The Winklebrig Forum

Anton Mannion
Username: Anton_mannion

Registered: 09-2008
   
Posted on Friday, September 26, 2008 - 01:09 pm:      
Hello all, Just a couple of lines to intrroduce ourselves, Anthony Mannion and Julie Hobson. We have a wayfarer on Ullswater and two weeks ago we were sailing amongst some small gaffers when one caught my eye. We hailed What sort of boat is that? Winklebrig, was the reply. What a lovely boat we said . So we fancy finding out about Winklebrigs. I've always fancied a gaff rig and Julie would like to have a lid and a cabin. We only want a small size, the Winklebrig appears ideal. May we pick all your brains over the winter? Our Wayfarer, W6610, has a yellow main and genoa and we keep it on Ullswater although we live in Salford . I suspect a "love a first sight with the Winklebrig" sort of thing. Cheers Anton and Julie

Julian Swindell
Username: Julian_swindell

Registered: 03-2007
   
Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 05:08 pm:      
The forum has been really quiet this summer. There have only been about eight postings since July. Is this because of the awful weather? I know I have packed in a day's sailing twice because it was so windy and wet. Has anyone else had better experiences?

David Cawston
Username: David_cawston

Registered: 03-2007
   
Posted on Thursday, September 04, 2008 - 12:09 pm:      
Hopefully I have managed to put a clip of Martin sailing on Windermere in October 2007 (as part of the TSA cruise) on YouTube. The quality of the clip as viewed through YouTube is pretty grotty (the original is good). So is it worth the effort to post clips on YouTube, please let me know. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhbQYmDKu34

Julian Swindell
Username: Julian_swindell

Registered: 03-2007
   
Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 04:33 pm:      
After long thought and much research I have decided to change boats and so my beloved Winkle Brig, Pelican, is up for sale. If any of you are interested or know anyone who might be, please point them my way. julian.swindell@jegsweb.co.uk
Her replacement will be a Baycruiser by Swallow Boats, which will be built over the winter. All quite scary as this will be Baycruiser no 1. I am going to try to record the whole design and building process online. You can see it at
http://www.jegsweb.co.uk/boats/baycruiser/home.htm

David Peck
Username: David_peck

Registered: 04-2008
   
Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 06:50 pm:      
Message to John Murdoch
Hello John,
I note you now own WB 16. I spent quite a lot of time in 2005 in comunication with Angus Mcloud in answer to his for sale advert for WB16 in Boats and Outboards. I would have bought the boat but for the fact that Angus was constantly abroad that year Skippering much bigger boats somewhere near China and we somehow could not get it together.(coupled with the fact that Loch Ewe is a long long way from Sheffield). I eventually bought WB 106 Cockle from a guy in Oswestry in 2006.
I have a lovely photo of Marra tied up on the Loch which Angus sent me.
Due to a computer failure I have now lost touch with Angus. I wonder if you would post me his Email address, I'm sure he won't mind.
Happy sailing
David Peck

Julian Swindell
Username: Julian_swindell

Registered: 03-2007
   
Posted on Tuesday, April 08, 2008 - 09:49 pm:      
I have just been wondering if we should start to think about forming a proper Winkle Brig owner's society. This web site shows that there is a lot of interest and plenty of owners around. What does everyone else think?

David Cawston
   
Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 06:07 pm:      
Have you had pictures/articles of your Winkle Brig published in a magazine/newspaper etc? Which magazines have run tests/comparisons on Winkle Brigs?
To start the ball rolling, Markie has recently appeared in the July 2007 edition of Waterways World in a picture showing some boats leaving a lock at the IWA Trailboat Rally on the Grantham Canal. She also appeared in Classic Boat when they reported on the International Festival of the Sea at Portsmouth in 1998. And one of the very first back to back tests with a Winkle Brig (and an Oysterman 22, Skanner 24, Cornish Shrimper and Keyhaven Yawl) was published by Yachting World in their January 1987 edition. It was as a result of reading this article that 'sold' us the Winkle Brig.

Adrian Evans
   
Posted on Sunday, June 24, 2007 - 06:09 pm:      
Well, after a hectic weekend, I have Peggoty parked up at home. Bob Hollis, the previous owner, was kind enough to spend the day with me, going through the raising and lowering of the mast, rigging, launching and sailing, while his wife, Lynn, very kindly entertained my two boys and their two girls, and then provided us with lovely overnight hospitality.
I was delighted with the sailing characteristics of Peggoty: easy, relaxed, responsive and very steady, in an afternoon that ran between balmy dead calm, thundery squalls, and the wind backing 180 degrees. She even ran aground gracefully! Ahem! I think I shall be washing river Colne mud off the boat, car, and my clothing for a little while. My own mini Glastonbury festival!
And we had a lovely interlude on the way home, barbequeing razor clams on the draw bar of the trailer.
So I'm thoroughly looking forward to quietly practicing my rigging, attending to those little starter projects, and getting on the water.
I just wanted to say thank you to Bob and Lynn, if they have a look at the website, and thank you to all of you, especially Roger, Julian, David and Martin, for your patient responses to my questions,your imaginative and practical ideas for fixes and improvements, and your encouragement and support. I am particularly grateful to Julian and Roger for finding the time and energy to maintain two great websites, on top of maintaining their boats! Without the resource you have provided, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have had the confidence to buy Peggoty.
Of course, I'm *really* going to start with the daft questions now!

Martin Cartwright
   
Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - 10:55 am:      
I note mentions of BSC inspections in the discussion about cookers. My boat has never had one. Do I need one? Where do I get one?

David Cawston
   
Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 06:23 pm:      
How much do you pay and which company are you with?

I am with Saga and pay £99.68 There is a funny clause that does not let you leave the boat on tidal waters unattended for more than 3 hours unless the boat is in a marina. The Norfolk Broads are tidal so I got them to alter the wording to allow unlimited mooring on intertidal areas.

Adrian Evans
   
Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 01:53 pm:      
I'd be interested to know how many owners used a professional survey when buying their WBs. (I wouldn't dream of asking you to advise me whether to get one or not!)
Obviously it offers peace of mind, but it is a
It is a small and simple boat, and the hidden bits aren't wood!
I would be grateful for any hints on things to look for. I know about the possible bilge plate issue with the early numbers.

Many thanks

David Cawston
   
Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2007 - 07:39 pm:      
We are taking Markie to the 2007 National Trailboat Rally on the Grantham Canal 26-28 May 2007. We are not expecting to get much sailing but we went to last years festival on the Lancaster Canal and it was great fun. We would be delighted to see any WB owners and will offer 'trips around the bay' (or a short trip up the cut). For more info visit http://www.granthamcanal.com/gow/index.htm

Julian Swindell
Username: Julian_swindell

Registered: 03-2007
   
Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 11:43 am:      
We are getting very hi tech at this end. I have started a Wikipedia page on Winkle Brigs, which is now up and running. Anyone can add to it, so have a go.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winkle_Brig

Julian Swindell
   
Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 05:32 pm:      
I've had an email from someone in the States, saying he is interested in commissioning a new Winkle Brig. Does anyone know if Ferryboat Yard would still build one? Someone once told me that they still did build to order, but not speculatively.

Julian Swindell
   
Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 04:14 pm:      
Thinking about an email to Simon Hill in Australia, it would be interesting to know something of the history of different boats. Here's what I know about mine.

WB6 called Pelican (and I think that has always been her name). I am the third owner, I think, having bought her in 2004. I think she was built in 1988 (or maybe 1985)

The first owner sailed her I know not where, except that at one stage he motored her up the Seine to Paris.

The second owner, a school caretaker in Gloucestershire, towed her down to Dartmouth regularly, but he also took the mast and bowsprit off once and motored very successfully down the Thames from Lechlade to London with is wife. He also spent a week at anchor on the Dart River just enjoying being on his own. Curiously, he sold her because he was retiring and moving to Dartmouth, but his new house wouldn't have room for both a boat and a caravan. Seems his wife liked caravanning He built the beautiful little rail around the back of the cockpit, which just adds that extra little something to the looks. he told me he never used the topsail. Strange.

I keep Pelican on her trailer at the top of my garden in Gloucestershire from Oct to Mar, and then on her trailer at a boat yard on Poole harbour between April and September.

Julian Swindell
   
Posted on Monday, March 19, 2007 - 12:05 pm:      
A really esoteric question. I noticed in the photo on the Hard Life thread that Roger is not only exhausted after an honest day's recreation, but also that one of his fenders is as seriously deflated as mine. I have four flat fenders but I cannot for the life of me unscrew the plastic plugs to re-inflate them. The plastic screw slot simply deforms before the plug turns. Does anyone have any cunning schemes for undoing them?

David Cawston
   
Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 04:43 pm:      
Roger Parrish aboard Partan enjoying a quick snooze on the 2004 Trail Sail Association Easter Cruise:

David Cawston
   
Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 - 05:18 pm:      
Embroidered Sweat/Polo/T Shirts available with the Winkle Brig Logo and your boat name (provided it fits in the space). All garments are 'Fruit of the Loom'. Lots of colours available for the clothing/logo/boat name. Costs are as follows (this is what I am charged by 'Logo Bear in Newcastle) T Shirt £11.95, Polo Shirt £14.95, Sweat Shirt £15.95 plus postage at cost plus £1 per item (to go towards the £50 I was charged to have the logo set up for the embroidery). To see the logo which is 9cm in diameter please visit http://www.cawston.eclipse.co.uk/tshirtlogo.jpg
To order just email or phone me on 01670775401. Please note I am not making any money from this, I just like to see Winkle Brig crews 'properly' dressed.

Tim Willey
Username: Tim_willey

Registered: 03-2012
   
Posted on Wednesday, September 04, 2013 - 11:58 am:      
It seems that at least half of the rollers on my Indespension cradle have partially seized to the point where the spindles will have to be sawn off to release the roller. The rollers seem fine but not much luck finding replacement spindles. Anyone had experience of this?

Paul Thomas
Username: Paul_thomas

Registered: 01-2011
   
Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2012 - 04:00 pm:      
I thought this link to Western Towing might be useful as they provide a lot of information, parts identification, exploded diagrams and fault finding tips, as well as selling parts.
http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/index.html