LAUNCHING

[Graham W]

The weld at the bottom of my winch post failed whilst delaunching at Dunstaffnage yesterday.

Fingers crossed this doesn't happen to anyone else, so posting this as an advisory.

When it comes to CLH winch posts, there’s already quite a history of exactly the failure that you describe.  See https://www.swallowyachtsassociation.org/smf/index.php/topic,1516.0.html.  It’s happened to me too https://www.swallowyachtsassociation.org/smf/index.php/topic,1182.msg8803.html#msg8803.  As you can probably tell from that post, I was (and still am) distinctly unimpressed with the failure.  I now have a winch post reinforced like yours which, given their tendency to fail on boat trailers of all types, is what should have been supplied in the first place. 

Do newer Swallows have this reinforcement?

[Martijn]

Mike/Graham,

Thanks for sharing this.
This seems an obvious design error to me. I'll make sure to have my winch post strengthened as soon as possible.

[Rob Johnstone]

I'm not really surprised that the winch post weld eventually fails.

Before I fitted the electric winch to Terence (the trailer for Vagabond), I was too concerned with trying to wind the handle to notice what was happening to the winch post during recovery. Once the electric winch provided the "grunt" I could relax and watch what occurred.

 I was staggered.  The head of the winch moved about 2 cm towards the boat as the load came on when the boat was lifted onto the swinging rollers. This is partly due to flexing of the winch post itself but mostly (I think) due to flexing of the trailer. The bending load at the base of the post must be quite high to allow this amount of movement (in my youth I could probably have calculated it but such stuff is now too difficult).

I think Matthew has commented on the flexibility of the trailer in another post - this time relating to how tight (or otherwise) the tie downs should be.....

The joy of trailer sailing.

[Mikecambray]

I noticed that all the other boat trailers in the yard at Dunstaffnage had a braced winch post.  So there are plenty of design options out there.

I've just sent a message to Chris and Andrew at CLH to see if they can make the design modification and fabricate a reinforced post for me.  I'll update the outcome here.

[Mikecambray]

CLH have been very helpful and responsive, and apparently the current winch posts are braced.  One is in the post to me so hopefully happy days on that front.  I'll post a pic once I get it all installed next week.

[charliea]

Mike

From what's been said before I assume this is a design problem and that all unbraced CLH winch posts are suspect.

I'd rather not wait until I start seeing cracks in the weld so am interested in the solution CLH propose. I don't know if the trailers for BRs, BREs, BC23s etc. differ significantly but if CLH offer a replacement post that fits my BRE trailer at a sensible price I'll order one.

Might be worth you mentioning other possible customers when you talk to them about prices, I assume they'd rather make a few at a time?

Charlie

[charliea]

Nuts, didn't see your last update before I posted my own, I'll give them a call

[Rob Johnstone]

I think the idea of gaining efficiencies through small batch production
might be novel to CLS, as would be that of the usee of jigs.

[Sea Simon]

+ 1 re the comment about jigs!

Spent a couple of happy hours yesterday checking over my 2017 CLH braked trailer for my BRex.
Have posted before about F'ord/Aft misalignment of main swing beam, each side different, so beam not perpendicular to longitudunals; added two additional clips to bolster the single pinch bolts used for location and securing of the swing beam. Parts = £7

Yesterday also found the aft most wobble roller sets, are not symmetrically offset about trailer centre line; they are now. Luckily not too rusty, so simple enough to do. Re-positioned, and all marked up for an easier spot if any of it moves again.
Added 19/6
Have also been over the whole trailer and "nipped up" all of the fastenings; 3 found significantly loose. these were nyloc nuts.
Also checked alignment of wheel axle (per RobJ post!) and keel rollers etc. Aok.

On a more positive note...Winch post in good condition, plenty of drain holes, and a small box-angle web/gusset has been attached at build, so as to brace against the aft pull from the winch recovery. see photo (I hope!).
The S/S chain is my towing attachment to the bow eye, with winch off.

[Sea Simon]

and another phot..maybe...no - its 8Mb native, off my bl00dy phone! Ah, made it?

I think I might still add some sort of chain brace, on the forward side? We are still loading those 4 x 13mm foundation bolts quite severely, especially once they corrode a little? But then, what about the winch attachment to its bed plate...on it goes?

[Rob Johnstone]

More on alignment and jigs. When first issued to me, the axle of Terence was not at right angles to the centre line of the trailer. It became very apparent after a tow to Scotland and then to Mylor: on arrival at Mylor I discovered that one trailer tyre was scrubbed down to the radial wires. After use of tape measure, spanners and a lump hammer alignment was establised: I had to buy a new wheel and tyre from CLS for I couldn't find the correct rated tyre at any tyre "outlet".

[Martijn]

I've just inspected the winch post of my trailer, and indeed the first cracks are visible just above the weld.
I think I've dodged the bullet here...
I'm not sure yet whether to order a replacement post or just reweld it and extend the bottom plate in order to fix a supporting bracket. The latter might be quicker and cheaper.

[Sea Simon]

I've just inspected the winch post of my trailer, and indeed the first cracks are visible just above the weld.
I think I've dodged the bullet here...
I'm not sure yet whether to order a replacement post or just reweld it and extend the bottom plate in order to fix a supporting bracket. The latter might be quicker and cheaper.

Phew! You are a lucky man! Dodged indeed!
Power of a specialist forum at work.

I'm no metallurgist, (nor welder for that matter!) But do not just reweld over the cracked parent metal, that will bring more, perhaps worse problems.
It seems clear to me that a winch post like this needs a web/gusset, or a stay of some kind? I like your idea of an extension on the bed plate, as that will add some extra bolts to the attachment to chassis spine and so be better than mine?

[Martijn]

I'm no metallurgist, (nor welder for that matter!) But do not just reweld over the cracked parent metal, that will bring more, perhaps worse problems.

I won't. I'll use a grinder to remove the current weld and then build up from there.
Initially I was considering using a stainless steel (or dyneema) wire to simply take the tension of the winch post. Now it seems better to opt for the more permanent solution of repairing the post and then welding a bracket to it as per my previous post.

[Mikecambray]

Here is the replacement post, arrived from CLH today.  Small bracing piece and drain holes visible.  Fitting on Friday.