Re: Potter models

The Costas (uffda@sonic.net)
Fri, 15 Jan 1999 11:03:08 -0800


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

The string "floor/bilge" points out some of the many minor (?) changes that
have taken place in the methods of manufacturing that the larger Potter has
gone through. I tried to point these out last year but was unable to
convince the group of the importance of these at the time. This is not a
simple subject as none of the HMS-18s / P- 19s that I have seen are exact
twins. I feel that most of these changes came about for the sake of economy
not structural strength, but also know that my 4 Cyl Toyota would be hard
pressed to pull a HMS-18 (around 400 lbs heavier than Happy Camper) up some
of the ramps I go to. Even applies to the rig of the '18s (mast and boom)
is about twice as strong (and heavy) as the '19s.

I greatly respect Judy's ambition to sail her big Potter on "The Bay".
Jerry and Maurice took Dollars and Nonsense out into "the slot" every
Tuesday night for almost a year and both of them are still with us which
proves that the Potter can do it. Most of us though use our boats in
lighter conditions than the almost constant 35 knot wind and steep, three
foot breaking chop that is the signature of the middle of the San Francisco
Bay every afternoon in the summer. I've been out there a couple of times
and feel that it would be a lot cheaper to get the same kind of thrill (and
end up with the same amount of bruises) by pasting twenties to my shirt and
walking down dark alleys in the rough sections of any large city. The big
and little Potters can take it, but they are light, boxy, and flat bottomed
so you will have to "dingy" sail them in a blow, and they will beat you up a
bit in a chop. Truth is I never intended my Potter (and me) to be out in
those conditions. If all I wanted to do was sail "the slot" in a small
boat, I would have bought a Flicka (and let the extra two tons take the
abuse).

Truth is, I feel that the newer big Potters are not being built with rough
sailing in mind. I think Larry Hart is putting out a boat that is a great
compromise (all boats are compromises) between light weight, and amount of
room and toughness. I don't advise those that want to exclusively sail
rough conditions to buy the big Potter, as there are many stronger, heavier
built (used) boats out there for about a third the price. That is not to
say that I feel the big Potter will fail to bring you back safely if you are
caught in a blow. I know Happy Camper would, even though she was built
during one of the less reliable periods of Potter production.

As to water in the bilge... I won't argue with the "experts" about the
amount of damage it can cause, but in my area of the world there seems to be
a bunch of old Dorsets and Bell Buoys still running around. Can this really
be a problem or is it just a way for a company to sell epoxy at $70 a gal?
I really don't know. I have to admit to using epoxy on my kayaks to
encapsulate the wood, but I also know of a number of 30 year old polyester
boats out there.

Larry and Happy (to have her engine back) Camper