Some really ignorant questions

Curt Westlake (CWestlake@K-W-B.COM)
Sun, 14 Mar 1999 22:50:20 -0500


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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I am about to become a novice sailer. Sailing is something I have been
thinking about for some time, and I am finally ready to take the
plunge. I have read a half dozen instruction books on sailing, have
spent countless hours on the internet investigating different boat types
and manufacturers. I have the bug and I must have some kind of sailing
vessel this summer.

The net of it is that I kind of decided I wanted a Macgregor 26X, but by
the time I configured it the way I wanted it, it was out of my current
price range. Or at least the price range my wife will allow.

Then, I discovered the Potter 19. This seems like a very stable, easy
to sail and well made boat, but living in Greenville SC, I can't find
anyone who has a Potter 19 that I can take a look at and see if it will
meet my needs. My concern is whether I should wait a year or so and get
the Mac ( I like its cabin size, enclosed head and a few of the other
things about it) or go for the Potter now. I think the Potter will meet
my family's needs, but I would hate to plunk down a still sizable amount
of money and discover after this season that I should have gone for the
larger boat. My sailing will consist of mostly day trips and some
weekend stays on lakes in the Carolinas with frequent trips to
Charleston and Savannah (we have friends and family there). I will have
a "crew" which will be of little sailing help in most circumstances--my
wife (she's a delight but not likely to get intimately involved in
rigging or sailing matters) and two daughters aged 11 and 6.

I apologize for rambling here, but I would like to ask the Potter group
to sell me on the wisdom of going the Potter 19 route. There are a lot
of things about the Potter, besides the price and value, that appeal to
me, but I still have some nagging doubts.

I have requested the Potter video and brochure which have not arrived
yet, but I also have these specific questions:

How does one raise the centerboard? Is it done from the cabin, or can
it be done from the cockpit. And when one is beached (or any other time
the centerboard is up) does the centerboard dominate the cabin, creating
claustrophopia.

How does one cook in a galley area where the headroom is 5' and the cook
is 5'10"?

How comfortable is it to have four people in the cockpit while sailing?

I know they say the cabin is huge for a 19 foot boat, but is it
something anyone would want to live on with 4 people for a weekend?

How much of a problem does the openness of the porti-potty system
create? Is there a curtain or anything to provide privacy?

Also, I would be interested in opinions regarding Potter manufacturer
options that are 1) essential, 2)very important, 3) nice to have, 4)Not
worth getting now.

Again I apologize for the rambling and the somewhat sissy-fied
questions, but I would appreciate y'alls help.

Curt Westlake