Re: plans for home-build Potters

Wwpottergb@aol.com
Mon, 19 Oct 1998 16:31:48 EDT


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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As Harry Gordon remarks, there has never been any publication of Potter pl=
ans,
either here or in the former colonies. I replied privately to Brian Hofle=
r
last month with that same observation.

Successors to Stanley Smith are thin on the ground. His brother, last of =
the
line, died in, I think, 1987.

It would seem unlikely that Smith ever registered the plans anywhere.
Patenting law is short lived when it comes to a design. Nothing like as l=
ong
as copyright AND you have to pay a fee every 2 years to keep a design
registered and therefore protected. I don't know whether successive build=
ers
ever had a licence to build from Smith. One builder was West Wight Marine =
Ltd
of Totland Bay, Isle of Wight. Other builders listed on WW Marine literat=
ure
[from the 1970s] were HMS Marine in Inglewood, CA, Danboat of Aeroskobing,
Denmark and Doornbos of Bruekeleveen, Netherlands.

Yes, mine is a Martin Pook epoxy plywood boat, and yes, it is tough. I've
bashed it on several above- and below-water obstructions as well as regula=
rly
running on to a beach for an [intentional] visit ashore. It lives on the
trailer and has many road miles under its keel. Next season we should be
living much nearer the (south of England) coast so it may find an afloat b=
erth
and I might get some more sailing. Martin took lines off a Stanley Smith
original Potter to design the AX, of which he built 18 only. A new grp Po=
tter
was exhibited at Southampton last month but I haven't any details.

Can I suggest, again, a look in the archives?

OTHER GOSSIP

1. PBO magazine (Nov 98) mentions Potters in regard to good value for
sailing money, with a picture of 4 Potters taken at IFOS 98 at Portsmouth.=
If
I ever work out how to do it I'll scan such photos up to the Potter pages.=
In
the same article a competition for AMATEUR designs for an eighteen foooter=
of
the Potter type is announced. More details in the magazine in January. P=
BO =3D
Practical Boat Owner, www.pbo.co.uk

2. Those who would like a copy of the GB WWPA newsletter should send a
donation to Bob Lomas, Honorary Sec, WWPA, Bacons Cottage, Dragons Greeen,
Horsham, West Sussex RH13 7JX GB. There is no fixed amount but I sugge=
st
at least =A310 a year for European [EC only] subscribers, $20US for US and=
other
countries]. Don't forget that non-UK money costs a lot to change into
sterling at the bank so you might choose to send more. Bob is NOT on the
Internet. He makes dozens of 'phone calls on behalf of the Association an=
d
the donation will help towards his fairly massive 'phone bill.

3. For those who don't yet know, the WWPA annual lunch is on 14 Feb 99.
Same venue as before, Hook, Hants. Organiser B Lomas.

4. I had a look at the International Marine WWP15 web page the other day=
. A
number of misleading remarks lie therein. Since when has the North Atlan=
tic
lain betweeen here and Sweden? Also, anyone who believes he can rig and
launch a Potter in 10 minutes is dreaming. It would take more than that =
to
get going from a marina pontoon. Potters are also NOT self-righting in al=
l
conditions, possibly not self-righting in the sense of a life-boat, at all=
,
ever. Unsinkable, maybe. That level of marketing copy would probably b=
e
actionable here. IM take note!!

Sorry about the length of this epistle. As Mr Churchill said, " I had no=
t
the time to make it shorter ".

regards

Bruce Longstaff
Uxbridge GB