I'm glad to see that you have decided to apologize to Bernie. I think, based on
the turtling experience that he had with his Potter, investigating ways to
prevent that kind of thing from happening again is a natural and rational thing
to do.
While it's clear that I haven't been silent on the matter, I'd like to think
that the banter I have exchanged with Bernie over this issue has been more
related to the "hows and whys" of the boat's stability rather than a questioning
of whether Bernie should be sailing a Potter or something else - that's Bernie's
business, in my opinion.
Regarding your own observations on Potter performance, I think you will find as
you get more experience with the boat that they are not so slow. When we sail in
the Oakland Estuary, a spot where sailboat traffic is very heavy and folks are
generally going in the same direction (out early in the day, back later) the
Potters move along with the pack, not significantly faster or slower.
As you pointed out, the P-15 is indeed well suited for gunkholing and just
putzing around and I'd say that's a feature that everyone enjoys. But it's JUST
one the things the boat does well. You are sailing now on a protected body of
water, I think you will be pleasantly surprised when you try the boat under
circumstances that involve more of a seaway. That pug-nosed little craft IS
built for a great deal more than gunkholing. You will find yourself out sailing
confidently when all the other little boats have headed home. I enjoy sailing
the P-15 now in the very same waters that left me wet, cold and scared in my old
14 ft. Sesame.
I'm guessing here, but I'll venture that you are free to ignore any discussion
of speed since you have the only Potter on your lake. It's when you go sailing
with some friends who have boats JUST LIKE YOURS and they leave you behind that
you start to question what went "wrong" - Of course, everyone wants to blame the
boat first.......
Best regards,
Dave Kautz
P-15 #1632 Tilly Lucy
Palo Alto, CA
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Sorry Bernie!
Author: Non-HP-hapilife (hapilife@efn.org) at hp-boise,mimegw7
Date: 6/17/99 10:39 AM
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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Ok, I wasn't trying to be so hard on you. but i find it difficult to get
behind all this complaining/brainstorming about how to make the Potter
into something else.
I had a good friend years ago who souped up his VW Beetle. Tried to make
it into a Porsche. Changed so much, replaced/"upgraded". All he ended up
with was an extremely high-powered and DANGEROUS VW bug.
I'm pretty new to Potters (owned mine for 41 days now, been out 17
times!). It is not a fast boat. it doesn't like to heel much. If you put a
little ballast in the bow it sails just fine upwind. But it is still
really a slow boat to putter around in. And I've discovered that it
excells in sailing to a "gunkhole" (shallow swampy area), drop sails/up
centerboard/break out the oars and wander around in the marshlands, check
out the ospreys, ducks, etc. But all this brainstorming about
modifications to improve speed etc. seem pointless. IT'S NOT BUILT FOR IT!
There are lots of boats that are. I just hate to hear someone feeling so
bad about a boat (or anything, really).
Again, my apologies. I hope I didn't offend you too much. I hope you find
peace with your sailing adventures.
Ken Silverman, p15 "Vegan Lorax"