[Public-List] Alberg 30 Rig Weak Links

[crufone at comcast.net]

John, 

Would you recommend that I not sail the boat until the Nicro Press fittings are replaced. 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Birch" <Sunstone at cogeco.ca> 
To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> 
Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 10:17:10 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Alberg 30 Rig Weak Links 

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 
> 


_______________________________________________ 
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 

 1263741586.0