[Public-list] Thinking about buying an Alberg ... sorryvery long post

[John Birch]

We refitted an Edson on our A-37 to levers, our A-30 also had a Cinkel 
Pedestal with engine & throttle controls. On the Atomic, the mechanical 
transmission requires as 64C cable, this is substantially more robust than 
the standard 33C. Our 37 has a mechanical  trans very similar to the atomic 
so we had to use a 64C. Your lever on the side will have a 64C type cable 
but it is too short. Morse Teleflex are the cables to use. The retro fit on 
the A-37, which had side a cockpit throttle/trans took about 3 days of 
farting around to get the stiff 64C inside the pedestal without chafing 
against the sprockets or chain but we got it in. Hated the cockpit side 
levers with a wheel, too distracting when coming into a dock and hard on the 
shins ; ). When you order the spacer plate with levers go for the one with 
the long, athartship engine lever as it will give you much better mechanical 
advantage. You will be in the soup eventually if you use the small paddle 
type that looks like the throttle as it lacks the strength for the A4 
Mechanical trans. The 33 C for the engine throttle goes in quite easily. 
Edson's catalogue 'splains it all. Just remember, 33C for throttle & 64C for 
trans and don't order too short a cable, better to have it too long as any 
sharp bends will be a disaster re longevity or kinking.

Personally, in retrospect, if I had another A-30 I would pitch the pedestal 
over the side and go back to a tiller. The boat is so much more fun to sail 
with a stick. On 37's you need the wheel's mechanical advantage but it is 
unnecessary on the 30.

My thoughts & experience anyway

Cheers,

John

Sunstone A-37




>
>> Hi Gord,
>> Thanks Gord, I would imagine that having the engine controls on the
>> pedestal would be an advantage.
>> John
>> #624
>>
>> On Jan 15, 2007, at 10:47 AM, Gordon Laco wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Sam -
>>>
>>> I will look for a picture that shows it.
>>>
>>> I hated the wheel at first, partly from prejudice against wheels
>>> and partly
>>> because the Alberg wheel is small and the put the ped so far forward.
>>>
>>> However, I have got not only used to it, I kinda like it now.  The
>>> small
>>> diameter is forced on us because a large one would prevent the cockpit
>>> lockers from opening...but I have learned that it is quite
>>> comfortable to
>>> grasp one spoke and steer the boat by that.  You don't have to give
>>> it much
>>> of a turn to get a nice deflection of the rudder.  The cable and
>>> quadrant
>>> system that connects it to the rudder allows me a nice amount of
>>> feedback -
>>> I can feel how much load is on the rudder.
>>>
>>> I still don't like the forward placement and someday will correct
>>> that.
>>> Whitby put the wheels forward to put the helmsman about where he
>>> would be if
>>> he/she were using a tiller - but that puts the steering right in
>>> the way of
>>> the sheet winches.  Our boats are quite sensitive to weight in the
>>> stern, so
>>> I see what they were thinking but the very poor ergonomics of jamming
>>> everybody forward just don't make sense even in light of getting
>>> the weight
>>> of the helmsman 20" or so forward.  The only nice thing about
>>> having the
>>> wheel forward is the fact that you can use a full length tiller
>>> behind it,
>>> if you ever have to use an emergency tiller.  I actually prefer not
>>> to have
>>> the compass on the ped top - with it in the usual position you can
>>> steer
>>> from the side where it is nicer to sit, and still see the lubber's
>>> line.
>>>
>>> Whitlock steering is superior in engineering but I think the customer
>>> service and delivery situation has plummeted since Lewmar took them
>>> over.  I
>>> have no particular complaints about the Edson outfit I have.
>>>
>>> Gord #426
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi Gord,
>>>> How do you like the wheel steering?
>>>> Can you post some photographs on this list please?
>>>> John
>>>> #624
>>>> On Jan 15, 2007, at 8:20 AM, Gordon Laco wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Good morning Sam -
>>>>>
>>>>> I hope you get your boat!  Mine has factory installed wheel
>>>>> steering; the
>>>>> tell tales for determining the steering was installed by the
>>>>> factory are:
>>>>>
>>>>> - they used Edson with small enamelled wheels
>>>>> - the pedistal is rather forward in the cockpit; abreast of the
>>>>> main winches
>>>>> - no compass on the ped. Just a teak disc covering the top.
>>>>> - throttle lever on starboard side of that wooden disc.
>>>>>
>>>>> It is dead easy to remove if you want to go back to the tiller, it
>>>>> will just
>>>>> be a matter of unbolting the pedistal and removing the steel cables
>>>>> from the
>>>>> quadrant on the rudder shaft under the cockpit.  You can leave the
>>>>> quadrant
>>>>> in place.  The only complication will be re-positioning the
>>>>> throttle lever.
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers - Gord #426 Midland on Georgian Bay
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>
> _______________________________________________
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> Please support them.
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