Alberg 22 capabilities: How far out would you sail?

[Scout 30]

Watch your weather heading to the Bahamas.

[bryan062087]

Originally Posted by RichSch

My sailboat is very similar to the Alberg-22.

Here is my experience in 10+ years of sailing a 2nd generation boat by Alberg.

1.) 5.5 knots easily with only main sail and a small jib.

2.) Low freeboard, expect to get wet.

3.) Some will say it is a little tender, but than can also be a good thing.

4.) Sailboat will round-up at 27 knots, every time. Above 27 knots, head for
home.

5.) Maintenance issue, the windows tend to leak.

Richard

First of all, thanks to everyone for the replies.

What sails did you have up when it was rounding up at 27 knots? Seems worrisome that it couldn't handle winds about 27 knots.

[Scout 30]

On a boat that size you need to reef early.

[Scout 30]

If the main is overpowered it just means there's too much canvas up. It's not a knock on the boat. 27 mph is a good amount of wind. Small craft advisories are typically posted at that wind speed & this is definitely a small craft.

[mowerandy]

Originally Posted by RichSch

My sailboat is very similar to the Alberg-22.

Here is my experience in 10+ years of sailing a 2nd generation boat by Alberg.

1.) 5.5 knots easily with only main sail and a small jib.

2.) Low freeboard, expect to get wet.

3.) Some will say it is a little tender, but than can also be a good thing.

4.) Sailboat will round-up at 27 knots, every time. Above 27 knots, head for
home.

5.) Maintenance issue, the windows tend to leak.

Richard

Point of order regarding rounding up at 27knots of air..

When I first bought my Joe Adams 31 (cruise converted Sydney-Hobart boat of 70s genre) I thought there was something wrong with it cos it wouldn't heave to - she would just drive through the backed headsail and take off again no matter how much I backed the mainsheet. Used to round up like crazy at around 30 knots too. Then one day the commodious dodger finally shredded and got folded away, and voila! So rounding up is usually a question of balance, and you mention a small jib here..sounds to me like you just need some more reefing points in your main so you can reduce the pressure aft. maybe you need to lose a dodger too, if its really blowing? My old Marauder 24 had lots of reef points and no dodger - She was perfectly behaved in 50 knots, and still able to beat away from a lee shore in much stronger airs. Uncontrolled rounding at 27knots is a Big problem if you are ever going to encounter a decent breeze. Fairly cheap job to put more reefing points in the main too - bet it sorts this problem out!

[bailsout]

DonCL,
I, too, have a Columbia 29 mark 2, 1966. Love her. I keep doing boat porn with the classifieds but don't know how I can do better. Wonderful blue water boat here in Estero Bay.

[patn44]

Even terrible boats can be sailed by inexperienced sailors in the ocean. The deciding factor is the weather.

[jreiter190]

Buy the 22 and have a great time.Trailer her to where you want to sail and then trailer her to any place you want to sail from there. Overnights are no problem. BTW, I have an Alberg 35.You have a perfectly good idea, so don't let anyone rain on your parade.

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by jreiter190

don't let anyone rain on your parade.

Good suggestion, since there is almost no protection from the rain on an Alberg 22.

[Stu Jackson]

We got caught out last year off the Northern California coast and decided to head back in. We hove to: single reef in the main, 110 jib. I fully dropped the mainsail and the boat remained hove to. I attributed that to the dodger which was working to keep the boat balanced. I was ecstatic.

Keep the dodger.

Originally Posted by mowerandy

Point of order regarding rounding up at 27knots of air..

When I first bought my Joe Adams 31 (cruise converted Sydney-Hobart boat of 70s genre) I thought there was something wrong with it cos it wouldn't heave to - she would just drive through the backed headsail and take off again no matter how much I backed the mainsheet. Used to round up like crazy at around 30 knots too. Then one day the commodious dodger finally shredded and got folded away, and voila! So rounding up is usually a question of balance, and you mention a small jib here..sounds to me like you just need some more reefing points in your main so you can reduce the pressure aft. maybe you need to lose a dodger too, if its really blowing? My old Marauder 24 had lots of reef points and no dodger - She was perfectly behaved in 50 knots, and still able to beat away from a lee shore in much stronger airs. Uncontrolled rounding at 27knots is a Big problem if you are ever going to encounter a decent breeze. Fairly cheap job to put more reefing points in the main too - bet it sorts this problem out!

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by patn44

Even terrible boats can be sailed by inexperienced sailors in the ocean. The deciding factor is the weather.

While this is a true statement the Alberg 22 is not a terrible boat. It's actually a classic small cruiser.

[bryan062087]

Drove 1000 miles but finally got it. Now have to get home. The drive from Canada back to US was fine but got stuck at customs for 2-3 hours. Then started having issues with the trailer shortly after on the US highways.

Bouncing up and down almost out of control...boat shifted some on the trailer and think its either some issue with the shocks on my tow vehicle or the tongue weight. Tried some different fixes, will see how it does tomorrow. Got a long way back home.

[Azul]

Nice boat! If you are having control issues after the boat shifted it is probably due to tongue weight. Get a digital scale at Wal-Mart and check it. It should be 7% to 10% of the total trailer weight. Take it slow.

BTW, have you checked the trailer's wheel bearings? At least check the hubs after you go a short way to see if they are getting hot (bad.) Consider a pit stop in the morning at a trailer place to have them pack the wheel bearings and sort out the tongue weight issue for you if you aren't familiar. $100 well spent. Wheel bearings heat up during travel, then when you dunk them in cold water the vacuum pulls water into the wheel bearing grease, even if you have bearing buddies.

Might be a good time to call Boat US and get towing insurance, you can get an inexpensive rider to cover trailering.

Good luck with your trip home.

[patn44]

ps. did NOT say the Alberg was a terrible boat. I think all the Albergs are classic and beautiful and THEY are great sailors.

[Scout 30]

The boat looks great! Keep the pics coming.