Re: Potter 17

The Costas (uffda@sonic.net)
Thu, 21 Oct 1999 08:42:04 -0700


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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>With modern laminates and little carbon fiber I am sure the deck could be
>reinforced to step a stayless rig entirely on the deck -- with leeboards,
no
>cabin intrusion. If leeboards are unacceptable, there is a proposed hinged

And I thought my idea of just shrinking a P-19 to 16' was radical!

Carbon fiber, Chinese lug rig, folding keel? Doesn't sound like a Potter to
me. The (US) Potter is a simple to own and maintain sailboat that can take
an experianced sailor almost any place he wants to go, and yet is
inexpensive enough that anybody can afford to buy one. I too have wished
for a P-17as my P-15 left me wanting an indoor toilet for those long days on
the water. After I traded up to a P-19 I missed the ability to just back
the thing into the garage when I got home after a (too) long day of sailing.

The swing keel on the P-15 was great for ghosting over the mud flats on
Tomales Bay, while the extra foot room that we had in the 19 (because of the
drop keel) was greatly appreciated.

The small sails on the 15 could be rolled out and dried overnight in the
living room, while being able to go forward on the 19 to change sails or
handle dock lines (and anchor) was a plus.

Being able to stretch out in the cockpit of the 19 (or sailing with a
friend) was great, packing up and heading out on a whim was much easier with
the 15.

The low freeboard on the 15 meant I could dunk my hat to help cool off on a
hot day, the extra freeboard on the 19 gave a feeling of added safety when
the chop got big.

Rigging my 15 took about 15 minutes, rigging my 19 took almost an hour.

Going hull speed in a 15 "feels" faster than going hull speed in a 19, and
can be done when the wind (and chop) are lower. Playing "Victory at Sea"
(having the chop break over the bow) felt less threatening on the 19.

Towing a 15? Almost any 4 cylinder vehicle. Towing a 19? I tore up two
clutches in my Toyota truck pulling that ton of boat up the ramps.

The 19 was great for overnighters for the two of us, although not as
"romantic" as we first thought. Overnighters on my 15 were mostly just me.
The 15's cabin is big enough for two, but when two of you stay overnight all
of your junk has to move out into the cockpit (including the portapotty).
(I've considered buying a 15 with a cockpit tent.)

This is just a partial list of what I liked about each Potter. I too would
like the factory to seriously consider designing a P17... as long as they
keep it simple and... I might as well say it, cheap!

Larry