This is forwarded from the ECPA listserv. The writer brings to light some very interesting observations regarding how his P15 acted AFTER capsize.
* (In an unrelated note, I found it sad that we lost a reader/lurker because of the recent flurry of wholly unnecessary personal attacks.. The Potter listserv has always been one where disagreements could take place but in non-judgemental ways.. I would say to that lurker, if you are still out there, to ignore the attacks but to remember the responses to them from other list participants who were not involved in the debate but rose up against the personal nature of some of the attacks. Please consider coming back and participating. I'm interested in what you may have to say,
especially about Seawards.) *
jakemac@concentric.net wrote:
> I bought my Potter 15 about a month ago largely based on what I read on the web. Been having great fun: Lake Hartwell, Charleston Harbor, sailed almost every weekend.
>
> Well, the inevitable happened and I capsized the sucker!
>
> >From this I learned many valuable lessons, probably the most important of which was: sail the boat, first and foremost: don't get distracted!
>
> However, I learned of a disturbing Potter characteristic. Once I got the boat right side up (with a little help), I realized that there was no way to bail it out without moving it to shallow water (which was accomplished with the help of one of our motorized brethren; humility was another important lesson!). The problem is the styrofoam blocks located under the cockpit keep the boat from sinking, but also hold it bow down in the water. The centerboard slot was submerged as much as a foot under water, so no matter how fast one bailed, the water could just flow in for no net gain.
>
> Questions:
>
> Has anyone else had this experience?
>
> Is there a good way to add enough boyancy (spray in foam, perhaps, under the cabin liner?) to the bow such that the centerboard slot is above water level when the boat is swamped?
>
> I have visions of one day taking this baby for a little ocean cruise but I have to be confident that I could recover from this sort of calamity without assistance or a handy beach.
>
> One more thing about capsizing with a retractable centerboard: The centerboard retracts! This make righting the beast darn near impossible for a solo sailor. I suppose a centerboard locking feature wouldn't be too difficult to design and make.
>
> Keep your keel wet and your mast dry!
> Cap'n Capsize
-- "Sea" ya!--Lars S. Mulford, President East Coast Potter Association (ECPA) Come visit us at http://members.tripod.com/~SpeedSailor s/v Aqua (sailing the greater Chesapeake region) "Forgive, and live. Life is worth the challenge of living." --LSSM "Love is good; Love hurts; Love sustains; Love remains." --LSSM