[Public-List] Alberg 30 Rig Weak Links

[John Birch]

Actually Michael, I believe nicro presses are copper, not bronze.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <crufone at comcast.net>
To: "Alberg, Public List" <public-list at alberg30.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 10:00 AM
Subject: [Public-List] Alberg 30 Rig Weak Links


>
> John Birch wrote,
> Harry was of the opinion that the Alberg masts suffered from a lack of the
> compression tube and was critical of the excessive number of holes Whitby
> had in the area of the spreaders including installing the steaming light 
> so
> close to the spreaders.
> Also, if you have nicro presses on your shrouds at the mast head and
> spreader bases instead of proper terminals, there is a unanimous consensus
> from Harry, Danny and every surveyor I know that this is a bad bad bad
> practice. They should be swaged terminals at least, norseman or staloc's
> being much much better.
>
> Best
> John
>
> John; great information to have indeed,
> Oh NO another item to address on my #133. All of my Standing rigging has 
> the bronze Nicro Press fittings installed. In most cases there is only one 
> crimp fitting per terminal. I say that they are bronze because they have a 
> slight green colouration. All the wire and the fittings look to be in 
> Excellent condition. I was going to wait a couple of seasons before 
> replacing the wire rigging, but now you have me concerned. I had not heard 
> from the Alberg group that the Nicro Press fittings failed and were 
> generally "bad News".
> Another item not mentioned is the aft chain plate for the aft stay. I 
> would think with all this talk about the Dynamic loads while sailing that 
> one should inspect that fitting as well as the shroud chain plates.
> I wonder if the 1/4" bolts are adequate but should be inspected regularly 
> and replace every 5 years or so. There are many items on our boats that 
> owners do not inspect for fatigue at regular enough intervals. Your talk 
> of the cycling effect on the accumulation of fatigue makes me think that 
> we should all have a check list of regular inspections/replacements.
> I agree that the cast aluminum mast head fitting appears to be a weak 
> link. Many production sailboats used them. I know of NO rig failure of an 
> Alberg 30 because of the mast head fitting failure. Do you know of any?
> Some years ago I purchased a 1966 Seafarer and asked the previous owner 
> when he last had the mast down. He responded not since he had brought the 
> boat to Florida and that was about 30 years ago!! I decided to unstep the 
> mast at my earliest opportunity.
> Thanks for you most helpful comments
> Michael #133
> _______________________________________________
> These businesses support your Association:
> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> Please support them.
> _______________________________________________
> Public-List mailing list
> Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
> http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
> 



 1263741430.0