Fresh breezes to you and Happy Camper,
Judy B.
In a message dated 1/15/99 11:01:04 AM Pacific Standard Time, uffda@sonic.net
writes:
>
> All
>
> The string "floor/bilge" points out some of the many minor (?) changes that
> have taken place in the methods of manufacturing that the larger Potter has
> gone through. I tried to point these out last year but was unable to
> convince the group of the importance of these at the time. This is not a
> simple subject as none of the HMS-18s / P- 19s that I have seen are exact
> twins. I feel that most of these changes came about for the sake of
economy
> not structural strength, but also know that my 4 Cyl Toyota would be hard
> pressed to pull a HMS-18 (around 400 lbs heavier than Happy Camper) up some
> of the ramps I go to. Even applies to the rig of the '18s (mast and boom)
> is about twice as strong (and heavy) as the '19s.
>
> I greatly respect Judy's ambition to sail her big Potter on "The Bay".
> Jerry and Maurice took Dollars and Nonsense out into "the slot" every
> Tuesday night for almost a year and both of them are still with us which
> proves that the Potter can do it. Most of us though use our boats in
> lighter conditions than the almost constant 35 knot wind and steep, three
> foot breaking chop that is the signature of the middle of the San Francisco
> Bay every afternoon in the summer. I've been out there a couple of times
> and feel that it would be a lot cheaper to get the same kind of thrill (and
> end up with the same amount of bruises) by pasting twenties to my shirt and
> walking down dark alleys in the rough sections of any large city. The big
> and little Potters can take it, but they are light, boxy, and flat bottomed
> so you will have to "dingy" sail them in a blow, and they will beat you up
a
> bit in a chop. Truth is I never intended my Potter (and me) to be out in
> those conditions. If all I wanted to do was sail "the slot" in a small
> boat, I would have bought a Flicka (and let the extra two tons take the
> abuse).
>
> Truth is, I feel that the newer big Potters are not being built with rough
> sailing in mind. I think Larry Hart is putting out a boat that is a great
> compromise (all boats are compromises) between light weight, and amount of
> room and toughness. I don't advise those that want to exclusively sail
> rough conditions to buy the big Potter, as there are many stronger, heavier
> built (used) boats out there for about a third the price. That is not to
> say that I feel the big Potter will fail to bring you back safely if you
are
> caught in a blow. I know Happy Camper would, even though she was built
> during one of the less reliable periods of Potter production.
>
> As to water in the bilge... I won't argue with the "experts" about the
> amount of damage it can cause, but in my area of the world there seems to
be
> a bunch of old Dorsets and Bell Buoys still running around. Can this
really
> be a problem or is it just a way for a company to sell epoxy at $70 a gal?
> I really don't know. I have to admit to using epoxy on my kayaks to
> encapsulate the wood, but I also know of a number of 30 year old polyester
> boats out there.
>
> Larry and Happy (to have her engine back) Camper