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Messages - John Burton

#31
The Hull / Re: Ready for season
May 01, 2019, 02:46:40 PM
Gerold, it looks absolutely beautiful!
#32
Launched!! Not the slickest of launches, but no disasters. Cressy is now safely moored on Coniston, we can see her 100yds away from our campervan at Pier Cottage. A short sail this morning, even the heavy rain couldn't stop the smiles, what wonderful boats these are.
#33
Hello Gerold, I will certainly post some more photos. I can't at the moment as I am abroad, but will when I get back in two weeks. I am extremely fortunate to have a barn large enough to get the boat inside, it makes working on it so much easier and more enjoyable.
Very best wishes, John
#34

Hi, I was very keen not to drill any more holes in the mast. My mast had, at the very top, an eye either side for a small pulley block, I used these for the lazy jack. Just beneath was an eyebolt for the peak halyard. Then further down another eyebolt running fore and aft which I've used for the throat halyard and the jib halyard. Now just beneath this was another eyebolt running transversely, I put an eye nut on the other end and have used these for the second shrouds. The second forestay also uses these attachments, I threaded the dyneema through both eyes and back into a figure of eight knot just beneath. I'm not at home at the moment so can't take a photo, but hopefully you can get the idea.
In the port aft locker I have a proper extra outboard tank plumbed into the outboard with the standard bayonet fittings either end of a flexible pipe incorporating the squeezy primer bulb. I made two holes in the locker on the cockpit side, one just above the false floor as a breather and a second for the pipe. I used standard dinghy type drain sockets in the holes and can always screw back in the bungs if need be. A friend gave me the tank, it is a perfect fit. As you say, trying to fill up on the water is fraught, this arrangement should give me a good range, certainly more than I need on Coniston.
I've just found I have some pics with me, not perfect but will give an idea of what I have tried to describe. The second forestay hasn't been attached yet.

#35
After a really enjoyable winter sorting out WB 93, we are ready to go sailing. It's been a steep learning curve after only having sailed dinghies in the past plus the fact that our WB was all in bits when bought.
The Forum has been immensely useful, and Martin Cartright's book invaluable, but I have learned an enormous amount through two meetings with David and Margaret Bone. We met once at their place and once at ours and David was extremely generous in his time and advice, very many thanks.
So what have I managed to achieve? In no particular order, this is the list.
Second shrouds. I obtained some 8mm stainless plate and made two extra chainplates and used Dyneema rigging.
Second forestay, 10mm stainless threaded rod through the stem, below the mast rest for transport, with an eye nut. Again dyneema rigging, through a block back to the cockpit.
Belt and braces in the rigging department.
I've made some mahogany cleats for the cockpit in order to tidy up all the ropes and added one on the foredeck. I've also fastened a thin strip of mahogany across the aft end of the cabin hatch with a handle. The overhang will hopefully make it more weatherproof.
The bob stay is now stainless chain with a bottle screw and the bowsprit has a half round steel clamp where the eyebolt goes through, courtesy of David. He also kindly gave me some cockpit boards which saved me a job.
The gallows seemed very flimsy being only attached to the hull at the base. I found the stainless tubing used was a sliding fit inside 28mm copper pipe, so using this I put a length in both aft lockers, fibreglassed onto the hull at the base and clamped at the top into a piece of wood fastened with bolts through the original bronze fittings at the base of the gallows. The gallows are now much more rigid.
I've put a false floor in the port aft locker and sealed any gaps with builders foam. I can now put a petrol tank for the outboard in there safely.
I've learnt about mooring strops etc from David including his very elegant method of preventing the strop rubbing against the bobstay.
A sail cover is being made.
The trailer received new bearings, seals, brake cables and extra lights on the mudguards, new tyres, a spare wheel and tyre and a new winch strap.
Inside the cockpit I put in a mast support made from an old Laser mast, made some small shelves just inside the cockpit either side plus some led lights running off AA batteries.  A new step, there wasn't one before, and a new Porta Potti, again there wasn't one.
I repainted the anti slip areas with grey anti slip paint and had to repaint most of the cockpit white. Probably a change of hull colour next year, the finish is not particularly good.
So all ready to launch and put on our Coniston mooring, unfortunately a holiday booked long before we bought WB 93 means this will not be until towards the end of April, can't wait!
Thanks for all the information on the Forum, it would have been much more difficult without.
#36
Miscellaneous / Re: Buying advice please
December 19, 2018, 08:38:27 PM
Hi Pat,I think adding side marker lights is a good safety measure, my trailer board lights are 75 cm apart which results in an unlit projection of around 60 cm each side. I bought a pair of LED lights from Amazon for £10.99 and mounted them on the mudguards using a couple of stainless nuts and bolts each side. The bolts are permanently attached and protrude upwards, the lights then slip over these and are attached by wingnuts. If it wasn't a break back trailer they could probably be left permanently attached. I ran a wire from each side forward to a second 7 pin plug. As the 6m lead from the trailer board was not long enough to reach the vehicle, I made up a short extension with two 7 pin sockets, one for the trailer board and one for the side lights. I'll try to add a photo to help illustrate this.
I didn't come across any battery operated lights.
We are thrilled with our WB and greatly looking forward to getting it on the water.
All the best for Christmas and the New Year
John
#37
Miscellaneous / Re: Buying advice please
December 11, 2018, 06:30:45 PM
A progress report. Having got the boat home and in the barn I've had a good look around and am delighted, there is some work to do but nearly all cosmetic so a nice winter project in store. I was very pleased to discover the rig is a high peaked gaff which personally I would prefer although I appreciate there are pros and cons of both rigs. The sails are in good condition although cream in colour.
We have been successful in gaining a mooring on Coniston Water or at least an allocation. The old mooring has disappeared so a new one is to be laid.
I've had to do some work on the trailer, a Snipe break back. It came with two new tyres, I've added a new spare wheel and tyre. Unfortunately the handbrake mechanism was missing and several hours on the Internet failed to find a replacement so I have modified and welded on an old Series 1 Land Rover handbrake I had spare. If I ever find the correct replacement it will be easy to fit, nothing irreversible has been done. New bearings and seals in the hubs, now I'm waiting for two stainless steel Bowden cables to arrive.
I've also added side marker lights on detachable brackets so I can take them off for launching. The trailer is 2.0 m wide and apparently any trailer over 1.6 m needs side marker lights apart from boat trailers. An odd regulation but it seems safer to have them.
The interesting bit will be the rigging. It's all off the boat and spars and in bags, there may be some questions ahead!
Finally the name. WB 93 was called Be Bop a Lulu some time ago but I believe has passed through two owners since then and I have no idea if they renamed the boat. As it is out of the water which I understand reduces the risk of catastrophic consequences associated with renaming, we have called her  CRESSY which uses the initials of our 4 grandchildren.
#38
Miscellaneous / Re: Buying advice please
November 29, 2018, 08:00:31 PM
Thank you Martin.
We are collecting the boat next Monday and then taking it the 250 miles up to Yorkshire.
Really looking forward to having a good inspection and getting familiar with all the features.
#39
Miscellaneous / Re: Buying advice please
November 26, 2018, 08:38:16 PM
A successful day, I have bought Winkle Brig no.93. Very unfortunately the previous owner passed away having carried out a great deal of work on the boat and never managed to actually sail it. It is in excellent condition with an almost new outboard, recently serviced. The trailer is also much better than I had expected and 2 new tyres will be fitted.
Obviously very excited about all this and undoubtedly I will be posting all sorts of questions once I get the boat home and get to know all about it.
#40
Miscellaneous / Re: Buying advice please
November 25, 2018, 09:01:04 PM
Hello David, I'm viewing them both tomorrow so the excitement is mounting.
I have bought and read from cover to cover Martin Cartwright's book which is absolutely excellent and a great source of information. I know most of the facts are scattered around the Forum, but to have it all in a logical format in a proper book is invaluable.
I am concerned that the 2.3 hp  Honda on 103 might not be quite powerful enough and I understand they are aircooled and relatively noisy. The Indespension trailer with 103 is however probably better than the Snipe with 93. All will be revealed tomorrow!
I will keep you posted, by this time tomorrow I hope that I will be a proud owner of one or the other.
Thanks again for your help and advice,
John
#41
Miscellaneous / Re: Buying advice please
November 10, 2018, 07:02:28 PM
Thank you very much David and Dave. I had no idea of those later features. There is obviously a lot to check out on both these boats. Interestingly both appear to have originally had green hulls. Number 93 when named Liberta is shown in the gallery before having the hull sprayed white, I don't know if 103 is still in the original gel coat or whether that has been painted. 103 with its green hull and tan sails would have a beautiful traditional look rather than a white hull and the white sails of 93. I suppose it will all come down to seeing the boats for real rather than relying on photos. Thank you for the offer of phoning you David, I may well do that having viewed them as I am sure there will be points I need clarifying.
As for maintenance being pleasurable I often feel that's the best bit about boats, just tinkering , modifying, repainting etc. I am currently restoring a Mirror Miracle, but that will now have to go when a Winklebrig comes home.
Thank you once again.
#42
Miscellaneous / Re: Buying advice please
November 10, 2018, 04:49:43 PM
Thanks very much Martin for your advice, very useful and it gives me some good pointers as to what to check.
I had thought at least 4 HP would be necessary having been used to a 4 HP on some dinghies in the past.
I know one trailer needs new tyres, but that is going to be accounted for, both are otherwise apparently sound.
The rig was one of the things I was going to check, I won't ask which is best as I see both alternatives have keen followers!
It's the fibreglass structure that concerns me so thanks for pointing out the places to check.
I will let you know the outcome and I'm sure I will be posting many questions in the future.
Thanks again.
#43
Miscellaneous / Buying advice please
November 09, 2018, 02:46:53 PM
Hello and thank you for admitting me to the Forum, this is my first post.
Our family has sailed dinghies for over forty years, mainly on Coniston Water. It was there that we first saw "Hope" WB 107 and immediately loved the look of such a beautiful traditional boat. I see from this Forum that she belongs to David Bone. A month ago we saw Hope under sail and were very impressed, the internet search began!
There are two Winkle Brigs for sail at Apollo Duck, numbers 93 and 103.
No.93 has featured in this forum with much work being done over the years. The boat is being sold as the owner has passed away and his Widow has asked someone to sell it for her, very unfortunate circumstances. The boat is on a Snipe break back trailer.
No 103 has apparently been stood for a couple of years and needs a good clean. This one is on a Indespension trailer.
I appreciate both these boats need some work, but that seems to be reflected in the price and I would find it difficult to stretch to the cost of an immaculate boat. Although used to working on dinghies  I would greatly appreciate advice as to what specifically to check out when viewing a Winkle Brig. I have extensively read through the forum about repairs etc and have gained some very useful knowledge, but any further advice would be most welcome.
Very many thanks in advance.