Kents private wwpotter archive : P-19 changes.......................... from the always fertile mind (in spite of what Forrest Grump

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I have been reading with interest the changes, and proposed changes that =
others have written about, so I felt I should add mine to the list. I =
have a P-19 (#817) that was built right around the time when the factory =
was sold to LH (95). I have had my share of problems with it, but the =
factory has taken care of me so that I don't feel too bad about my =
situation. Problem is that what I perceive to be wrong with Happy =
Camper could only be fixed by completely rebuilding her so I have come =
except the reality that she will never be perfect. Her problems seem to =
be that she was too lightly built as the hull flexes so much that she =
has popped her inner support tubes loose. Also, the gelcoat seems to be =
too brittle as I have cracks everywhere.=20
=20
Again, I want to say that even though the factory was unable to make =
her right, (they would have had to strip her and replace the major =
moldings) they did do enough for me to make me feel OK. =20
=20
I am starting to plan out what I am going to do to stiffen the hull, but =
have decided to hold off until I can also figure out a way to move the =
water tank and battery forward in their respective cabinets. I figure =
that if I am going to go to all of the trouble of taking everything out, =
grinding down the inside of the hull and adding stiffeners, I might as =
well change the layout so I can get "usable" space behind those pretty =
wooden doors. What I would really like to do is mount the battery (in a =
box) in the area that the porta potty occupies, but then would have to =
find a new home for the 'throne'. I would like to move it to the small =
space at the aft end of the cabin, under the cockpit, but it is just a =
bit too tall. This led me to the thought of building a bridge deck to =
open up that space, but that would intrude into the cockpit... What to =
do, what to do. =20
=20
Gas tank. I am going to get that darn thing out of the cockpit one way =
or another. Not only is it in the way, but it leaves a film of oil on =
the floor (sole for the purists) that attracts grime. I have an idea =
for building a compartment into one of the seats but will need to build =
a plug so the local 'glass' fabricator can lay up the tray. I tried to =
explain my idea to the group last year but was unable to clarify my plan =
so will just have to build it and then take pictures. One problem is =
that I would like to mount it in the starboard seat so it would balance =
out the weight of the motor, but that would leave a hose draped across =
the aft end of the cockpit. I guess if some of you can slap an 80 lb. =
hunk of metal on the motor mount, I should be able to have both a 36 lb. =
motor and 24 lbs. of fuel on the port side.=20
=20
Mast. So far the slugs have been more of a pain then a help. They =
stick in the slot and fall out of the mast when I lower the sail. As I =
have a sail cover (and am part Norwegian) it bugs me to use a sail stop =
as the sail won't lay flat on the boom. I can't see where it wouldn't =
be much of a deal to close the old gooseneck opening, and make a new one =
below where the boom ends up on the mast. Only problem I can foresee is =
that I would have to remove the boom to remove the sail. This is all a =
moot point though, because if I can't figure out how to make the slugs =
slide easier I will be going back to just using the bolt rope.

Those are the more pressing ones but... If I win the lottery I will =
also have a larger dodger built that would be the full width of the =
cabin top and also cover the forward two feet of the cockpit. That way =
I would have a place to crawl into to keep out of the (always cold in =
this area) wind. I've been threatening to cut the top out of the cabin =
and build an enclosed pilot house, but Jerry said if I did the club =
would ban me from all functions! Oh well...

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I have been reading with interest the = changes, and=20 proposed changes that others have written about, so I felt I should add = mine to=20 the list. I have a P-19 (#817) that was built right around the = time when=20 the factory was sold to LH (95). I have had my share of problems = with it,=20 but the factory has taken care of me so that I don't feel too bad about = my=20 situation. Problem is that what I perceive to be wrong with Happy = Camper=20 could only be fixed by completely rebuilding her so I have come except = the=20 reality that she will never be perfect. Her problems seem to be = that she=20 was too lightly built as the hull flexes so much that she has popped her = inner=20 support tubes loose. Also, the gelcoat seems to be too brittle as = I have=20 cracks everywhere.

Again, I want to say that even = though the=20 factory was unable to make her right, (they would have had to strip her = and=20 replace the major moldings) they did do enough for me to make me feel = OK. =20

I am starting to plan out what I am = going to do to=20 stiffen the hull, but have decided to hold off until I can also figure = out a way=20 to move the water tank and battery forward in their respective = cabinets. I=20 figure that if I am going to go to all of the trouble of taking = everything out,=20 grinding down the inside of the hull and adding stiffeners, I might as = well=20 change the layout so I can get "usable" space behind those = pretty=20 wooden doors. What I would really like to do is mount the battery = (in a=20 box) in the area that the porta potty occupies, but then would have to = find a=20 new home for the 'throne'. I would like to move it to the small = space at=20 the aft end of the cabin, under the cockpit, but it is just a bit too=20 tall. This led me to the thought of building a bridge deck to open = up that=20 space, but that would intrude into the cockpit... What to do, what to = do. =20

Gas tank. I am going to get that = darn thing=20 out of the cockpit one way or another. Not only is it in the way, = but it=20 leaves a film of oil on the floor (sole for the purists) that attracts=20 grime. I have an idea for building a compartment into one of the = seats but=20 will need to build a plug so the local 'glass' fabricator can lay up the = tray. I tried to explain my idea to the group last year but was = unable to=20 clarify my plan so will just have to build it and then take = pictures. One=20 problem is that I would like to mount it in the starboard seat so it = would=20 balance out the weight of the motor, but that would leave a hose draped = across=20 the aft end of the cockpit. I guess if some of you can slap an 80 = lb. hunk=20 of metal on the motor mount, I should be able to have both a 36 lb. = motor and 24=20 lbs. of fuel on the port side.

Mast. So far the slugs have been = more of a=20 pain then a help. They stick in the slot and fall out of the mast = when I=20 lower the sail. As I have a sail cover (and am part Norwegian) it = bugs me=20 to use a sail stop as the sail won't lay flat on the boom. I can't = see=20 where it wouldn't be much of a deal to close the old gooseneck opening, = and make=20 a new one below where the boom ends up on the mast. Only problem I = can=20 foresee is that I would have to remove the boom to remove the = sail. This=20 is all a moot point though, because if I can't figure out how to make = the slugs=20 slide easier I will be going back to just using the bolt = rope.

Those are the more pressing ones = but... If I=20 win the lottery I will also have a larger dodger built that would be the = full=20 width of the cabin top and also cover the forward two feet of the = cockpit. =20 That way I would have a place to crawl into to keep out of the (always = cold in=20 this area) wind. I've been threatening to cut the top out of the = cabin and=20 build an enclosed pilot house, but Jerry said if I did the club would = ban me=20 from all functions! Oh well...