Re: Disappointed new Potter 15 owner needs advice from other Potter owners

Mark P. Wegman (MWegman@mags.net)
Wed, 9 Jun 1999 17:07:53 -0400


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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I own P15 S/N 2201 (Christoforo Columbo) bought new September, 1995. I
weigh 130 pounds and would never go on the bow at sea for any reason, CB up
or down. There is another P15 owner that I am freiends with who weighs
about 230 pounds and his son weighs about the same. Last summer their boat
went turtle when the son stood on the cabin top to adjust a rinkle in the
sails and a gust of wind caught them. They had to be towed to shore by a
PWC. However, they made three additonal mistakes, they had the hull full of
water from a winter lay over, they did not have the centerboard locked down,
and they had the cabin door left open allowing even more water to get in.
Keep the door locked when sailing, lock the CB down with some kind of
contraption, and stay low in the cockpit, and the boat is stable. The CB
weighs 4 times what the mast weighs, but the mast is four times taller,
therefore, one merely balances the other, so effectively, there is no
ballast, but when the CB is up, then the ballast is on top of the boat plus
your 250 pounds, so effectively you have about 270 pounds of ballast on top
of the boat. The worst thing you did is cause the stern to come out of the
water by pushing the bow down into the water, the V-bottom bow has zero
stability, the stability only comes from the flat stern, but it was out of
the water, and all this added together is why you went over. From what I
have read, a P15 will go mast to the water, and then bob back up providing
the door is closed and the CB is locked down.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Goller <gollrt@home.com>
To: wwpotter@tscnet.com <wwpotter@tscnet.com>
Date: Tuesday, June 08, 1999 11:03 AM
Subject: Disappointed new Potter 15 owner needs advice from other Potter
owners

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> West Wight Potter Website at URL
> http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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>Is there anyone out there who can give advice to the newest
>owner of a Potter 15?
>
>Here is my tale:
>
>Four years ago when I first became interested in sailing, I looked at a
>number of small sailboats that I thought would meet my needs. It was
>clear for the beginning, that the Potter 15 was the best boat for me.
>I read every bit of literature I could find from International Marine
>and all the sailing magazines. The more I read, the more convinced I
>became. Finally, when International Marine sent me the videotape, that
>sealed it for me - I had to have a Potter 15 !
>
> Unfortunately, when I went to look for a used Potter, I could not
>find ANY close to my local region (Northern Ohio on Lake Erie) I was
>willing to drive to another state, and kept checking the Internet and
>out of state newspapers, but none were to be found. The new Potters
>from the factory were just out of my financial range at the time, and
>were not an option.
>
> After waiting almost 2/3 of the sailing season with no luck
>locating a Potter, I finally gave in and bought a Com-Pac 16 that
>became available, but knew that someday I would be a Potter owner.
>
> After four years of sailing the Com-Pac, I had all but
>given up on sailing. The Com-Pac was slow, sluggish and had a
>terrible side slip problem (even the manufacturer realized this and
>added a centerboard to the newer models). The boat was well built and
>heavy (felt VERY stable), but it would not point well, and never
>seemed to go the direction I intended. The side slippage problem made
>for really unenjoyable sailing. In addition, the shoal draft keel at
>18" kept getting stuck when I would try to explore interesting little
>coves or beach the craft. I was ready to quit sailing and bought a
>powerboat.
>
> Two years ago we moved to Charleston, South Carolina. Water
>everywhere! Between the Harbor, the rivers, the ocean, the lakes, and
>the Inter coastal Waterway, my interest in sailing reawakened, but the
>Com-Pac was still a poor performer even here.
>
> Not long ago, I learned quite by accident that a fellow worker
>had a Potter 15 for sale at a great price. 1994 model year, well cared
>for, loaded with options. I discussed it with my wife, and even
>though finances are tight now, she lovingly agreed to let me buy it and
>fulfill a longtime dream of being a Potter owner. We decided to
>take a chance and buy the Potter first, with the hope of selling the
>Com-Pac later.
>
> Last Friday I picked up my beautiful "new" Potter 15.
>She was so well cared for that she looked like she rolled right off
>the showroom floor! I took her home, read the owner's manual cover to
>cover, and all related literature that came with the boat. Put her in
>my driveway, put the sails up and familiarized myself with the
>operation of all parts. I christened her "AT LONG LAST".
>
> 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
>