Albin Vega - Rudder position

[BobPrell]

The Albin Vega seems to be a somewhat "cult" yacht.

I have heard it praised a number of times on these fora and elsewhere. It looks a bit different to most, and to me that is a good thing, it means the designer was going for something best for purpose rather than competing in an established market.

One recently became available in Australia. If it was able to sail out here that must mean something.

I like most of its features, but one has me mystified.

The propellor is located behind the rudder. Therefore no prop wash flows over the rudder.

I find prop wash over the rudder to be very important for manoevering in confined spaces. With the rudder well over, a good squirt of power makes the yacht turn hard with very little forward motion. Without it, the yacht needs to have some speed on, "steerage way" before the rudder has much effect.

I used to be a bit of a sailing purist. I knew of no need to run the engine at sea in heavy weather. Then I found myself running downwind in big seas towards the harbour of refuge. As the crests of waves flowed as fast as the boat was sailing there were often times when the rudder went very indefinite in its effect. I found that running the engine kept that feeling away. We had positive steering all the time.

Has anyone else found any steering problems with the Albin Vega while under power?

I for one, am not interested in bow thrusters.

 

[Kelpie]

Handling under power is usually the first thing someone mentions when I tell them the boat I have.
I haven't owned another yacht so can't say it bothers me at all.
You are correct that there is no wash over the rudder. This means that to get turning you need to man up and get up to 1-2kt so that you have good steerage. Once you have this she will actually spin on her (relatively short) keel fairly easily.

One thing to remember is that she is less than 3t in weight, and therefore can be manhandled easily. You don't need to kill off all of your approach speed, for example you can pretty much just grab a passing ladder etc. I may regret forming this habit when I eventually get a bigger boat! Warping her is easy as well, you can happily spin her around in a confined space.

As to their reputation, they have done some impressive things over the years. Look up Matt Rutherford who circumnavigated the Americas in a Vega.
Ours has taken us from Orkney to the west coast of Ireland and we have been caught out in some silly weather, but have never felt that the boat would let us down. Exciting when off the wind, but not as close winded as a more modern boat, and with the low weight she doesn't need a huge rig. A cheap and easy boat to own, in my experience. No balsa cored decks, no keel bolts, no Vega has ever had osmosis as far as I am aware either. The windows are not a strong feature and if you want to cross an ocean you should fit storm boards or similar. The mast step can compress so a stainless beam is a common upgrade. Bulkheads can get a bit creaky which is annoying in a swell, I must get around to tightening up the nuts and bolts on mine.

 

[BobnLesley]

"...anyone else found any steering problems with the Albin Vega while under power?"

There are 3500+ Vegas, so if you wait long enough you should eventually receive 3500+ answers of 'Yes'.

The Vega doesn't do reverse; though having thought our Vega was 'the worst boat in the world' to manoeuvre, we've got a Trident Challenger now and realise we were wrong; the two things that allow you to manoeuvre the Vega in marinas/tight spaces are that whilst it might no go where you want it to, it will at least do its own thing in a consistent manner - a decent breeze and you will reverse directly into it irrespective of what you're trying to do with the rudder or throttle - and as pointed out by Mavanier, its light weight allows you to warp it around, fend off things easily and generally manhandle it until pointing in the direction you want to go.
I read your comments regarding imprecise steering whilst running in heavy seas and think you'd probably got the boat 'surfing' on the swells/waves, in which case the effect on steering 'feel' could be applied to most any boat. We certainly never felt the need or found any benefit from motor-sailing in such conditions, though going to windward in big/steep seas we often motor-sailed; our belief being that it stopped the bow being 'knocked-off' (due to the Vegas light weight?) by the seas. I'm of the opinion that many of those characteristics (keel type, hull shape) that make a good 'sea/sailing-boat' are incompatible with being a good 'marina/under power-boat'.

Our answer to the vagaries of Vega steering was to fender-up both sides try to do a couple of circles (you don't need much space going forward) whilst taking a good look at where you're planning to go, then keeping your speed up (again, Manavier has it) go in forward and get secured. Once secure and safe, you've plenty of time to work out how you're subsequently going to manhandle the boat to get her out again. The Vega's reputation for reversing is a great help here: Every other boat owner in the immediate vicinity will be eager to assist you, rather than risk your trying to manoeuvre in reverse whilst near to his pride and joy!

 

[chinita]

Yes, going astern is a challenge - even worse than my current log keel Vertue.

However, the Vega has many attributes much more important than reversing under power.

Sail one and see!

 

[sailorman]

we helped an owner out of a berth, i asked which way are you intending to go ( astern ) his reply was " i dont know"

 

[Al.]

**** I have this hardship to learn, but taking all the other good things into account. I will keep the Vega. ****

 

[BobPrell]

Yes, going astern is a challenge - even worse than my current log keel Vertue.

However, the Vega has many attributes much more important than reversing under power.

Sail one and see!

When I say the AV seems to be a cult boat I mean it in the nicest way possible.

This post is the sort of thing which leads me to that view. A sailor who is very appreciative of its virtues, but not blind to its faults.

As stated above, it seems to be a drawback which can be worked around.

I have been aboard a couple of designs with poorly placed saildrives which were pretty bad, and a yacht of any size using an outboard I find too much trouble also.

 

[Wansworth]

as a fairly recent owner of a av and used to prop wash effect going astern first time was excieting .Getting in and out of confined places needs some forthought but the pedigree of the voat means its your fault if it goes wrong.Backing out of a berth I would consider turning the boat round by hand if possible......all part of the fun

 

[Davy_S]

Wansworth, I know that you have changed your username, but what language do you now speak, outer Mongolian? the Vega can be a complete git in reverse, it can be tamed with caution and experience. INMHO the Vega will sail rings around similar length boats, contessa, Halcyon etc it is a small price to pay for a far superior sea boat, you spend a small time reversing but a long time sailing, go for a better sea boat, the Vega, no boat of a similar length has crossed the Atlantic as fast as a Vega has, its record still stands, there have been more Vegas built tried and tested than anything similar. You know why, it is a better sail boat than the rest.

 

[wazza]

It's what you get used to...
We had a Vega and sailed her out of some pretty hair raising situations. The Vega was my first sailboat and in reality we were real purists then so we sailed pretty much everywhere and hardly used the motor. And that she done brilliantly.
I did have some problems in reverse but the guy I bought it off reversed her all the way back into our marina berth after a gearbox problem had it stuck in reverse when he was selling her to me.
Fantastic boat, they've sailed all over the world and if I were to downsize to sail long that'd be he boat I'd choose again, without doubt.!!

 

[Wansworth]

Wansworth, I know that you have changed your username, but what language do you now speak, outer Mongolian? the Vega can be a complete git in reverse, it can be tamed with caution and experience. INMHO the Vega will sail rings around similar length boats, contessa, Halcyon etc it is a small price to pay for a far superior sea boat, you spend a small time reversing but a long time sailing, go for a better sea boat, the Vega, no boat of a similar length has crossed the Atlantic as fast as a Vega has, its record still stands, there have been more Vegas built tried and tested than anything similar. You know why, it is a better sail boat than the rest.

theres no sea in Mongolia........

 

[Davy_S]

the pedigree of the voat means its your fault if it goes wrong.

Are you voting in the local erections?

 

[Al.]

Are you voting in the local erections?

Here endeth an interesting thread, disappeared down the proverbial plughole !