Plastic Classic Forum

vanguard64

Last year, I replaced all the weatherstripping on the underside of my Alberg 30 cockpit locker lids. I used a 3/4 X 5/16 rubber foam self adhesive strip that I bought at the local box store. It sealed well but with the summer heat, the locker lids became impossible to open without wedging a large sc...

vanguard64

My 1970 Alberg 30 Mk2 (liner boat) has teak veneer ply embedded into the cockpit locker seats. The teak veneer is gone from years of sanding and the wood is degraded. One of the options I have been thinking about is to remove the plywood inlay and treat it like a deck core job. My concern is whether...

vanguard64

I like the idea of the overhanging trim but as you say will probably interfere with the hasps. I might try a gasket with a round profile using the adhesive you mentioned. The round profile will probably present less of an edge when the sliding hatch goes over the top hatch board.

vanguard64

: A30 hatch

vanguard64

Thanks for your input. The trim piece on the sliding part of the hatch is flush with the face of the hatch board in the fully closed position. This allows use of two hinged Perko clasps on both sides of the sliding hatch to engage the twist locks on the top of the top hatch boards. If I extend the t...

vanguard64

I would like to know what others are using as a gasket where the companionway sliding hatch meets the upper edge of the top hatch board. I have used a 3/16 X 1/2 inch rectangular rubber weather strip attached to the underside of the sliding hatch but with repeated use, it fails as it passes over the...

vanguard64

I am starting to purchase materials to build this dinghy. I have not been able to locate Okoume marine plywood locally and with shipping costs as they are have been looking for local alternatives. However, there is a local lumber yard that has 1/4 inch Meranti marine plywood 4' X 8' sheets for aroun...

vanguard64

I did exactly the same procedure on my A30 tank 2 years ago and the BarRust coating is holding on well. I also installed an undersink filter but found that the higher filtration cartridges interfere with my galley foot pump. The pump has a hard time suctioning water through the filter on the upswing...

vanguard64

Thanks for the reply. When the boat is unattended with the main battery switch off, the only active feed is to the electric bilge pump which comes directly off one of the batteries with an inline fuse. Therefore, I am wondering how to power the fan while everything else is off.

vanguard64

I am planning to replace my 5 gallon Porta-Pottie with an Airhead composting toilet on my Alberg 30. I plan on using the 12v fan provided. As it needs to run continuously, what is the preferred method of wiring to the batteries. I keep my main battery switch on off when leaving the boat unattended. ...

vanguard64

Good afternoon, I spoke to the Crest Aluminum people the other day to inquire about their toe rails. As mentioned before, they only make them in 24 ft lengths. They run around $563 per 24fth length. I decided against the toerail/T-track combo due to aesthetics and hanging up of lines on the edges. S...

vanguard64

Hi James, I have decided to go for the aluminum toe rail instead of the teak or iroko cap-rail. I feel it will be more practical, add more of an I-beam strength to the deck-hull joint and I won’t be promoting deforestation. Here is a link to their toe rail page. https://www.crestaluminum.com/toerail...

vanguard64

Thanks,
I appreciate your input. What made you choose the Monitor over other models.

vanguard64

In looking further at the more mainstream wind vanes I see that construction materials are either SS or aluminum. What is the expected longevity of the aluminum types compared to those made of SS? What attributes should a good wind vane possess?

vanguard64

I have been studying sailboat self-steering wind vanes and came across the use and DIY fabrication of the Hebridean Wind Vane. Has anyone had any experience building or using one? Any thoughts as to whether it is worth pursuing? I have a tiller pilot presently, but it would be great if I could save ...

vanguard64

Thank you for the thorough response!. When I looked at charplotters the other day I realized that the charts on them are very basic and that you have to pay additional to have more detailed C-map or Navionics charts. In addition, they seem to change the chartplotters so frequently it is hard to keep...

vanguard64

I have always relied on traditional paper charts and a handheld GPS for coastal navigation. Recently, I have been researching chartplotters and Ipad apps like Navionics. I went to WM and looked at the most recent chartplotters. I can see advantages and disadvantages to both systems. Are there any op...

vanguard64

Good afternoon, Since I purchased my Alberg 3 years, I have been sailing her with the headsail on a Profurl furler installed by the PO. Recently, I had a halyard wrap episode that luckily we resolved promptly. I found out that the wrap-stop preventer at the top of the extrusion (a black plastic devi...

vanguard64

I am getting ready to attach an eyestrap and block on the front of my A30 mast for a whisker pole topping lift. Should I tap for the #10 machine screws required or use 3/16 SS pop rivets?
Thanks

vanguard64

I need to add an external topping lift to the mast for the projected spinnaker/whisker pole. I plan to use a 2.5 inch diameter spinnaker pole of 10.5 ft (J measurement) instead of a telescoping whisker pole. What do you suggest as hardware at the mast near the spreaders?

vanguard64

I just finished watching atomvoyager's very practical video on whisker pole storage on the mast. I also read the last post on the matter and have some questions. I am also getting ready to invest in a whisker pole and based on what I researched it seems that the line control 10-18 adjustable pole fr...

vanguard64

Thank you for such a detailed reply! I have seen your video on how you fitted a slotted aluminum toe-rail onto a pre-1970 A30. Would this work on the newer style Alberg with the raised joint? Is this a more practical albeit less traditional setup? I would think you can eliminate the genoa track alto...

vanguard64

I re-bedded my caprails 3 years ago and so far have had no leaks. However, with the years, they are getting thinner especially on the inboard side. The previous owner had secured them with sheet metal screws along with finishing washers most likely because the thinning caprails can no longer accept ...

vanguard64

The latches look great! How did you cut the top of the boards to accept the latches. Did you use a chisel or router? The boards on mine are made of plywood.

vanguard64

I would like to secure my 4 cabin floorboards and need suggestions on the best hardware and method to use. My A30 is a MK2 so it has the fiberglass liner and the boards are simply held by gravity over the floor pans. The one at the aft end covers 2 batteries.
Thanks

vanguard64

I am ready to purchase a rigid monocrystalline 50w solar panel. As I look around at different brands and vendors, I see a big discrepancy in price between those you can purchase on Amazon and those that are sold by marine solar panel vendors. Is there a distinction to be made between RV or land base...

vanguard64

I just installed a new Whale Gusher foot pump for my galley sink. I also purchased a Glacier Bay under sink home water filter to install after the foot pump. These take the standard cylindrical 10 inch long filters. I have read that the foot pump has difficulty pumping water through some of these fi...

vanguard64

That Jetboil stove looks very interesting. It sort of reminds me of the ones Forespar used to offer. As you said, it offers enough space for heating up a soup or boiling water for tea/coffee. Is the gas propane or butane. Are those canisters readily available? I would think they would be best stored...

vanguard64

On my Alberg30 I presently have the original 2 burner Kenyon pressurized alcohol stove. I keep it well maintained and it has worked well for me at a quiet anchor or in a slip. However, I would like to have a stove with gimbals and the added security of pot-holders. My thoughts were to replace the Ke...

vanguard64

I have looked at how the engine alternator, battery switch, and batteries are connected. I found this out sorting through historical papers provided by the previous owner. The work was done by an electrician at his boatyard in 2011. There is a smart battery isolator that ties the tow batteries toget...

vanguard64

In reference to the wiring from the panel to the controller, I see that if I use duplex wire or any other wire, I will need to crimp a female and male MC4 connector to the ends in order to plug them into the MC4s that come with the panel. If I am not mistaken, I will need to purchase an MC4 crimper ...

vanguard64

Thank you for all the good advice. I have been shopping around for a 50-80W solar panel to mount off the stern pulpit. From my understanding of solar panels, for those of us that live in the south, it is best to use a 36 cell panel in order to offset the decrease in voltage that occurs as the panel ...

vanguard64

I think what makes it confusing to me is that on my boat, the battery switch has the classic Off, 1, 2, and Both positions. So it is my understanding that the 2 batteries are only in parallel when the switch is in the Both position. As they are, the batteries share a negative but they only share a p...

vanguard64

I have 3 more questions regarding installation. 1. Should the solar panel be disconnected when the engine is running or the inboard electric battery charger is being used? Wouldn't the alternator or electric charger output be affected by the voltage from the solar panel? If so, would you need a swit...

vanguard64

I have been waiting for my present batteries to start getting weak (based on specific gravity readings) to tackle purchasing new batteries and adding a solar panel (50w on stern pulpit)and the time is getting close. I have been reading about the subject to make the best possible decision. I presentl...

vanguard64

I just finished using your technique for isolating the core for the padeye bolt holes and it went very well. There was no gap between the headliner and inner skin and the core was in pristine shape. Great peace of mind when done.
Thanks again.

vanguard64

I am locating my two Wichard padeyes on the coach roof. These take three 5/16 machine bolts each. I have a sheet of 1/4 inch G10 to make the backing plates. I have 2 questions related to installation. 1. When adding the thickened epoxy to isolate the bolt holes, I foresee the mixture seeping between...

vanguard64

I am getting ready to install padeyes on my cabin top for jacklines. I will be drilling through balsa core. I have always potted the holes with epoxy to prevent water intrusion into the core. But recently, I have started to wonder what happens if a crack develops in the interface between the upper s...

vanguard64

Thanks for your reply. So in essence, your harness is attached directly to the snap hooks on the ends of the jacklines? How do stay attached when you go forward? Do you wear a PFD at all or just the harness? I assume your handrails are just like mine, through bolted through the coach roof. I also as...

vanguard64

Good evening, I am in the process of improving safety aboard my Alberg 30 as my wife and I take more frequent 2-3 day trips aboard. Our sailing is coastal for now. There is enough information about safety harnesses, tethers, and jacklines to "drown" in. Some principals seem clear though. T...

vanguard64

My main reason for adding extra purchase is to be able to flatten the main to lessen heel angle in that wind speed before taking the first reef. I do agree that a winch on the boom is probably a good addition especially for reefing. I have the 3 cheek blocks on a track for the reefing lines and have...

vanguard64

It is time to upgrade the outhaul on my A30. Presently, it only has a 3:1 external purchase which is very weak for making adjustments while underway. My thoughts are to add a 6:1 internal purchase system and double that to 12:1 by adding a block to the clew of the sail. So in essence, a 1/8 SS wire ...

vanguard64

I have had the same experience cutting aluminum as svmira. The first time, I went after it like I was cutting wood and the aluminum just melted on the blade. I was surprised by this as I figured aluminum would be much easier to cut than other metals but as svmira mentions, slowing down works much be...

vanguard64

Thanks guys,
Great explanations and suggestions on an important topic. It always amazes me how many manufacturers cut corners in this regard.
Marcelo

vanguard64

Hi, On my Alberg 30, the SB original 6 inch Marinium stern cleat has developed a crack in one of the four feet by the bolt. These cleats are marginal and my plan is to replace them with 8 or 10 inch SS Herreshoff cleats at a close by location. What is your favorite backing plate material for cleats?...

vanguard64

James,
Thanks for all the clarifications and the links. I have a much better understanding now after having read the material and your explanations.
Marcelo

vanguard64

Good afternoon, My upcoming project is to install a proper whisker pole on my Alberg 30. Presently, my mast has the original 1 inch aluminum T-Track on the leading edge that should accommodate a sliding car with the ring for the whisker pole. I am planning on purchasing a Forespar HD 7-15ft telescop...

vanguard64

Thanks for the positive comments. I was lucky to find a bail that was just the right fit where the holes lined up.
It was a Ronstan RF1045.
Marcelo

vanguard64

This is how I ended up repairing the broken tack attachment.

vanguard64

James,
Thanks for all the good suggestions. It is good to know that a replacement is available if need be.
Marcelo

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