Alberg 30 historical info: winches?

[CO32_Tazling]

Hey all. My DH is just about done restoring a 1966 Alberg 30, and we are both pleasantly surprised by her sailing performance. Also I have to admit that as compared to my own Contessa 32 (1981), the amount of stowage space in the Alberg's hull with its taut bilges is remarkable. I am envious. The interior is luxurious compared to my Spartan British ocean racer (hey, discomfort and inconvenience build character!).

But I digress. The purpose of my post was to find out, if I can, what brand of winch was installed on the mid-60's Albergs. They are bronze and use a flat-bar winch handle. I don't think they are W/C. We are hunting for spare winch handles (there is only one of each size on the boat now) and having quite a time finding the larger (14 inch long) handle.

The handles are solid bronze flat bar with a slight bend, and a rather nice locking mechanism about halfway down their length (a hinged lever that engages with the slot in the winch, but is easily released by pressure on the underside of the handle). We have fabricated a "desperation spare" out of aluminium flatbar, but of course it has no locking mechanism; would really like to find one more handle of each size. The 11inch handles seem easier to find, the 14's so far seem frustratingly rare.

There are quite a few W/C handles (Wilcox Crittenden that is) around on Ebay and so forth, but they are quite different in appearance with a slotted end, and I don't know whether they would work at all in these winches.

So if anyone knows what brand of winch was installed on those early Albergs, I'd really like to find that out. I suppose in the long run we'll have to replace those vintage winches, but they are still working great and are rather attractive, appropriate to the boat's age and character.

[Don C L]

I believe my boat ('62 Columbia) was equipped with the same winches. They are Merrimans. They are great, and I think mine will last into the next millennium. I was lucky enough to have three handles with them and I haven't lost one yet, knock on wood. If you don't want your winches, give them to me!

Check the "Plastic Classics" social group too.

[tenchiki]

Contact Blue Pelican Marine in Alameda, CA, USA. They have a bucket full of flat-type winch handles. They might have one or more that would fit.

[Tailwheel]

Let me known if you have no luck. It so happens I have access to a ton of new old stock merriman winches and handles etc

[bailsout]

My 1966 Columbia 29 Mark II has them, too. South Coast all made them.

[msrcal36]

Pretty sure they are South Coast. Blue Pelican or Minney's.

[Grungy]

You may want to check out the Great Lakes Alberg Association...

[CaptainGrey]

If they are like the photo that was posted in a reply, there were both Merriman and W/C winches like that. Similar handles for both.

Two different methods for dismantling: one uses the end of the winch handle as a screwdriver; the other requires a special tool to reach over and span the pawls. I managed without the tool to rebuild the winches on my Bristol 27 (1965), but was clumsy.