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91
Trailers, towing & launching / Re: Lessons from my first tow
« Last post by rosswaddams on July 22, 2017, 07:38:02 AM »
MY TRAILER REPAIR MAN

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to recommend a tradesman but here goes...

http://www.mobiletrailerservicing.co.uk/

Tony was very good. He answered my initial email enquiry almost immediately (at 8pm). I sent him some photos of the trailer and he reassured me that it didn't look too bad. I later found out that he used to work for Indespension building boat trailers and knew all about my Roller Coaster 1. He gave me an estimate for the work which turned out to be accurate. He is cost-conscious and suggested several ways I could save money.

The boat was 250 miles away from me in the Bosham car park boat park so I told him where the boat was and we fixed a date for him to do the work. In the end I was able to make it down by midday but Tony would have emailed me photos of the finished job with the invoice if I couldn't have made it in time. You can pay him by phone (using a credit card) or by direct bank transfer.

Whilst he was working, we got chatting and loads of useful trailer advice came my way (see "Tyres" above).

Tony is a really nice guy and knows his stuff. So if you're anywhere between Southampton and Dover, and need your trailer fixing, I can thoroughly recommend him.
92
Trailers, towing & launching / Re: Lessons from my first tow
« Last post by rosswaddams on July 22, 2017, 07:25:23 AM »
TYRES

New tyres were definitely needed as they were 17 years old (I read the dot codes) and had several splits.

They were marked "155R12 76c". This seemed rather an odd code and so I assumed, given the age of the tyres, that it was an obsolete code. I did my research (on this forum and on the wider internet) and ordered three 155/70 R12 tyres (8 ply, very popular on modern vans).

My friendly trailer repair man (see next post), when I casually told him, remarked that 155R12 tyres were indeed the correct ones (of an old design, they were once very popular on 1300 Commer vans). He pointed out that a 155/70 R12 tyre had a much lower profile than the 155R12 which would result in much reduced ground clearance for the trailer rear swing beam. I hurriedly made a grovelling phone call to the tyre shop and they ordered the correct tyres for delivery the next day. Phew.

These are relatively unusual tyres so I'm glad I've got a new spare as well.

Needless to say, I now know a lot more about tyre codes than I did a week ago!
93
Trailers, towing & launching / Lessons from my first tow
« Last post by rosswaddams on July 22, 2017, 07:03:56 AM »
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.
94
Trailers, towing & launching / Re: Support for mast whilst towing
« Last post by rosswaddams on July 21, 2017, 08:49:14 PM »
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.
95
The Rig / Rope
« Last post by Matthew on July 21, 2017, 02:42:06 PM »
All the ropes on holly are original and past there best. Has anyone ever prepared a list of all the ropes, length ,type, dia etc?
96
Sailing / Re: Wind strength and comfort
« Last post by Martin on July 19, 2017, 11:33:43 AM »
Good to hear you are having a good season Gerold.
For sea sailing I found the bulward was a little low and had a stainless steel rail made. Quite expensive and not for everyone I know, but it does the trick and has kept me safe in some quite big seas here on the North Sea coast. (You can see the rail on some of the pictures on the www.winkle.life web  site.)
97
Sailing / Wind strength and comfort
« Last post by VROUW KIRSTEN on July 17, 2017, 03:48:26 PM »
 Just to complete my post: Since my first post in May I had some trips at my home area and the Baltic sea and got more experience with the good-tempered character of my VROUW KIRSTEN. It is not a problem to sail at 5 to 6 Beaufort, unless you have enought space and listen to the boats knowledge. She still shows whats to do and I felt very comfortable in several situations wth strong wind and whitecaps around me. All nautical manoeuvres, properly accomplished, promoted  my confidence with this boat.
Maybe the bulwark is a little low, I will think about that, especially at sea it is very comfortable to have a little more support.

Kind regards

Gerold
98
Miscellaneous / Re: The Broads advice needed
« Last post by Martin on July 14, 2017, 05:12:02 PM »
Hi Matthew and welcome!
If you go to the 'sailing' section of the website there is thread under 'Norfolk Broads' heading, and much of the information  still holds good I think.
There is good beer at most places (Woodbastwick micro brewery - Northern Broads- in particular) but food is pretty average everywhere I am afraid once you have tired of chicken and chips, burger and chips, and fish and chips! However, there is one exception and that is the Dukes Head Pub at Somerleyton which has excellent food.
Have a great trip.
99
Miscellaneous / The Broads advice needed
« Last post by Matthew on July 14, 2017, 10:27:03 AM »
Hi all
As a new winkle brig owner I think it only proper that I come down the broads a right of passage perhaps. I will be arriving Friday lunch and leaving mid day Sunday not sure which weekend yet. Can some one advise the best place to launch ideally a suitable place to park securely my trailer and vw camper. What would be a good explore for the Saturday and a riverside pub overnight for the two nights Are there any weekends that are better than others events etc. All advice gladly received regards matt
100
Trailers, towing & launching / Re: Support for mast whilst towing
« Last post by Martin on July 11, 2017, 09:17:17 AM »
I agree. I am sure you will be fine, Ross. The only advice I would give regarding an unknown trailer is to check the brakes and bearings as you won't know how much salt water they have been subjected to.

I towed with my original trailer for several years. However tempting (in terms of spreading the cost), I wouldn't go down the route of uprating all the components of the original trailer piecemeal as you will spend a few bob and still end up with an 1100kg trailer. Some years ago, when I realised that my boat was weighing far more than the original owing to numerous additions and live aboard 'stuff', I bit the bullet and traded in the old trailer with Indespension for a new Roller Coaster 7. I have never regretted it, but I suppose it depends how many miles on the road you intend to cover. I have done a few!


 
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