[Alberg30] cost of ownership

[R C Alley]

James Williamson wrote:

>
> Dear folks,
> A couple of months ago I wrote to Mr. Dinwiddie with questions 
> regarding the Alberg 30.  He kindly suggested that I sign up to the 
> public list, which of course I did (Thanks Mr. Dinwiddie, that was a 
> great suggestion).  The letters have been very informative and often 
> times delightfully humorous too.  Well, after having followed this 
> forum for a bit (and with some nervous trepidation) I was hoping that 
> I might ask you folks the same questions.  I'm a former sailor who has 
> been considering getting back into it.  I'm lucky in that I recently 
> moved to mid-coast Maine which is a great place to sail.  The 
> opportunity is hard to pass up if you know what I mean.  Anyway, 
> originally I had asked questions about the suitability of the Alberg 
> 30 to do local/medium distance cruising and how it compared to other 
> vintage craft of that era.  It would seem from what I've read that the 
> boat is certainly up to the task but...  My problem with a purchase, 
> like so many folks I suppose, is a shortage of cash.  To be completely 
> honest it wasn't so much that I had fallen in love with the Alberg 30 
> as it was searching for an "affordable" boat that was designed and 
> built to handle my perceived needs.  The Alberg 30 is beautiful (love 
> those side decks), was designed and built well enough for the task (I 
> think!), but (here we go) because of my lack of experience with older 
> vessels I had no idea that so much was required in a restoration 
> effort.  I've been reading about everything from new seacocks, 
> repowering, new mast compression supports, rewiring, replumbing, to 
> reattaching the deck (very daunting indeed).  I truly mean no offense 
> to those who consider these tasks a labor of love however, by the time 
> one does all of this plus the normal purchases like sails etc. it's 
> possible to have put almost enough into the restoration as the price 
> of a much newer vessel.  Forgive me if I don't seem worthy but could a 
> few folks offer up an opinion on this.  I feel up to the restoration 
> task technically but much over 20k total and I'm simply out of luck.  
> Factor in the reality that I couldn't spend every weekend sailing, 
> Maine summers don't last forever, and I just can't justify spending 
> more.  Would it be better to charter once or twice a year or could I 
> stay within a budget like that and have a boat that is honestly 
> seaworthy?  Thoughts please.
>
> thank you,
> jim williamson
>
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> +---------------------------------------------------------------+
> |                This Old Boat by Don Casey                     |
> | http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071579931/alberg30-20 |
> +---------------------------------------------------------------+
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>
It might help to boil this down a bit.

There are few things that are really important to a cruiser, which 
sounds to me like your intent.
They are:

1. Safety:  The need to keep water out of the boat.  Seacocks and 
cutlass bearings are important, as is engine reliability. Not much else.

2.  Reliability:  Reasonable reliability of  onboard plumbing and 
electrical systems, and sails, rigging, and navigation systems.  I 
define reasonable reliability as just that--they don't have to be 
perfect, just usable AT THE PRESENT TIME. If something fails, and it is 
critical, you need a backup system.  Otherwise, you need only the 
ability to survive without whatever is broken until it can be replaced 
or repaired.  There are very few critical systems on an Alberg.  You need
only the ability to move in the direction you want to go, and to 
navigate.  All else can be optional in a pinch  (this can be a budget 
pinch or a sailing /navigational pinch).

3.  Comfort: Comfort is relative, but necessary because, generally, the 
boat is capable of more than you are.  A reasonable level of comfort 
(defined as the ability to stay dry, warm, --or cool-- and alert) is 
largely a matter of the skipper's attitude and personal equipment, but 
can impact on the systems supplied with the boat, things like 
autopilots, dodgers, biminis.  Some of these will make it possible for 
you to do more sailing in deteriorated conditions, but it is not, 
strictly speaking, necessary.

In looking at any boat, do enough homework to determine if you could 
sail in it with a sense that you have a  reasonably reliable boat with 
reasonably reliable systems now.  ALL systems in any boat will need 
replacement or upgrading eventually.  Again, the question you need to 
answer is:   Can I go sailing in this boat tomorrow, and feel that it is 
reasonably reliable? All else is gravy.

Rob Alley

 +---------------------------------------------------------------+
 |                This Old Boat by Don Casey                     |
 | http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071579931/alberg30-20 |
 +---------------------------------------------------------------+

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