{Y} New Kid Responds

Yarbrough, Linton (lyarbrough@doeal.gov)
Thu, 24 Jun 1999 18:02:22 -0600


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Dear Potter Group:

First of all, I want to thank those of you who wrote to welcome me into
this austere assembly. As for Lars Mulford's reference to my having
received a "broadside", let me say that I haven't heard any cannon.
However, I faintly remember the picayunish pop of a puny pea-shooter
from somewhere up on the CA/NV line.

I was hesitant to tell all about my decision to gut the WWP-19 in my
first msg to the group ("New Kid on the Block", 6/18). Didn't want to
whine about IM's quality. However, several comments require me to bare
all - J Falkanger on IM selling me a "boat without interior", T Boyer on
Wooden Boat plans and H Gordon on my having a "good reason for buying
the boat with liner".

I had done a careful literature and library research before seriously
considering the WWP-19. On inspecting several -15's and -19's in the DC
area (from whence we moved some years back), I was very favorably
impressed with the construction quality, especially at such a reasonable
price. I never found a used -19 for sale in the 3 years I looked around
the Chesapeake Bay area. So, with even more limited used-boat
possibilities here in Alb., NM, I worked a deal w/IM for a somewhat
stripped but new -19. No head-liner, Porta Potti, stove, water
faucet/tank, "mahagony" cover over hull/deck joint, etc. Essentially, a
sail-able boat (main and 110) on a Baja trailer. I was going to add
items of my own choosing to replace the eliminated ones, make only one
major interior mod and get her wet real fast. Paid in full the agreed
upon price in cash , up front before IM even got started on the boat.
Our local sailboat dealer said that IM didn't make nearly as much as
they usually do, but they didn't loose either.

The one major mod I had planned was to remove the V berth and eliminate
the compression post by installing a bulkhead w/2' wide, centerline
"walkthrough". It would be glassed onto the remaining liner mold.
Forward of the bulkhead would be a centerline berth and icebox port and
pantry starboard. Porta Potti under the aft (removable) half of the c/l
berth. Simple and straight forward. Planned to keep majority of IM's
liner- quarter berths, seats and cabinetry.

Now for the whiny parts.

I returned sails, standing & running rigging, and much hardware to IM
for replacement or credit. A partial list of reasons would be: poor
rigger work (thimbles easily popped out of the SS cable loops), poor
hardware (a RaceLite block with 1/8" dia sheave pin for the mainsail
outhaul & lots of cheap Harken knockoffs mixed w/genuine H gear) and
poor canvas work (mainsail headboard rivets very loose and BRASS
grommets on the corners). To IM's credit, they (eventually) sent
replacements as I had asked.

On removing the V berth I found lots of shoddy work (mostly in the
finish work, some in structural aspects) under the liner- ragged, jagged
edges of FG roving, big puddles of resin or GelCoat (one I measured and
estimated to be 850 mL) plus the hull/deck joint w/o sealant/adhesive &
with many misplaced pop rivets. But the worst was to come.

The entire liner was attached to the hull with only 3, small,
quarter-size spots of resin under the cabin sole and 2 spots aft , P&S
of the skeg near the transom. I literally pulled the liner completely
free of the hull with my BARE HANDS. It contributed nothing to the
structural integrity, weighed a lot and hid much. The finish on
visible surfaces, both in- & out-side, was excellent. However, the
whole thing brought to mind a Yugo with a good paint job. Dazzle to
distract the eye from the seeing the structure.

In such a situation it's best to rip it all out and start from scratch.
That's why I gutted the boat.

The joints between sheets of end-grain balsa on the cabin roof and
transom were covered with 2" wide masking tape and then FG'd over.
Think of it: the weakest areas - 1/4" wide gaps running 2'-5' across the
cabin roof and transom - are as structurally sound as a masking tape
seal. Makes me sleep well, I'll assure you. The FG/resin layer over
the tape and balsa was done well, however, especially the transom.

All of these structural deficiencies have been corrected. The hull,
deck and cabin roof don't give the least. She's stiff, solid and sound.
I'm now putting the interior back together but inside a boat not a beer
can.

I hope the above explains a number of things. I bought the boat w/liner
because I believed in the reputation of the Potters, believed the words
of owners and believed my own eyes. Guess the tirade above stems from
not being one of the luckier owners of earlier boats.

I didn't want a plywood boat with FG covering. Had one before and hated
it. However, I do have a FG boat w/plywood inner-lining. They're just
about the same. She's not been "raped", but I have certainly toyed
w/her affections to a great extent.

As I said before: loved the outside, hated the inside. She's a sweet
boat for all the right reasons (see 6/18 msg). The IM execution of this
superb design in building #928, however, was decidely lacking.

I shall be sending periodic updates w/drawings, photos and even the
occasional calculational result. All titles of my submissions,
questions and comments to this group will start with "{Y}" as in this
note. For the technically challenged, mathematically threatened,
"sailing-can-only-be-experienced-through-being-one-with-the-wind" crowd,
please see the {Y} symbol as a Rationality Alert and promptly use the
"del" key.

I'm still looking forward to a mutually beneficial cyber-relationship,

Lin Yarbrough
WWP-19 #928, NNAY
Alb., NM

PS: After reading several weeks of exchanges here and reading Judy
Blumhorst's site, I would be honored to have her as an evolutionary
ancestor.