I run the jib inside the shrouds. The lapper I run outside... thats one of
the holy wars among potterers :) I can't get a decent sail shape off the
wind with the lapper sheets inside the shrouds, and on the wind i don't
really find the shrouds getting in the way.
I think most people on all boats sheet their sails too tightly. It FEELS
fast as you heel way over, but once you install lots of telltales and really
get an understanding of how the air is flowing, you find yourself easing
sheets a lot more than before. One of the books I read had a simple rule of
thumb "When in doubt, let it out". I once passed a 34 footer in a race, to
his lee(!). As I passed I watched HIS telltales, and even though he had an
acre of sail up and a faster hull, you could see his lee telltales weren't
streaming since he sheeted too far.
>
> 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?
Most early P19s have their daggerboard held down by gravity only. you
probably get less 'clunking' if its bolted down, but don't feel its an
important safety issue to ALWAYS have it bolted down. Having it always BE
down when the sails are up is important, but >bolted< down isn't necessary
when there are circumstances like shoals to worry about.
> Or maybe a better question is; when is it
> important to secure the keel? It doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
The aggregate thoerizing is that if you were to be knocked down hard a loose
daggerboard could fall up into the cabin, making self-righting impossible.
Personally, I don't worry about it. I've tried to knock my p19 over and
couldn't do it. I could make it broach, knock over 50 degrees or so, etc,
but it would take a heck of a wave or wind to do it with the board down --
wind or waves we're unlikely to encounter in the waters potter are sailed
in.
> 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?
Yep. As a sailor who has gone aground more times than I care to admit,
sometimes at full speed, that is generally what happens if the keel is not
secured.
>And if so, is that a good thing?
I think it beats the heck out of tearing the bottom off the hull :)