The Winklebrig Forum

Previous contributors were so useful in making my first tow a success that I thought I'd "pay it forward" by setting down the lessons I learnt from the experience.

There's probably going to be too much for one post so I'll split it over several.

Well, I made it home! In large part, thanks to all the advice and encouragement above - it was echo-ing in my mind during the two moderately stressful days of the trip.

I'm tempted to start a new thread "Lessons from my first tow" with some photos. I'll maybe get onto that over the weekend.

The trailer did need new tyres, brakes and bearings, and a new tow hitch but is otherwise in better condition than I thought. The winch ratchet is a goner (surprise, surprise) but replacements seem reasonable and I can get a better bow snubber at the same time. I've eased off one of the bearings one flat because it was a bit on the warm side when I got back. And I no longer feel the urge to change the suspension units as it all looked good in the rear view mirror.

The result is I'm now confident future WB trailing will go well. I just need to give the boat a good clean and repair the broken boom jaws, after which the fun begins!

Once again, thanks to you all.

I thought I'd replied yesterday, but obviously not... still getting the hang of this forum thing.

Thanks, Dave, for the photos - that makes it all very clear. Your mast crutch is similar to mine. My boat does have a cover but for the first tow I thought I'd do it without. Also I'm intending to have the boat as light as possible (no gear on board).

I shall be putting some 155/70R12c tyres will a load rating of 88 on, which hopefully will be man enough. I'm still agonising over new 1300 kgs suspension units as, at £500 the pair, they'd be 10% of the price of the boat & trailer combined.

The only way to solve all my trailer anxieties (for instance, this trailer only has four rollers which must point-load the hull) is to buy a new trailer at £3,700 for an Indespension Roller Coaster 7. I don't have the budget for that so I guess I'm going to have to put some miles in and build my confidence up.

The first tow (home) is pencilled in for 18 July so I've still got some thinking time.

Thanks, guys. Sounds like a consensus...

1. Lash bow eye-bolt.
2. Mast as far forward as poss.
3. Brace mast crutch (I shall certainly be securing it to the boat somehow so it doesn't disappear overboard).
4. Ratchet straps fore & aft

I've bought a couple of beefy ratchet straps (more to spread the load than for their strength). Routing them under the bulwarks sounds like a top tip - I was wondering about that.

I've got lots of rope, straps and sail ties so I'll overdo it to start with. One can't have too much rope.

I've just bought WB25 and, once the trailer is refurbished in a week or so, will be towing it home to the Midlands from Chichester. That's a longish tow for a first effort and I want to get it right.

The boat doesn't come with an owner's manual and so I'm a little uncertain about how to support the mast and spars. There's only a short boom crutch (no gallows, unfortunately). Presumably the fat end of the mast rests in the tabernacle and the thin end goes on the boom crutch. Lash it down and hope for the best. Lash the other spars to the mast.

The boom crutch doesn't look particularly substantial though...

Am I about to make some ghastly mistake?

Phil: I've had a good look at the high-peaked gaff and I'm afraid it's not doing anything for me. I've sailed a Shrimper quite a bit and kept looking up, wishing there was a topsail up there. WB100 looks a beauty and I could always go to the effort of converting her but I'm not ready to jump into that sort of "dockyard job" just yet.

Kate & Paul: Thanks for letting me know your boat is for sale. I'm sure you've put a lot of effort into her and that she's a splendid vessel too. But I think, with a little patience and a little luck, I can find a boat that's more in my budget. I do hope you find a good home for her.

There's another WB for sale and I'm off to see her tomorrow. Its a long trip and someone else has already been to see her this week so anything could happen.

Thanks, Phil. I'll have look over on the Rig posts.

Thank you for those swift responses.

I'm not familiar with the high-peaked rig. Does anyone have a photo of it? How easy is it to convert to the conventional gaff rig (I'm a fan of topsails)?

In case you're wondering who I am, this is my first post on the forum (in fact, my first post on any forum!).

I am looking to buy a Winkle Brig. Martin's "Winkle" would be too much for me, both in terms of cost and reputation. But if anyone wants to trade-up from their present WB, perhaps we could form a short chain.