Re: Some really ignorant questions

Eric Pederson (eric@winternet.com)
Mon, 15 Mar 1999 09:05:26 -0600 (CST)


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It has been rumored that Curt Westlake said:
>
> How does one raise the centerboard? Is it done from the cabin, or can
> it be done from the cockpit. And when one is beached (or any other time
> the centerboard is up) does the centerboard dominate the cabin, creating
> claustrophopia.

The daggerboard winch is mounted in the transom. The handle mounts just below
the tiller in the cockpit.

I wouldn't say that the board dominates the cabin, but it is a bit in the
way, depending upon what you're doing.

> How does one cook in a galley area where the headroom is 5' and the cook
> is 5'10"?

>From the sitting position, generally.

> How comfortable is it to have four people in the cockpit while sailing?

Four is good, as long as you're not tacking often. If the four are two
adults and two kids, that works well.

> I know they say the cabin is huge for a 19 foot boat, but is it
> something anyone would want to live on with 4 people for a weekend?

Well, if you never left the cabin, it'd probably suck. But you have a whole
boat - cabin, cockpit, deck - not to mention spending time ashore at certain
times of the day. If you didn't leave the cabin for a whole weekend, it'd
probably because the weather was terrible. Nobody would enjoy that.

> How much of a problem does the openness of the porti-potty system
> create? Is there a curtain or anything to provide privacy?

I'm not sure if a potty screen is a factory option. Certainly, it's not
a difficult thing to rig yourself. We just move to the cockpit, insert
the companionway boards, and allow the person the privacy of the whole
cabin.

> Also, I would be interested in opinions regarding Potter manufacturer
> options that are 1) essential, 2)very important, 3) nice to have, 4)Not
> worth getting now.

I personally think the Popular Options package is worthwhile. The CDI
furler is also at the top of the list. If you sail in light air, get the
genoa - the lapper is not sufficent for light air days. And if you're
buying new, get the sails made with some real reef points.

> Again I apologize for the rambling and the somewhat sissy-fied
> questions, but I would appreciate y'alls help.

That's what we're here for.

-- 
Eric L. Pederson
P-19 #970, Necessity
Bloomington, MN