[Public-List] Alberg shopping (was Hope Island RacingConference)
pwrutland at bellnet.ca
pwrutland at bellnet.ca
Wed Aug 13 13:22:06 PDT 2008
I have a feeling that when I write to you, that a lot more folks get it, and
so I would like to thank everyone who wrote to me about new boat.
I had a shark for my first boat, and there was an active class association,
but it did not seem to be as helpful as the present A30 folks. I think they
were all interested in racing, and if one did not race, that was it. I then
bought a white with petter contessa 26, and the only association I was aware
of was in England, but even then, some of them were quite helpful. I find
the A30 class association or groups quite an incentive to purcahse one.
Boats are always a way of learning for me, and the support demonstrated in
the last few days is impressive.
I have a lot to digest, and wanted to thank everyone and I will be in touch
as things progress.
----- Original Message -----
From: "George Dinwiddie" <gdinwiddie at alberg30.org>
To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 12:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Alberg shopping (was Hope Island
RacingConference)
> Rachel,
>
> That's a pretty good synopsis. Close enough to give a good feel.
>
> I'd just like to add that the chainplate attachments are a problem in all
> the boats, and the bolts should be upgraded to 5/16" or doubled in number
> (and don't use fully-threaded bolts). Sometimes the knees should be given
> attention, too.
>
> Also, while they should mostly be gone, watch out for Whitby's "home made"
> 3/4" through-hulls. They were a two-piece design made from pipe and
> washer--a very dangerous boat-sinker.
>
> - George
>
> Rachel wrote:
>> Hi Peter,
>>
>> Sounds like you're pretty familiar with boats - Contessa... Mmmm! I
>> guess maybe you'd like to stand up for a change though :D
>>
>> First of all, there are two "generations" of A-30s, in addition to a few
>> "transitional" boats that were made between Generation I and Generation
>> II boats.
>>
>> They're both the same boat, but there are a few differences. Here are a
>> few highlights:
>>
>> Gen I --- Hull #1 - #380-ish?
>> "Stick built" furniture - that is, the bulkheads, etc. are wood (laminate
>> faced in the earliest boats) and are tabbed directly to the hull and
>> deck. The sole is wooden and is built upon wooden floors, etc.
>>
>> The hull deck joint is comprised of an inward-turning flange on the hull
>> capped off by a flat deck, and the works is resined and bolted together
>> with the same bolts that hold the teak toerail on. I'd say they're
>> spaced at about 3-1/2" to 4" apart. The toerail is something like a
>> vertical 1" x 2" profile.
>>
>> The decks are double cored with Masonite (pegboard). That is, it's a
>> fiberglass/Masonite/fiberglass/Masonite/fiberglass construction (from
>> what I've read - haven't seen inside myself). The coring stops (mostly)
>> short of where the stanchions etc. attach which has helped reduce the
>> incidence of deck-core-saturation problems. Also the Masonite seems
>> less prone to that than balsa (although I suppose it must be heavier what
>> with all those resin filled holes). The decks drain directly overboard
>> through cutouts in the toerails.
>>
>> Rudder is either wooden planks with drift pins (earliest), or solid
>> fiberglass with brass reinforcing (middle). Not sure if there was a
>> third evolution on the Gen I boats. No rudder stuffing box.
>>
>> Hardware seems to be mostly chromed bronze, with some stainless. The
>> stem fitting is chromed bronze with a teak pad beneath it. The cockpit
>> lockers and companionway and lazarette hatches are all wooden. The
>> forehatch is wood-framed with a clear panel for the top. Large, fixed
>> ports are aluminum. Smaller ports may or may not be opening (or a
>> combination thereof, as opening were optional one-by-one). There's a deck
>> hatch in the cockpit that leads to an "upright" icebox down below.
>>
>> Belowdecks, the overhead is faired and painted glass. There is a central
>> aisleway, with a laminated wood beam that supports the mast, in
>> conjunction with the plywood bulkheads. Water tank is integral fiberglass
>> in the bow area under the v-berth.
>>
>> Original engines: Early Graymarine gas; later Atomic Four.
>>
>> Gen II Hull #40x-ish - to the end (#7xx?)
>> Note that I have a Gen I boat, so if I get any of this wrong, please
>> someone correct me.
>> Gen II boats have an interior liner. The bulkheads slot into the liner.
>> The sole is flat sections of ply that fit onto the molded sole liner.
>> Furniture itself is still wood though.
>>
>> The hull deck joint incorporates a fiberglass bulwark, at the top of
>> which the hull and deck overlap and are riveted together (along with
>> sealant and (perhaps some bolts?). There is a teak cap on top of the
>> bulwark (the whole thing is about as tall as the wooden toerail on the
>> Gen I boats).
>>
>> The decks are cored with balsa. I think it may run all the way out to
>> the edge, but I'm not sure. The deck drains inboard, through holes to
>> scuppers.
>>
>> Rudder is foam-filled fiberglass, with internal reinforcement. There is
>> a rudder stuffing box (?)
>>
>> Hardware I'm not sure on. Perhaps more aluminum? The stem fitting is
>> all metal (type?) and incorporates chocks. Cockpit locker lids are a bit
>> longer, and are molded fiberglass with decorative wooden inserts. They
>> have deeper gutters than the Gen I lids. Forehatch is molded fiberglass
>> (with an opaque/clear center?). Companionway hatch is wooden (?).
>> Lazarette hatch is...? Large, fixed ports are aluminum. Smaller..??
>>
>> Belowdecks, the icebox is a flat "counter style." Over head is a molded
>> fiberglass liner. The mast beam is metal and is somehow integrated into
>> the overhead (?) Water tank under V-berth --- integral glass with an
>> aluminum top??
>>
>> Original Engines: Early maybe Atomic Four and later... diesel?
>>
>> Transitional boats Hull #380-ish to #40x?
>> - incorporate some of the features of both. New deck style, new cockpit
>> locker lids, but no interior liner...
>>
>> Things to look for (besides the obvious common to all boats, all wood,
>> all glass, etc.):
>>
>> Gen I specific:
>> Leaks where toe-rail fastens through deck (through the fasteners - not
>> the actual joint that I know of).
>> Mast beam delamination (often repaired with aluminum sister plates or
>> other methods).
>> Forward chain plate bolts (were threaded all the way through instead of
>> having shoulders). (Is this on Gen II also?)
>>
>> Gen II specific:
>> Can anyone fill this in?
>> Wetness in balsa cored decks.
>>
>> Other:
>> The iron ballast does not seem to have caused too many problems. It's
>> set in a kind of cement aggregate. It does bear checking, as the top of
>> the ballast does not seem to have been well sealed from the factory
>> (mostly resin with a thin layer of glass or mat), but again, people do
>> not seem to have had many real problems with it (granted lead would have
>> been nice).
>>
>> At least on Gen I there is a small, filled in "sump" area behind the
>> ballast pig (i.e. from the heel fitting forward about two feet). This is
>> not a structural issue, but maybe something to check as it has the
>> potential to have been permeated by bilge water or oil, etc. At least on
>> Gen I boats, it's filled in with the same cementitious material that the
>> ballast was set in, along with a "spacer" of wood, and with an
>> unreinforced resin pour over the top. So the bilge is one long continuous
>> slope from front to back. It's definitely deep under the engine (ask me
>> how I know).
>>
>> I hope this helps. I've certainly missed things. And I'm not as
>> knowledgeable on the Gen II boats, although surely others will pipe in.
>>
>> Happy shopping!
>>
>> Rachel
>> #221
>>
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>
>
> --
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> When I remember bygone days George Dinwiddie
> I think how evening follows morn; gdinwiddie at alberg30.org
> So many I loved were not yet dead, http://www.Alberg30.org
> So many I love were not yet born.
> 'The Middle' by Ogden Nash
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
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> Please support them.
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