This weekend I put my shiny new P-19 (Hull # 1059) into the Great Salt
Lake for its maiden Voyage. I’ve never had so much fun at 4 knots! I
can see that this is going to be the beginning of a beautiful
friendship. The only other boat I’ve sailed is a Hunter 240 with water
ballast. Although the Hunter was very nicely accommodated, I give all
the rest of the points to the Potter. It was incredibly stable in the
water compared to the Hunter, which was very tender, presumably because
the water ballast (being the same density as the surrounding water)
isn’t very effective until it’s above the waterline. The second
difference I noticed was how well the Potter pointed up. I thought my
wind indicator was broken! All of that plus the fact that it was so
easy to launch and retrieve left me with one of those all-too-rare
golden glows at the end of the day. It was almost painful to have to
head back to the marina. I’m still grinning. And I’m thinking of taking
a day of sick leave tomorrow to give it another go.
I’d like to thank all of you devoted Potterers out there who advised me
and answered my questions (especially you, Steve, if you’re reading
this). It was the devotion and enthusiasm of you folks that made me
choose the Potter.
Now, on with the stupid questions:
Stupid question #1: I have a working jib and a lapper. I’ve been
running the jib sheets outside of the shrouds. Is that correct or
should they go on the inside?
Stupid question #2: My keel has four hinged bolts that lock it into
place once its lowered. My first time out I left these loose. Is it
important to secure the keel? Or maybe a better question is; when is it
important to secure the keel? It doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
Also, since the Great Salt Lake is a very shallow body of water with
lots of sandbars, etc. I’m assuming that the keel will pop up if I run
aground. Is this correct? And if so, is that a good thing?
Regards,
Kellan Hatch
P-19 #1059, “Moondance”