in the arse. I'm thinking of a
simple wooden seat that would simply down on the combing and lock in
place with one's weight on it, but be removable to move to the other
side. It seems simple enough -- but I'm wondering if anyone has done
similar or something better? Again, thanks to all!
Tom