The man and the bucket theory

 As a shipwright in the Royal Canadian Navy I understand that during critical damage control situations one must address the flood by slowing it until it can be handled by the pumps.  I have a soft wood plug tied off at all of the ten through hulls.  (Ten seems a lot to me).   My bilge is clean and clear thanks to the removable plug,  degreaser,  and elbow grease.     The man and the bucket theory would seem reasonable until you realize that you can't actually get a bucket into the bilge.   What I witnessed today was the engines ability to move a substantial amount of water in a remarkably quick time.  Closing or throttling the overboard valve is obvious.    Like I said "I love my Vega" it has a capasity which other sailboats do not.  As undefinable or unmeasurable the volume or capacity of a 13 HP engine might be it is more than none.   Which somewhat makes  up for the ten through hulls

Main engine to empty the bilge

I love my Vega.   I flooded the bilge today (deliberately) with a fresh water hose.   It seems counter intuitive to fill the bilge all that nasty water inside the boat.   I started the engine first time  it works like a charm.  With a flick of a couple of valves the water is drawn not from the overboard intake but the bilge its self.  .   The water from the bilge is quickly spat out the back cooling the engine as it go's and allowing an engine to be flashed up on the hard.   It runs  great and all the gages could be checked all prior to a launch.   This also confirms significantly  that my main engine can be used to empty the bilge in a very powerful way during an emergency.   I really respect those Swedes designers.  Every boat should be capable of doing this.  Sincerely John

In the Beginning

Well this is the start of my Blog A new (to me) sailboat  an Albin Vega 27  (Hull 3319)got her at Christmas and I am getting ready to launch.  don't have too much to say yet but I plan to write about my experiences as they develop.