The Winklebrig Forum

While re-assembling the boat today I noticed the holes for the rigging are off centre .. one forward and one aft. Any ideas why and which would be best for the bob stay and which for the front stay ?

Quote from: VROUW KIRSTEN on May 03, 2021, 02:32:42 PM
Hello gaff sailors,
It would be nice to see the masthead of another Winklebrig too!

Had half a doz days on the water ..... mostly when the sun shines warm.
Is there a quick way to shrink pics to fit here?  Always takes me too long.

approved safety equipment at the Duemmer is a safety helmet instead of a buoyancy aid

On Kielder you're more likely to need a divers helmet as you could go down 53m if you choose the deep end

Hi Andy
I notice that "Ratty" is pictured in the Gallery as WB5 "Puffin" and in the Owners List as being sailed in Ireland by Sheena Jolley so maybe there's a bit of unravelling of site info as well as "unravelling" the boat.

Hopefully Ratty's been for a swim since you last posted ?

Ken

Thanks for the "heads up" Gerold. I quite like seeing what variations people have made to their boats.
Sadly the site wont let you see their privacy and cookie policy unless you agree to it first which seems a bit stupid. I too may be a bit stupid as I try to avoid cookies and the like whenever I can.

I just took a look at your lake, Duemmer, and found it hard to believe Wikipedia telling me its average depth is 1m and deepest point 1.5m !  This would mean you could fall out of your boat anywhere and still stand up with your head above water ... yet I have seen pics of quite big boats on it . Are they all specially adapted for shallow water ?

Ken

Hi Rick
I'm not going to be much help with your question ... my jaws are bronze ... but I'd be interested to hear about your fore stay break - as mine did that a few months back.
On mine the SS cable just above the roller reefing drum sheared. It broke right at its entrance into the sheath that clamps it. The guys replacing it said they'd never seen such a clean break and even asked if there was any chance someone had cut it . I'd been sailing for a couple of hours and was just unfurling the jib after a lunch stop so seems it was metal fatigue. There'd been no sign of any broken strands previously .. it just snapped.
What's the story with yours ?
Ken

Quote from: David Bone on June 18, 2020, 01:44:41 PM
Hello Ken,
Your query stimulated me in to doing something, so here is my take on realignment:
David

Great to see David.  I was intending to try virtually the same apart from one or two variations.
I've just done something similar for the jib cleats to angle the lines down and towards the cockpit to make their release, in
particular, easier.

That having worked fairly well I was intending to make the wedges for the front pulley blocks of the same resin filler (if the jib ones last the season I'll smooth them off and paint them).
I notice your pulleys  have ended up horizontal which I imagine will work fine and looks sensible ... I may still cant mine a tad further to "aim" at the top of the mast in the direction of the tension unless I decide that makes them look too odd for the minimal advantage.
I'm going to look for bronze plate first and if I get fed up failing I'll follow the stainless route. Did you finish the edges with hand or power tools ?

Must go. Things to do before day 6 sailing tomorrow

Shame you got no reply here Graham but maybe everybody here has , like me, no experience of epoxy and varnish on woods. Hope you found some info somewhere. I know cladding wooden dinghies in epoxy has been a common activity.
Is Cockle sailing this year ?
Ken

Thanks for responses guys. No time to shrink the pics tonight as I'm off for my third days sailing tomorrow ... oops ... when it gets light. If I remember I'll switch phone to "little pics" and bring back some that will load here.
Don't hold your breath (John) for the final solution ... think it took at least 18m to get idea to reality for the jib sheet blocks as I tend to let sailing get in the way of fettling
Ken

More on the pulley blocks:

I managed to tap the bronze pins out and "temporarily" loaded new sheaves into the blocks on ss bolt with nylock nut. They work fine except ....

I soon noticed the lines were all trying (and the dyneema one succeeding) to ride onto the edges of the sheaves. No wonder the old ones had lost their edges and ... no doubt the life of the lines were being significantly shortened as well.
1st thought: tie a loose pulley to one block for the dyneema line allowing it to align itself to the best direction for the strains it was dealing with( i.e. angle inwards towards the mast top instead of outwards because of the coach-roof slope).
2nd thought: Swap it for a loose block of three like Julian Swindells pic above ... operationally a great improvement.
3rd thought: But I quite like the bronze block. Can I make it work better ?
4th thought: I've just made some angled blocks to direct the new jib sheet cleats down towards where I'm sitting in the cockpit. These have worked well (for the two days use so far this year  grrr to cv19) maybe I'll try something similar for the bronze blocks. I'd need a trianguar bronze plate to tip the pulley block towards the mast and a new resin mount for it to rest on.
I'm letting that idea marinade in my head for a bit while I wait to see if you guys have more possible solutions to suggest

May you all have a happy, Covid free year of sailing.
Ken

Oh dear. The pics I tried to send were 2020 size so got blocked. May try to shrink them when I get time,

Thanks Mathis and may you have many happy 2020 hours on Duemmer Lake . If you're ever wandering in the UK and fancy playing Winklebrigs on Kielder Water give me a shout  .
Ken
PS Would be good to see some pics of Leneken in the Gallery

103 The Nutmeg is looking for a new owner here :  https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/winkle-brig-16/614007
Plenty of pics for the gallery if wanted.

I have a fixed height gooseneck clamped round the mast so homed in on "Boom Height " when wondering if the gooseneck was at the best height.
The interesting and helpful comments highlighted that there are a number of variables in WB rigs so any further ideas on fixed gooseneck height with my high peak mainsail would be appreciated.
Regards
Ken

Hi Paul
I had v similar experience when cleaning the "glass" surface of one of my forward facing ports and -sure enough- a quick clean off of old sealant and replacement with new sorted the problem.
Glad you told me of replacement cost !  I shall be extra careful not to drop them onto a hard surface if I take them off again.
Have fun with your WB .. they're great
Ken

Hi Tim.

I'd be interested to know what club you're at that's encouraging WB's to join the racing.... maybe I could get in a visit.

I used to race my dogeared GP14 against more whizzy boats under PY club racing (and even win sometimes !) But win or not I always told them I got the best deal as, while they were sitting in the clubhouse waiting for me to finish, I was getting more sailing in than them.

Sadly I can't help you with anything official about WB handicap. Best I could think of to improve  mine would be to find a quicker boiling kettle.


Ken