Alberg 37 Annual Fall Rendezvous Plans

Make plans now to attend  the 14^th  Annual Alberg 37 IOA Rendezvous at the Assenmacher Dock in Kinsale, Virginia over the weekend of 14-15 October, 2006.  This weekend immediately follows the Annapolis Sailboat Show (Oct. 5 - 9, 2006), and allows those planning to attend the Boat Show a chance to also attend the Annual Fall Rendezvous.  This is (normally) a very nice time on the Chesapeake Bay, and we have room for several boats.  Our branch of the Yeocomico river is also an excellent anchorage.  For any Southbound Snowbirds, it’s a great staging point also (we may be going with you this fall). We’ll include more definite plans in subsequent newsletters and also on the Web Site.  For the latest info on the Rendezvous, check the Website.  Mark your calendars!!

 

Welcome Aboard the New Members

Doug and Nina Zylinski, of Rockford, MI purchased the 1968 MK-I sloop (#29) de ZWAAN from Casey Kerkstra in spring 2005. de ZWAAN is berthed in Muskegon, MI.

Mario Gosselin of Dieppe, NB is the new owner of the 1979 MK-II sloop (#203) ANEMOS (formerly MURPHY’S LAW).  ANEMOS is berthed in Moncton, NB.

News From Members

Jose de Leon of Chicago is getting a head start on spring commissioning of his 1967 MK-I sloop (#8) AMAZING GRACE.  See Jose’s write-up later in this Newsletter.

 

John Daverman reports they moved to Santa Fe, but still spend three months of summer on their 1985 Yawl THE WINDFLOWER in Northport, MI.

Ron and Cindy Strahm of Independence, MO plan on getting their 1970 MK-I yawl ENVY back in the water at Indiantown, FL, where she has spent several years on the hard.  After a several year ‘sabbatical’, Ron and Cindy plan to resume cruising.

 Ron and Cindy have recently been crewing on a newly launched 61.5’  (80’ LOA) steel  schooner  SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE.  The Charles Wittholy designed schooner was built in Independence MO, and launched in September, 2005 by Ron and Cindy’s friend J.C. Waters.  Following launching, the SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE proceeded down the Missouri River, the Mississippi River, through the Tennessee River waterway to Mobile, AL, then on to Key West, FL where she spent some time.  They arrived in the Chesapeake Bay in early March, and the boat is currently docked near Kinsale, VA.  We visited the boat with Cindy, and she truly is a “proper  vessel”!  The owner plans to place the schooner in the charter trade, possibly on the Chesapeake Bay.

Joran Gendell of Williamsburg, VA plans to sail his 1984 MK-II yawl ELIXIR to Bermuda this summer leaving about June 20 and hoping to be home before the end of July.

Ian Dunn of Milford, CT writes that he plans to bring his 1967 MK-I sloop (#18) VECTIS  south this fall and possibly join the Fall Rendezvous in Kinsale, VA over the weekend of 14-15 October, 2006.  Ian recently had VECTIS undergo a major rework by Alex Magnone of Whitby Boat in Whitby, ON.  During the Summer Rendezvous in Whitby last year, we saw VECTIS in work and are anxious to see her in her new form.

Henk deVries recently underwent knee surgery (Henk calls it his “bionic” knee), and is rapidly recovering.  Henk says he will be ready to begin sailing his 1973 MK-II yawl PAWBEE whenever the weather permits.

Mark and Debbie Crowe are currently in Puerto Rico aboard their 1973 MK-II Yawl SEA CYCLE.  They recently sent the following update on their travels: “Hola guys, just a note to let you know we made into Puerto Rico Friday morning at Mayaguez after a forty seven hour run from Luperon, wind pretty well on the nose all the way. The worst stretches were from Puerto Plata to Rio San Juan five hours of banging into it, around Cabo Frances Viejo for three hours in the dark and out in the middle of the Mona Passage for about three hours until we fell into the lee of Puerto Rico. The coast of the Dominican Republic was wild and magnificent. Again Seacycle was great except the fore peak got wet again, not quite sure where the problem is but it's uniform on both sides of the hull and doesn’t seem obvious, not a big deal it took Saturday to dry it out and do the laundry. A lot of little things went wrong starting with the wash down pump when pulling the anchor in Luperon not a good thing with their mud,(makes the Chesapeake’s mud look like sand)the macerator got blocked, and the vhf stopped working half way across the Mona(handheld worked)along with the last slid!  e on the main breaking resulting in a 10 inch tear on the main(got it lashed and taped under way). In Boqueron got the wash down pump started again along with the vhf and got the pump unblocked while Debby did the laundry, everything back to normal by Saturday night. We will get the sail attended to in Salinas. We will probably have to sit here or near as there is a front coming which might keep us in for a few days. Cheers Mark and Deb”.

 

Ron Fisher recently wrote: “I actually have spent the last year up in Cheticamp, Nova Scotia at my house that I built, and plan on having WONIYA trucked back from Indiantown, FL to the Great Lakes so I can do some cruising and refitting up there. As well she might spend some time at Whitby Boat Works for some jell-coat and paint repairs.  I plan on spending more winters south in the future.

 

Smallest Alberg?

We received the following several weeks ago: “I have what I believe to be an Alberg 8 sailing dinghy.  Sail No. A8 61 by Wilson & Silsby (Marblehead MA).  The fiberglass hull is 7' 11" long 4' beam.  Wood rudder, aluminum centerboard, mast and boom.  Oak gunwale, mahogany seats hung on brass hangers, flotation under bow and stern seats. The gunwale needs replacement and I was hoping to find where this dinghy was manufactured and that there may be parts lying around.  The gunwale is one long piece, a groove ripped and steam bent, with a separate piece for the transom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the dinghy stripped out and being painted. Thanks for any leads.”

 

Bill Spark

4 1/2 Mechanic Street

PO Box 338

Mattapoisett MA 02739

Phone: 508 758 6944

 

 

 

Spring Commissioning Checklist
Courtesy of Boat U.S.

BEFORE YOU LAUNCH:

• Inspect and lubricate seacocks.  Hoses and hose clamps should be inspected and replaced as necessary.
• Replace deteriorated zincs.
• Inspect prop(s) for dings, pitting and distortion.  Make sure cotter pins are secure.  Grip the prop and try moving the shaft - if it's loose, the cutless bearing may need to be replaced.
• Check to make sure the rudderstock hasn't been bent.
• Inspect the hull for blisters, distortions and stress cracks.
• Make sure your engine intake sea strainer is free of corrosion and properly secured.
• Check the engine shaft and rudder stuffing boxes for looseness. After the boat is launched, be sure to check these as well as through-hulls for leaks.
• Use a hose to check for deck leaks at ports and hatches.  Renew caulk or gaskets as necessary.
• If equipped, ensure that the stern drain plug is installed.

 

ENGINES AND FUEL SYSTEMS:

• Inspect fuel tanks, fuel pumps and filters for leaks.  Clamps should be snug and free of rust.  Clean fuel filters. 
• Inspect cooling hoses and fittings for stiffness, rot, leaks and/or cracking. Make sure they fit snugly and are double-clamped.
• Every few years, remove and inspect exhaust manifold for corrosion.
• Clean and tighten electrical connections, especially both ends of battery cables.  Wire-brush battery terminals and fill cells with distilled water (if applicable).
• Inspect bilge blower hose for leaks.

 

SAILBOAT RIGGING:

• Inspect fittings for cracks and rust.  Inspect wire halyards and running backstays for "fishhooks" and rust.
• Remove tape on turnbuckles and lubricate threads, preferably with Teflon. Replace old tape with fresh tape.
• Recaulk through-deck chainplates as necessary (generally, once a decade).

 

MISCELLANEOUS:

• Check expiration dates on flares and fire extinguishers.
• Check stove and remote tanks for loose fittings and leaking hoses.
• Inspect bilge pump and float switch to make sure it's working properly.
• Inspect dock and anchor lines for chafing.
• Update or replace old charts, waterway guides.
• Check shore power cable connections for burns, which indicates the cable and/or the shore power inlet needs to be replaced.
• Make sure your boating license and/or registration is up to date.  Don't forget your trailer tags.
• Review your boat insurance policy and update coverage if needed.  Be sure you have fuel spill insurance coverage.
• Make sure you have a properly sized and wearable life jackets in good condition for each passenger, including kids and pets.
• Test smoke, carbon monoxide and bilge alarms.

 

AMAZING GRACE Projects
1967 MK-I Sloop
By Jose de Leon

“We are getting started up here (Chicago) for the season.  The weather has been really great and I am able to do a lot of work on the boat.  I am getting rid of all the Sikkens Oil this year and varnishing the wood.  I have also made a new teak hatch for the aft lazarette and will be making a new teak forward hatch and side storage locker hatches.  I am replacing the conventional Barient winches with self-tailing stainless steel Anderson winches, making new cockpit cushions, a new dodger, recovering all the cushions below, extending the V-berth, and having a ‘topper’ made for the berth.  I also hope to replace the old laminate countertops with Corian.  I am also having my rudder repaired and getting a new Campbell Sailor Prop.   Finally, I am replacing all the plastic cowls with stainless steel cowls and installing stainless steel dorade guards. Later this summer, I also hope to change the aluminum Edson wheel to a traditional teak yacht wheel, replace the traveler, and in my spare time and stormy days (not that I have any), I will be making a new Sunbrella cover for my boat, extending the very small cockpit table, and making a new bar system below.

Last year, I added new sails, a fully battened main and a 150% genoa, a new mast track, a Dutchman system, a new stereo system, a second bank of house batteries, and all new electronics and navigational instruments.

Next winter I hope to have her deck and topsides AwlGripped.  I will be doing the topsides in a dark blue (Flag Blue), the decks in white with light gray non-slip and the mast in white.  I will also be repairing a soft spot on my deck, replacing the halyards, topping lift and jib sheets.  The lifelines and some of the stanchions will also be replaced.  I plan on getting a new Lavac-Taylor or a Luke Traditional kerosene stove (because of my gas engine) for the galley to replace the alcohol stove, and replacing the through hulls with modern ones.

Future projects which are planned include converting the aft port quarter berth (next to the navigation table) to storage and putting in a gen set with access from the port lazarette and cleaning out the second gas tank (which I never use) to service the gen set and adding an inverter.  I plan on adding a mid-ships hatch which I have seen on many other Alberg 37 MK-Is, adding radar and SSB/HF or other offshore communications, aft dinghy davits, auto steering, a wind generator, windlass and a dedicated battery, and making the main halyard winch electric. I plan to replace all the navigation and house light with LEDs, replace the side stays and forestay, replace the heat exchanger and hot water heater, and replace all the side hatches (ports) with stainless steel opening hatches (ports).

I will forward photos of the boat sometime.” Jose.

 

SHEARWATER Projects
1975 MK-II Yawl
By Tom Assenmacher

Since we were unable, for unforeseen reasons, to make the trip “South” with PIKA, SEA CYCLE, and PARTY of TWO last fall, that has given us the opportunity to think of new “projects” for our MK-II Yawl.  Ongoing projects this winter and spring are/were:

We’ve added another 85 watt solar panel to the one already located atop our Genco dodger. 

Solar Panels Mounted on Dodger

So far, in the winter sun, and with the solar installation not completely oriented to the sun, we’ve been getting about 10 amps.   We hope to generate about 12 amps under optimum conditions which will go a LONG way in meeting our electrical needs (primarily refrigeration).

We’ve replaced some of our incandescent and halogen interior lights with LEDs purchased from Super Bright LEDs, Inc (http://www.superbrightleds.com/). This company sells many different configurations of LEDs and are much lower priced than LEDs purchased from “marine” stores.  We aren’t completely “sold” on replacing all LEDs for cabin lighting, as the “white” LEDs are a very “cold” white, however a few of them certainly would be OK and the amperage draw is VERY LOW (in milliamps - don’t even register on the LINK 10 amp-meter).  LEDs certainly are appropriate for running and anchor lights provided they meet required visibility specifications.

We have extended the existing (i.e., stock) propane locker to accommodate 11# propane tanks (steel – 10# aluminum bottles won’t fit).

Propane Storage Locker Extension

We constructed the extension using “STARBOARD” high density polyethylene sheet material.  We have also added an additional stanchion between the forward shroud and the upper shroud on each side, which provides much needed support to the lifelines.   At some time in the future, we may do a write-up of the numerous completed SHEARWATER projects.

A-37s For Sale

(Please check the Alberg 37 web site (A37's For Sale/Wanted) for the latest postings.)

Recent offerings include:

DRY BEAN 1969 Alberg 37 MK-I Sloop (hull #55)

Bottom just stripped and barrier coated, no blisters. Topside filled, faired and new Imron applied professionally. Decks and cabin are bone dry, no port or hatch leaks, no hardware leaks. Sloop rigged with 1993 sails. New dodger, bimini, cockpit cushions, interior cushions. Located on eastern Lake Ontario at Chaumont Bay. $44000.00 For info, photos, etc. please call Jerry Senecal at 315 562 4387 or email at gdsenecal@tds.net

 

TIME PASSAGE 1980 Alberg 37 Sloop (hull #210)
Fully equipped fresh water cruising boat located in Toronto, ON. 
Includes #1 and #2 furling head sails, #2 and #3 with hanks, spinnaker pole,
and mainsail. Very clean boat with many extras.
Upgrades/updates: 1999/2000 - Awlgrip hull and deck, electric windlass, SS 3 blade prop
2002 - engine rebuild, new head, new cradle
2004 - screens added to full enclosure, new starting and house batteries, all lines, exterior teak painted
2005 - new sheaves and halyards, rebuilt alternator, new exhaust
Current owner regrets leaving sailing and plans to switch to power.
Asking $79,000 CDN
Contact Dave Ord by email at alberg@ord.ca  Boat in water until October 29, 2005

 

GONZO - Hull #110. Immaculate 1973 Alberg 37 sloop lying in Port Colburn, Ontario, Canada (Lake Erie).  Spent the last 18 months in the Caribbean Sea and the previous 30 years in the Great Lakes.  Lovingly upgraded for a planned circumnavigation - our plans changed, so we returned to Canada, but you can take advantage of all the improvements for your own sailing dreams.   Email Mitch at Gonzo_Sailing@yahoo.com  (or call: 519.859.6129) for a detailed inventory list or answers to any questions. 

(Click here for Inventory) (Click here for Photos)

Yours for only CDN$72,000

 

FIGMENT 1973 MK-II Yawl, Hull # 111. Excellent condition, fully cruise equipped. Lying in Boothbay Harbor, ME.  $51,900 USD

(Click Here for Photos and Inventory)

Contact: Jack St. John  - Tel: (207) 633-5529

 

KANDACE ROSE 1976 MK-II Custom Cutter, Hull No. 168, Volvo Penta 28hp, Very well maintained. Recently Surveyed, Toronto Registry. Lots of upgrades. SS fuel & water tanks, winter cover, new Harken Furling, new main, new dodger and bimini, new refrigeration and much more. Nova Scotia    CDN $74,000

(Click Here for Photo)

(902)747-2928

Email; kandacerose@ns.sympatico.ca

ELUSIVE 1968 Alberg 37 MK-I Sloop (Hull #40)

Sleeps 6+, 3 jibs, mainsail, pole, new rigging 2002, new bottom paint 2002, Ampair wind generator, Raymarine Autohelm, VHF radio, digital depth sounder, refrigeration, marine 12000 BTU air conditioning, CD/am/fm Aiwa stereo with Bose speakers, 2 anchors w/chain, pressurized electrical freshwater system w/60gals water, electrical marine head, inboard Westerbeke 4-107 37hp, new dinghy may 2004, 2.5 w/outboard, bimini, dodger, BBQ. ELUSIVE is a documented vessel 527394, located in Puerto Rico. 

Asking $33K U.S.

Contact Captain Papo at (939)645-0282, (939)940-9756 or negronrafa@hotmail.com  See photos at www.sanjuansailing.tk

 

MAROONED

1981 Alberg 37 Sloop. Hull # 217

Lightly used Great Lakes only, single owner. Lying at Whitby. US$52,500.00.  (Click here for photo)

Contact Frank @ 647-223-3536

Or franklavalley@hotmail.com

 

MYA

1974 Alberg yawl. Hull #129. Lying in Squamish, British Columbia. USA documented vessel. Well equipped for cruising w/wind generator, solar panels, watermaker, windvane (Cape Horn), wheel pilot (Simrad), radar, anchor windlass. Engine and standing rigging replaced ca. 1998. Additional upgrades and many spares. Includes inflatable dingy (West Marine) and outboard (2000 Mercury 5 hp 4-stroke).

[See photos]

US $42K

Contact:  Ralph Turner at rrtgeo@direct.ca or (604) 815-8219

Web Site

We are always looking for articles (cruising, racing, maintenance, etc.) and photos of your boat for inclusion on the website and newsletter.  Send the articles via email attachment in MS WORD and the photos in .JPG format if possible.

 

Racing Corner

Ron Cole, of Windham, ME recently wrote: “We’re still enjoying ARTEMIS, our 1981 MK-II Sloop.  Last summer we spent more time than usual on the racecourse. We competed in the cruising (no spinnaker) class and did well enough to finish in third place overall for the Gulf of Maine Ocean Racing Series. The highlight of the season was a class win in the annual overnight Monhegan Race. The sailing qualities of the boat continue to amaze me, even in light air.

ELIXIR’s Anchor Locker Modification
By Joran Gendell

The Alberg 37 forepeak is huge.  There is space to be utilized!  Also, my anchor rode had a tendency to slide under the forward end of the V-berth and hang-up.  I installed a new bulkhead 5" forward of the existing bulkhead.  Because I now have two rodes, I also installed a fore-aft divider to create bins on the port and starboard sides.  The bulkhead and divider are 1/2" marine plywood with aluminum channel (Home Depot) to protect the top edges from the chain(s).  (Time will tell how this holds-up.)  The bulkhead is spaced forward by two blocks cut from 2" x 6" pine and fastened to the original bulkhead with big screws and finishing washers.

 

Photo 1 

 

                                                       Photo 2                                              

 

In Photo 1, you can see 400' of 5/8" mega-braid in the port side. It only fit by careful flaking.  In the starboard side is 225' of three-strand nylon and 30' of 3/8" chain.  This was a better fit.  Omit the fore-aft divider and the room is plenty for one rode of any length.  Under the v-berth, at the forward end of the water tank, I screwed in another tiny bulkhead to keep stored items from sliding under the tank.  The new space now created between the bulkheads and under the forward end of the V-berth is very large.  I estimate it might hold at least 30 soup/vegetable cans, which at 4.5" will stack not only under the V-berth but also between the bulkheads.  See Photo 2.

 

Alberg 37 Sail Plans Available On CD

Thanks to the COMBINED efforts of Roy Carter, Bruce McFarland and Wayne Bower, both the Alberg 37 Sloop and Yawl Sailplans are now available on CD-ROM for the nominal cost of $5 USD (Canadian Postal Money Order works best for Canadian requests) to cover postage the cost of the CD.  The sailplans graphics are very high quality, and if printed on high quality photo paper, are suitable for framing.    The CD contains both the sloop and yawl configurations. Check the Home Page of the Alberg 37 Website for details and ordering information, or send your request to:

A-37 IOA

C/O Tom and Kaye Assenmacher

P.O. Box 32

Kinsale, VA 22488 

PIKA Southbound III
(Third Trip South to the Bahamas – Continued from Last Newsletter)
By Lou and Jean Wayne

Lou and Jean continue their trip in the Bahamas.  Due to the length of the account of their travels, we have decided to post their adventures on the Alberg 37 Web Site, vice in the printed version.  To view the web-based account, please visit the web site at: http://www.alberg37.org/Cruisingstories.htm

At the time of this printing, Lou and Jean are in Marsh Harbor, Abacos, Bahamas,  heading North on their way back home.  They spent several months in Georgetown, Exumas, Bahamas.

 

Mini Alberg 37 Rendezvous in Georgetown
By Tom and Kaye Assenmacher

Kaye and I took “reciprocal rights”, and took the invitation from the crews of  PIKA (1967 MK-I Sloop, Lou and Jean Wayne of Rochester, NY)  and PARTY of TWO (Lagoon 410 Cat. – Geoff and Bunkey Cunliffe of Mississauga, ON, previous owners of the 1979 MK-II Sloop -THE EVERDEN) to spend some time with them in late January and early February in George Town, Exumas.  Both boats had spent some time at our dock in Kinsale, departing in late October for points South.

Debbie, Lou, Jean, Mark and Tom aboard PIKA in George Town

So on 23 January, we flew from Dulles (VA) to Nassau, and then from Nassau to George Town.  We were met by Geoff from PARTY of TWO at the Exuma Market dock, the local meeting place in George Town (long floating dock, free R.O. water, great supermarket, etc.) which is near where they had anchored.  We stayed with the Cunliffes for about 10 days until PIKA arrived in George Town.  One of the highlights of the stay with Geoff and Bunkey was a trip to Long Island, one of the ‘out islands’, truly a great cruising spot.

PIKA arrived after we had been in George Town for about 10 days, so we moved aboard with another veteran Bahamas crew, Lou and Jean.  We spent part of the time working on PIKA’s engine (the exhaust manifold kept breaking it’s mounting studs), hiking across to the windward side beaches, attending an Eileen Quinn concert on the beach, seeing the “Bilge Boys” perform at Hamburger Beach, watch about 250 boats of various types and  sizes come and go, etc. etc.  Sure was nice to be in “PARADISE”.

 

Bilge Boys  

 

Eileen Quinn
                                                                                               

Another highlight was the arrival of SEA CYCLE (1973 MK-II Yawl  - Mark and Debbie Crowe of Toronto), arriving in George Town shortly after PIKA arrived.  They had also spent time at our dock in Kinsale in late October prior to heading South. 

 Finally, it was time to go back “North”, so we left George Town on February 14 and flew to Nassau, where we spent the night, sightseeing around Nassau the next day before catching our flight back to Dulles in the evening.  Believe it or no, we landed in a “wintry mix”, and it was COLD.  The day after we arrived home in Kinsale, we came down with the FLU!!!  Both of us were in bed for several days and we felt as if a truck had run over us.  Guess that was payback for “cheating winter”!  We came back with great suntans, but that quickly faded.

                A-37 Web Site / Discussion Forum

Due to unforeseen software problems, the Alberg 37 Discussion Forum has been temporarily taken off-line.  We hope to get the Discussion Forum back in operation, perhaps in a different configuration. 

 

Spindrift

By the Editor

The purpose of the newsletter is to provide a vehicle for the exchange of ideas relating to our Alberg 37 experiences (good and bad), maintenance tips, and cruising/racing information and to maintain a roster of Alberg 37 owners.

We suggest a donation of $10.00 U.S. a year to cover costs of publishing the quarterly newsletter, postage, Xerox services, and of course, maintaining the web site.

We suggest to our Non-U.S. members that they send an International Money Order payable in U.S. dollars.  A Canadian Postal Money Order works best for Canadian members.

You will notice a date on the label of the newsletter mailing, reminding you to help maintain the newsletter / association. For those receiving the newsletter notice via Email, we ask that you honor your commitment to the Association. The Association appreciates your help!

The A-37 IOA participates as a cooperating group with BOAT U.S., and members receive BOAT U.S. membership for half price ($12.50 vice $25.00- Note Price Increase!). Just mention you are a member of the Alberg 37 Owners Group and include the Cooperating Group number GA 83253 S when you join Boat U.S. or send in your annual renewal of membership

If you are transiting the Chesapeake Bay, please plan to stop by Kinsale for a few days (or longer). It's only about 12 miles off the Bay (up the Potomac to the Yeocomico River), and our area is very secluded, protected (good hurricane hole) and quiet, and a very good cruising area, especially in the fall. We “normally” have a couple of open slips.

Each fall/spring we have several ‘snowbirds’ stop on their way south/north.  Please note our Kinsale VA phone number: (804) 472-3853 - leave a message if we aren’t at home.

(Ed. Note:  Every year we’ve had a lot of sailing visitors, and several other non-A-37s who know A-37 members.  Guess the word is getting out!  Part of the fun of the A-37 IOA is meeting the people who traverse the waterways!)

If we inadvertently missed any of your correspondence, just hit us again – we like to receive correspondence, especially email, as it’s the grist that makes the Newsletter interesting. REMEMBER, THIS IS YOUR NEWSLETTER!

Have a great sailing spring!!!!!!

 

Tom and Kaye Assenmacher

 

P.S. We are tentatively planning on “Going South” this fall following the Fall Rendezvous – Want to join us on the trip??

 

FALL RENDEZVOUS ANNOUNCEMENT