The difference I see between having the board up or down is more an issue with
what happens to the boat after it has tilted far enough to launch it's loving
owner into the water. Board up it continues on over to it's "other"
configuration of high stability. Board down it should get to 90 degrees or so
and then flip back up providing there are no flailing sailors clinging to it.
I think the prevention of this accident may be as simple as ensuring that there
is someone of similar mass in the cockpit of the boat to keep the stern down
before an intrepid sailor ventures forward. Even so, I (195 lbs.) recall going
forward to deal with an errant jib hank while motoring with my wife (>120, <
150lbs, she'll kill me if I tell you) at the helm and the stern rose enough to
lift the prop out of the water intermittently.
Personally, I hank on the jib while the boat is on the trailer and have a down
haul rigged so trips to the bow while in the water are rare. Anchoring could be
an issue when sailing singlehanded, especially when retrieving a stubborn one
because that would tend to pull the bow down and the stern up even further.
I'm quickly convincing myself that enjoying the company of crew may be well
worth any performance sacrifice they cause and that exercising much caution to
stay on the boat's centerline when going to the foredeck would be prudent. I
think I will also try and lose some weight.....
Dave Kautz
P-15 #1632 Tilly Lucy
Palo Alto, CA
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Disappointed new Potter 15 owner needs advice from other
Author: Non-HP-gollrt (gollrt@home.com) at hp-boise,mimegw7
Date: 6/8/99 8:03 AM
snip....
The next day I took her to my favorite marina here, a public
saltwater dock on the Charleston Harbor. Launching the boat was easy.
I parked the car and walked back to the dock. Untied my bow line
and stepped aboard the boat on the bow. Immediately, something
did not feel right, I had my weight on the port side over the cabin at
the toe rail, balancing on the mast, when suddenly the boat rolled
over and capsized, and went turtle. The tide was swift , the wind
was strong, and it kept driving the boat into the dock, banging with
a sickening thud each time. The sails, stays, sheets all were
tangled and caught every which way on the dock, pilings, dock cleats and
everything else they could come in contact with. With help, I finally
righted her and got her aboard the trailer (not an easy task).
Wet and shaken, I tallied my losses: Pocket Electronic
Organizer $250, Cell Phone($ ??), Electric Garage door opener on my key
ring $35, CD Player/Boom Box $200, Wallet and all contents (cards
and pictures) soaked with saltwater, Outboard motor totally saltwater
immersed $500. All gear and personal possession were soaked
with saltwater.
When I got the Potter out I inspected it. Remarkably, the
Mast, sails and stays all seemed OK, other than a lot of Bottom muck
that they raked up. Then I got to the hull and my heart sank. Along
the starboard bow low in the waterline was a new, big crack in
the hull. Other places showed major chips in the Gel-coat. I
never even got to sail her!
I talked to a Marine hull fiberglass expert who says he can repair
her hull for about $500. Unfortunately the damage my heart and soul
took was much greater. At that moment I lost confidence in the
stability of the boat.
I reconstructed the events which led up to the capsize and realized
that I had not yet put down the keel. I realize that probably made a
difference in the stability (i.e. higher center of gravity).
Here is where I would like to get some advice/help from you all:
What is the truth about the Potter? Is it really as stable as
advertised? Can anyone please answer the following questions:
1) Have you ever capsized your Potter (or come close), and what were the
circumstances that led up to it?
2) Once the keel is down, will I be able to walk forward to tend to the
jib etc. or is this a bad idea? (I weigh about 250 lb.). If you
can't walk forward, how do you tend to anchor, jib etc.?
3) If you can walk forward, is there a special way to place
feet and weight to prevent capsize?
4) What parts of the cabin are strong enough to bear the
weight of standing on them? (Cabin rook, sliding cover to
cabin opening?)
Any experiences you could share with me would be helpful. I still
want to believe in the Potter, but my confidence is shaken.
Thanks
Jeff Goller
gollerj@home.com