The most expensive sail in the world!

wxt8981 · Jun 3, 2003

Rob;
this whole thing is getting out of hands.... please lets drop this issue!
My 'last' observation: You got the sail, enjoy it! I'm out some 50 Dollars,
I won't get broke on this.
Wilhelm, V-257

Rob Cheshire wrote:

giani28582 · Jun 4, 2003

Hi Rob and Wilhelm
Send me the sai and I'll send the MoneyOrder to whoever wants it.
John
SV Puffin #1554
Swansboro NC

Rob Cheshire rob.cheshire@... wrote:
I don't know much about sailboats. But I could never raise a sail on
my boat that has such a history. Maybe it was meant to stay with you
Wilhelm.

I don't know much about people. But I believe Wilhelm's gift was
genuine when he sent it and I will continue to think kindly of him.
However, his accusation that this was deliberate is untrue and
profoundly cynical.

What can I do to make you happy Wilhelm?
1. return the sail to you at my expense
2. let you offer the sail again and ship it to the recipient
(I'll pay for shipping)
3. give the sail to the local vega live-aboard if he will have
it (Irving, looks very much like Santa)
4. something else?

FactsSail was shipped April 22nd. I was working out of town from
April 24th (before the sail arrived) to May 10th.(see post 3430, trip
extended due to uncooperative tides)

stevebirch2002 · Jun 5, 2003

Hi Wihelm & Rob

Whilst everyone is giving things away, can I have the complete set of sails,
new engine, rigging, vhf and possibly another Vega as well. I would like it
all
delivered to the UK (Southampton) and I am willing to pay $50 carriage.

OK friends we all are, friends we all stay. Why nbot go and give Wilhelm a big
hug as he is a nice guy and has even offered to take me sailing in his Vega
when I come over to Florida with the family. On that note does anyone have any
access to cheap flights to Florida from the UK during the October School
Holidays in the UK. At the moment the cost of three adults and two young
children makes it prohibitive - I could buy a cheap Vega for the cost of the
flights.....

Have fun everyone.

Steve Birch Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703

At 18:13 04/06/03 -0700, you wrote:

wxt8981 · Jun 5, 2003

Hi Stephen

after reading your plea I had to chuckle; in my back yard there still is
my old 022 Albin engine.
I Don't think it's any good any more. I'm sorry about the
generator/starter. It was hardly a year
old (I had just replaced it before I came to the conclusion it was
better to change the 022 for
a diesel). Though I could give away the shaft and the sleeve to a very
nice fellow- I hope he can
use it.

About October- I hope you can come. October is a good month for sailing
here in Florida- fewer
thunderstorms (in case you're not used to them.....). I'll be more than
happy to take you out on
my boat. Sorry- I can't help you with an air plane ticket. But if you
need a place for one person
to stay- come to my home- I have a guest room (sorry- only one bed). I
do have a pool- and we
can barbecue whatever you like.

During the month of August I'll be taking a vacation myself- most likely
going to Europe. I haven't
decided yet where to go. I was supposed to go to Thailand in May, but
couldn't because I had to
enjoy a stay in a hospital instead. But not worry- my body has mended -
and is just like new again...
And what's best- my boat looks (almost) like new again.

So let's go sailing..

)

Wilhelm, V-257

Stephen Birch wrote:

stevebirch2002 · Jun 5, 2003

Hi Wilhelm

If yopu come to Europe then I expect you to come qnd stay with us in the UK for a while. Let me knwo dates etc and I will sort things out for you.

Kind Regards

Steve B

ronbodkin · Jun 5, 2003

I've been watching this exchange and trying to mind my own business
but I happend to notice that 2 of the players are from my current
home state of North Carolina.

One may be an ungreatful dead beat and the other an opportunist
ready to swoop in a capitalize on an unfortunate situation, but hey
they have Vegas and live nearby!

Ok ok I'm kidding of course. (not that anyone cares, but as a
disinterested third party observer, sounds like Rob made an honest
mistake to me, and sounds like Wilhelm, not knowing what was going
on on Rob's side had every right to be annoyed)

Anyway, though I live in Raleigh, I keep V2751 in Deltaville VA.
Where are you're boats berthed? It would be great to get a look at
some other Vegas in Person. I've only seen one besides mine and it
was a wreck. Would be nice to meet some (somewhat) local Vega
Owners.Also Rob Cheshire was a Guy in my High School Back in MD. Long shot
I know, but any chance you're the same guy?

giani28582 · Jun 5, 2003

Hi Ron
I'm the oppertunist you refer to.
I've watched the sage unfold from the beginning.
Rob who I have met and consider to be a very upstanding person with
several mouths to feed and the desire to own a Vega.
I'm sure he had to sacrafice to buy his Vega from a college in Washington NC.
In any case he sent a plea for som used sails and Wilhelm was kind enough to offer hin his.
Rob as some of you may recall posted a message saying he was going to be working (NOAA).in St. Michaels MD. for a few weeks and wanted to hook up with other Vega owners so he could get some ideas I'm sure to help hin in the restoration of his boat.
Rob came aboard my boat while I was in the yard and took Photo"s
Ok So now Wilhelm sends Rob the sail and Rob was not there to receive and thank him right away.
So Wilhelm reacts and starts insinuating Rob is ungrateful Etc.
Other Vega owners jump on the band wagon and feed the fire.
Seems to me there is a hirearchy or some people who may think they
are part of this hirearchy and are very eager to condem when they should
be more understanding.
So Rob bounces the check which does nort suprise me with all he has on his plate. I will say this I do believe he did not do this on purpose.
I wonder if he is the only person on this site that has bounced a check for one reason or another.
Now as far as an invitation to sail on my Vega being the only criteria for my being considered a good person I will also extend a warm invitation to Steve Birch while he is in the USA. He won't have to worry about doing something to upset me enough to slander his good name on this site.
Steve has helpd me in the past and I am very very grateful.
Thanks Steven!!!!
I have been sailing for most of my adult life and lived on the Hook in the 80's for almost four years spending winters in the Bahams's and summers boosting my cruising kitty. I met lot's of people many who helped me when I needed help asking nothing in return.
I have tried to repay them by helping others.
I intend to continue to do so .
Gianni
SV/ Puffin 1554
Minnesott Beach, North Carolina

.

ronbodkin rbodkin@... wrote:
I've been watching this exchange and trying to mind my own business
but I happend to notice that 2 of the players are from my current
home state of North Carolina.

One may be an ungreatful dead beat and the other an opportunist
ready to swoop in a capitalize on an unfortunate situation, but hey
they have Vegas and live nearby!

Ok ok I'm kidding of course. (not that anyone cares, but as a
disinterested third party observer, sounds like Rob made an honest
mistake to me, and sounds like Wilhelm, not knowing what was going
on on Rob's side had every right to be annoyed)

Anyway, though I live in Raleigh, I keep V2751 in Deltaville VA.
Where are you're boats berthed? It would be great to get a look at
some other Vegas in Person. I've only seen one besides mine and it
was a wreck. Would be nice to meet some (somewhat) local Vega
Owners.Also Rob Cheshire was a Guy in my High School Back in MD. Long shot
I know, but any chance you're the same guy?

floroyenbe · Jun 5, 2003

Hey Wilhelm,
I don't want to add anything to this discussion but I noticed that you have
the intention to come to Europe.
If so, our guest's room, which sleeps two, is always available for family
and friends (Vegaterians). We live about 20 miles from Brussel, Belgium.
Flor Oyen
V-566

stevebirch2002 · Jun 6, 2003

Hi Gianni

Well said, let's all forget and forgive and be FRIENDS..... But back to more
important things of invites for me to sail if I come over the pond in October.
Of course that is the only criteria to being a GOOD BLOKE!!! With all the
offers to sail I dont think I will be spending any time with the family
(hurrahh!)

Thanks again to all you Vega owners in the USA, nice to know we are all
friends.

Kind Regards to all
Steve Birch Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703

At 18:25 05/06/03 -0700, you wrote:

preludeballard · Jun 6, 2003

I just want o put this out there incase any one is in need of a bilge drain.

I recently bought a bilge drain from Steve Birch in the UK. It is a very
well done original looking, although not for my Ballard, bilge drain. Steve
was so kind as to send it to me in good faith on the same day I posted the
money to him as it was holding up the launch of my boat. It turned out that
the Ballard one is quite different although it uses the same inner plug.

So here I sit with this brand new drain on my cluttered desk looking for
someone who can use it. I am not greedy, I paid $50.00 including shipping
and would like to recover some of that, i.e. 25 maybe 30 and I will cover
the shipping within the US.

Anybody interested please let me know

Rich
S/V Prelude II

PS: Anyone coming to Narraganset Bay area is welcome to sail with me.
Although I can't offer space in my home...maybe on the boat for a night...

skipperjs · Jun 6, 2003

After following this saga I have to say I am cheered
by the camaraderie & good will that has come out of
this. I too would like to extend the invitation of a
guestroom and sail on beautiful Puget Sound to any
Vegatarian visiting the Seattle area.
Judy Schwan
AKVAVIT 1869

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ronbodkin · Jun 6, 2003

I'm not sure what a bilge drain is.

Is that a small plug that I see near the back of the keel when the
boat is on the hard.

Why is it there when there are pumps to pump out the bilge? It
seems like an unnecessary opportunity for leaks.

preludeballard · Jun 6, 2003

I don't know where the plug is on your Vega. On my Ballad it is in the
middle of the keel at the lower edge of the bilge. It is my understanding
that it is there to prevent ice formation during the long cold winters in
Sweden or Massachusetts where ever you may live.

chris20636 · Jun 6, 2003

From what Steve and others have told me, when I was looking for my drain
plug, they are in different places depending on what number Vega you have.

Here was Steve's response to me:
"The early Vegas had the drain -plug on the port side whilst the later
(diesel) Vegas had the drain plu on the starboard side. All Vegas had these
fitted as standard as it stopped the keel splitting when it became very cold
in Scandanavia whne the boats were on the hard and ivariably some water was
always in the keel. The approx place for the drain is starboard about ten
inches forward of the rudder shoe and about six inches up from the bottom of
the keel. Try using a metal detector as it is made from bronze so should not
be too hard to locate. The bilge in the later diesels are slightly different
as they onloy have the one space whereas some of the pertol vegas had an
extra void, as discussed, below the drain."

I didn't have to resort to the metal detector. Some light tapping with a
screwdriver handle, and I was able to zero in on the plug and scrape away
the paint. However, if you have trouble finding it, I can take some
measurments from either V265 (gas, port side) or V2933 (diesel, starboard
side).

Others on the group have thought like you and filled in/glassed over the
drain plug. So depending on the history of your boat, it may be filled in
already. If not, then I guess you can decide if the leak potential
outweighs the advantage of having a dry bilge when on the hard away from
power to run your pumps. In either case, it would seem prudent to check if
your drain plug is still there and what condition it is in the next time
you're out of the water.

Chris
V2933

ronbodkin · Jun 6, 2003

Hey John,

Hopefully, you understand that I wasn't trying to trash you or Rob.

I was trying to use sarchasm to make a subtle statement denouncing
all the public slandering that was going on.

I hope it wasn't too subtle. Maybe thats why I'm a Construction
manager and not a writer.

I've bounced plenty of checks in my day (especially in those lean
years after college). Maybe someone closer to the aristocracy has a
more difficult time relating. I've never failed to make good on
them though and Rob tried to do the same thing. If I were him I'd
fly that sail happily. It was a very kind offer on Wilhelms part to
be appreciated and I'm sure it is. If wilhelm chooses to tear up a
check that covers shipping and the bounced check fee, then that's
wilhelms choice. Everybody's happy.

Hope there are no hard feelings.

I'd like to check out both NC vegas some day!

If any of you ever find yourself in Deltaville, VA let me know and
we'll take a ride on Whisper (V2751). (can't offer you a room since
I, my wife and son live on Whisper when we're up there, but
Deltaville is a great -very low key- sailing town with a few cheap
hotels and some nice B&Bs. It has a few decent restaurants but is
not much for night life...unless you really like stargazing and
beers on the docks with friends. The Bars tend to close around 11pm
at the latest.

Ron
V2751

stevebirch2002 · Jun 6, 2003

Hi Ron

The bilge drain is for draining the Vega whilst on the hard. Where the Vega was built in Sweden the weather gets very cold during the winter and if any water is left in the keel it can freeze and perhaps split the keel. Every winter I take my Vega out and always remove the keel drain plug so any water that gets in fro rain etc candrainharmlessly away.

Regards

Steve Birch

giani28582 · Jun 6, 2003

Hi Ron,
No hard feelings.
Too bad , we were in Deltaville Va last year theis time when we
brought the Puffin down from DC.
We did have a fine meal at a seafood resturant there.
Lord willing I will be sailing to Baltimore inner harbor next year or the year after depending on whether the USS Forresr Sherman A Destroyer
the same class I was on in the 50ties is there as a Museium Ship'
I hope to be there.
I will let you know via this site.
You are most welcome to visit with me if you are in eastern NC
I live in Swansboro,, but Keep the Puffin on the Neuse river at Minnesott Beach (Better Sailing )
In any case I think they beat Rob enough.and hope they get back to Vega businesss.
Best regards ,
Giannironbodkin rbodkin@... wrote:
Hey John,

Hopefully, you understand that I wasn't trying to trash you or Rob.

I was trying to use sarchasm to make a subtle statement denouncing
all the public slandering that was going on.

I hope it wasn't too subtle. Maybe thats why I'm a Construction
manager and not a writer.

I've bounced plenty of checks in my day (especially in those lean
years after college). Maybe someone closer to the aristocracy has a
more difficult time relating. I've never failed to make good on
them though and Rob tried to do the same thing. If I were him I'd
fly that sail happily. It was a very kind offer on Wilhelms part to
be appreciated and I'm sure it is. If wilhelm chooses to tear up a
check that covers shipping and the bounced check fee, then that's
wilhelms choice. Everybody's happy.

Hope there are no hard feelings.

I'd like to check out both NC vegas some day!

If any of you ever find yourself in Deltaville, VA let me know and
we'll take a ride on Whisper (V2751). (can't offer you a room since
I, my wife and son live on Whisper when we're up there, but
Deltaville is a great -very low key- sailing town with a few cheap
hotels and some nice B&Bs. It has a few decent restaurants but is
not much for night life...unless you really like stargazing and
beers on the docks with friends. The Bars tend to close around 11pm
at the latest.

Ron
V2751

fotofundi · Feb 27, 2008

Hi All
Can anyone tell me where the hole at the bottom of the bilge is? (the
one that allows the bilge to drain down into the hollow part of the
keel and from there out via the keel drain plug) I cannot see or feel
where the hole is in my bilge.
It looks like a previous owner may have spread some resin over the
forward part of the bilge - presumably to stop the bilge water going
down into the hollow part of the keel. However he didn't do a
particularly good job because when I drilled out the keel drain plug
(it was impossible to undo) water came out and the level in the bilge
dropped very very slowly, so I know there must be some exit from the
bilge. There was not much pressure behind the waste so I suspect the
original hole is partly blocked by the resin.

I need to open it up and that means locating it as accurately as
possible, so can anyone tell me:

Where is the hole? - is it in the sidewalls, the forward 'bulkhead'or
the sole of the bilge?
If not right at the bottom, how far up?
If not right up against the forward 'bulkhead', how far back?
Port or Starboard side?
Does the hole point down or sideways?
Any idea what size the original hole was?

Actual measurement may be difficult to obtain so a rough idea would be
fine. As you know, working flat on your stomach with your arm down the
bilge is not the easiest of exercises, so any help would be
appreciated - and yes, before anyone asks, I DO want to be able to
drain the bilge through the keel drain - I'm fed up with using a scoop
and sponge.

Thanks

David
V1696 in Sunny Cyprus

Vega1447 · Feb 27, 2008

Hi David
I've used (very) cheap disposable babies' nappies (diapers for N
Americans) for this job. Lidl (German cheapo supermarket chain) have
them..

Just drop them down and agitate a bit with a boathook (or whatever) and
leave for a while then retrieve.

Repeat until bilge is dry or nappies/diapers are all gone...

My bilge pump has input pipe about 2 inches/4cm in diameter so last inch
of bilgewater needs "special treatment".

John
V1447 Breakaway

John A. Kinsella Ph: +353-61-202148 (Direct)
+353-61-333644 x 2148 (Switch)
Mathematics Dept. e-mail: John.Kinsella@...
University of Limerick FAX: +353-61-334927
IRELAND Web: John Kinsella's Website