Twenty Small Sailboats, your version

Well nobody else is going to mention it so......
Have a look at www.varne.co.uk
I must admit that my original choice was a Vega, but as I usually sail single handed, I chickened out because of dastardly reports of motoring astern, berthing, etc. Haven't regretted choice at all : very solid 70's build, fast for 27', a great motion, and a very gentle,forgiving boat. However, headroom only 5'8"ish, forward accom. limited by very narrow entry. Price currently about 12/13k, only about 60/70 built.
Also considered very pretty in traditional way. I'm not going to change but a Sadler 32 is a beautiful seaboat.
And nobody has mentioned a Trintella.....
 
VARNE said:
Well nobody else is going to mention it so......
Have a look at www.varne.co.uk
I must admit that my original choice was a Vega, but as I usually sail single handed, I chickened out because of dastardly reports of motoring astern, berthing, etc. Haven't regretted choice at all : very solid 70's build, fast for 27', a great motion, and a very gentle,forgiving boat. However, headroom only 5'8"ish, forward accom. limited by very narrow entry. Price currently about 12/13k, only about 60/70 built.
Also considered very pretty in traditional way. I'm not going to change but a Sadler 32 is a beautiful seaboat.
And nobody has mentioned a Trintella.....
Click to expand...

looks very interesting, particularly as there are a few varnes for sale well under your price.

the varne site is down though
 
Well, I sailed and owned a Vega for 18 years, and made longish trips to Norway, England and France, so I think I'm entitled to some less favorable comments. I lived through a horrible gale in it and found the following:
- The bulkheads worked themselves loose; as a matter of fact I always had to fasten the bolts after being in a bit of seaway, but then I felt it was becoming dangerous. Anyway, you could always feel the movement sitting in the cockpit (never have that with my present boat, a Dehler, much more stiff).
- It is not possible to trim the mast and rigging for the same reason. And yes, that compression of the mast lowered the deck centimeters in my case.
- she slams to windward. That's really a bad character trait.
- a Vega is built in two halves, mine came (afterwards) apart at the keel. OK, not that much, but I had to epoxy it
- The hatches in the cockpit are so constructed they will leak badly in severe weather. In the gale a surprising amount of water came in.
- Indeed the windows are risky (although I never had problems with them), they can be pushed inward by a breaking sea.
- Behaviour on engine is a disaster, because the propellor is behind the rudder. Can't remember how often I couldn't held her in a strong crosswind waiting for a lock. Sometimes went in backwards (yes, I could handle her in reverse, contrary to the above). In The Netherlands many owners mounted a second rudder, behind the propellor.
- Last but not least: I loved that boat. Good quality build, and quite fast too. Buy it and rebuild it!
Chris
 
^ This is exactly what I want, a critical account from someone that has owned the boat in question. So thanks.
 
Blue Fox said:
Well, I sailed and owned a Vega for 18 years, and made longish trips to Norway, England and France, so I think I'm entitled to some less favorable comments. I lived through a horrible gale in it and found the following:
- The bulkheads worked themselves loose; as a matter of fact I always had to fasten the bolts after being in a bit of seaway, but then I felt it was becoming dangerous. Anyway, you could always feel the movement sitting in the cockpit (never have that with my present boat, a Dehler, much more stiff).
- It is not possible to trim the mast and rigging for the same reason. And yes, that compression of the mast lowered the deck centimeters in my case.
- she slams to windward. That's really a bad character trait.
- a Vega is built in two halves, mine came (afterwards) apart at the keel. OK, not that much, but I had to epoxy it
- The hatches in the cockpit are so constructed they will leak badly in severe weather. In the gale a surprising amount of water came in.
- Indeed the windows are risky (although I never had problems with them), they can be pushed inward by a breaking sea.
- Behaviour on engine is a disaster, because the propellor is behind the rudder. Can't remember how often I couldn't held her in a strong crosswind waiting for a lock. Sometimes went in backwards (yes, I could handle her in reverse, contrary to the above). In The Netherlands many owners mounted a second rudder, behind the propellor.
- Last but not least: I loved that boat. Good quality build, and quite fast too. Buy it and rebuild it!
Chris
Click to expand...

The bulkhead is attached to a fibreglass ridge via stainless bolts. These should be checked for tightness. Once tightened mine have never loosened (Also 18 years owning a Vega).

So long as you keep the locker pipes clear never a problem with water ingress and Ive had a few greenies come over. Been in winds up to F8 and never a problem with mast compression. If yours has compressed by centimteres then either the rigging was as taut as taut can be and a weak step. As Webcraft mentioned there is a mast compression kit available from the Owners Asscoiation for £110

Handling under power astern is an acquired skill, it takes times but then she has a long keel and the prop aft of the rudder. Sail forwards instead!

Windows can be a problem as they use window rubbers just like car windscreens. Either make stormboards of fit aluminium replacements if it worries you, again available from teh Owners Association.

Most boats are built in two halves! I have never known a Vega to lose a keel and I keep my ear quite close to the ground for Vega Speak.... What was your Vega number? Was she an early Series I by any chance?

Only time I had slamming was on a trip back from Cherbourg in a NE 6 on teh nose with Spring Tides. I reckon any boat would slam into that. Every 5th or 6th wave would slam but she held up well and ploughed through.... Read Smooth and Bumby on the vega website www.albinvega.co.uk

I know I am biased but I have sailed a fair amount of yachts, can afford a larger one but for single-handed, sea-going safe sailing I stick to my Vega...

Biased Birch
 
My Vega was 2533, year 1975, so not an early type. And let me be clear: Vega's don't lose keels, don't develop osmosis, and have a lot of desirable characteristics. I liked the boat, although I think my present one sails better and is most certainly stiffer. I just wanted to give some counterbalance to the all too rosy pictures that were painted.
The problems with the mast compression and bulkheads are well known - and you can do something about it. But even then, because the hull is flexing so much, it is not easy to trim the rig. I never succeeded in getting a really tight forestay (the boat just 'bends' if you tighten it - not the only type that does that by the way).
I sail on the IJsselmeer and Dutch coastal waters: steep and short seas. On many occasions, for instance against a rising SW, I had to reef too early because the boat was slamming too much. She slams because she has 'a belly in her bow' - the same reason of course that makes the forecabin so roomy. The watertank in the bow is a factor there also (and also tended to work loose!). In open sea she performed better - I can remember a 38 hour singlehanded crossing from IJmuiden to Pin Mill against a Westwind in which she performed fine.
There is a Dutch guy who sailed a Vega to Cape Horn after completely rebuilding her. The website http://www.syrebellion.com/info-boot.htm is in Dutch, but you can see he had the same problems (and partly solved them).
And again: I still have a big soft spot for Vega's. So don't be put off in not buying them. But you have to remedy some points, I think.
Chris
 
Blue Fox said:
My Vega was 2533, year 1975, so not an early type. And let me be clear: Vega's don't lose keels, don't develop osmosis, and have a lot of desirable characteristics. I liked the boat, although I think my present one sails better and is most certainly stiffer.
Click to expand...
What do you sail now?

Vigor seems to associate tenderness, well initial tenderness, with stability. Sounds slightly contradictory.
 
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