Before getting my Potter, I had a canoe, a 24'Buccaneer and then a 16'
Chrysler. The Buccaneer had a heavy shoal draft keel and was rock solid and
slow. The Chrysler had twin (light stainless steel)centerboards and was
fast as a bat out of hell, but very scary!(no ballast and lots of sail and
mast). The 24' mast was very hard to step single handed.
The Potter is a great compromise between the two. I also seriously looked
at the Compac because of the stability of the shoal keel, but the extra
effort to launch (also because of the keel) made the Potter the better
choice.
I have never capsized my potter, nor come close. Others have. I like to
sail with the rail in the water, but I'm a chicken at heart. I reef very
early in gusty wind.
I go forward even with the board up, but I balance very carefully. However,
there's an arrangement called a jib down haul. It is a simple rope to pull
the jib down from the cockpit, and I highly recommend it. Can someone else
describe it better? With it, you don't need to go forward very often.
Walk forward with your feet wide apart as close to the center as possible.
You move around the Potter like you move in a canoe.
When you go forward, you must balance yourself and not lean or hang onto the
mast or shrouds. However, if you don't have to go forward, don't! I have an
anchor braket on the bow rail, but also keep one in the cabin so I can drop
anchor without going forward if need be.
If I were you, I would give the Potter another chance. I admit that I do
sail with the keel partially up(gasp!), but when it is down, there is much
more stability (but still not as much as the compac!) But I go exploring
and sometimes sail in 1 foot of water, and that something few boats can do.
Have faith.
Mike Canova
P15, #1830
Richmond, VA