Really Ignorant Questions

Eric Zilbert (eezilbert@ucdavis.edu)
Tue, 16 Mar 1999 10:44:00 -0800


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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This is in response to Curt Westlakes question. Particulary with respect
to the accomodations in the Potter 19. We have had exactly two nights
experience on "Riptide", once last February moored in Ayala Bay on Angel
Island and last weekend rafted with Sunshine at anchor off of Marshall
Beach at Tomales Bay. At Angel Island their were four of us in the boat.
It started to rain early in the afternoon so the four of us were stuck in
the cabin. This included myself, spouse Lisa, Evan 14 and David 8. This
was essentially three and one half persons. We also had all the necessary
attendant gear for winter sailing including coats, rain gear, and spare
cloths for all of us. Sitting in the boat, cooking, reading and playing
cards we were O.K. Everyone has to sit or lie down. The boys like to play
on the V-birth, Lisa and I sit on the quarter births. The difficulty came
when it was time to turn in. All the spare clothes, life jackets etc.
were in the quarter births and had to come out for the night. By the time
we were in our bags, the entire floor of the cabin was covered with our
duffels, coats etc. We made it through the night and luckily no one had
to go to the bathroom. Also we did not have the insert for the V birth
then. I ordered it the moment we got back and the factory sent it in two
days. Lisa's response to this experience was " I'd rather sleep in a tent
ashore".

On Tomales Bay there were only two of us (or 1.5) as only David and I went.
It was a completely different experience. Since we both slept on the
V-birth, there was plenty of room for storage in the quarter -births.
Time in the cabin was pleasant and we kept everything ship-shape below
decks for the whole trip.

Reflecting on the two experiences I think that for an extended trip TWO
ADULTS would be comfortable and get by o.k. THREE ADULTS could survive a
couple of nights, perhaps more depending on the amount of stuff they
brought along. Since there are three seats inside, you could probably get
by even in the rain, as you would still have one quarter birth for gear.

If you want to accomodate FOUR ADULTS I would strongly recommend a boom -
tent if there is a possiblility of rain. This way you can go out to the
cockpit for air and you can store stuff in waterproof duffel bags and even
put the porta potty out in the tent and no-one in the harbor would see what
you were doing in there.

.

Eric E. Zilbert
Agricultural & Environmental Education Program
Dept. of Agronomy and Range Science, UCD
Davis, CA 95616 (530) 752-5943
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