1. The boom vang - I don't think they are an absolute necessity. I
don't have one right now and I'm spending my time learning to read the
sails and the wind now, though I may add a vang in the future. I look
at it more as a fine tuning device. The boom vang allows you to control
the shape of the sail by pulling down on the boom with the vang.
2. The whisker pole lets you hold out the jib so you can run wing and
wing down wind. I'd get one, if I were buying new. You have the
mainsail boom on one side of the boat and use the whisker pole to hold
the jib out on the other side of the boat. That way you can have all of
your sails in the wind when you are running down wind.
3. I'm not sure about the sunshade/bimini. I'll be interested in what
the others have to say because I'm thinking about one myself.
4. I'm not sure what part of the mast you would support with the mast
crutch but I'll tell you what I'm doing. I support the mast on the bow
pulpit and I have a support at the stern that holds it out of contact
with the cabin. My P15 has been trailered from Connecticut to coastal
North Carolina and to Central NC with out a problem. It's still
straight when it's on the step so I don't think you would have any
trouble trailering it.
Best of Luck and Good Winds,
Dick Fletcher
P15 #667, Entropy
Raleigh, NC
greek_guy@juno.com wrote:
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> West Wight Potter Website at URL
> http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> First of all, I want all of you to know that reading your posts is one
> the highlights of my day. I really look forward to it.
> I've finally decided to take the plunge and buy a Potter 15 from IM, but
> being the EXTREME novice that I am, I need some expert advice.
> My sailing will be done almost exclusively in the bays and along the
> Laguna Madre of South Texas. Winds are generally from the South to
> Southeast at about 10 to 15 knots. Storage of the boat will be in my own
> garage. My goal for boat ownership and sailing is to keep everything at
> an EXTREME level of simplicity. Here are my questions:
> 1. Given the sailing conditions I've listed and my dire lack of
> experience, should my boat be equipped with a boom vang? Exactly
> what is its purpose?
> 2. What is a wisker pole and do I need one? (My rig will be a common main
> and jib)
> 3. The sun around here is an absolute killer, so a cockpit shelter of
> some sort is a necessity. I am looking at both an IM bimini and a cockpit
> sunshade. Which of these two can be left up in place while sailing and
> still provide the maximum in visability and boom clearance?
> 4. I will be trailering the P15 occasionally to San Antonio and Austin.
> (150 and 220 miles from home respectively) Do you suggest a mast crutch
> for such extended trips?
> Any help and advice you can give will really help before I order the boat
> from IM.
>
> Thanks
> Giorgos
>
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