The Costas wrote:
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> West Wight Potter Website at URL
> http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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> >With modern laminates and little carbon fiber I am sure the deck could be
> >reinforced to step a stayless rig entirely on the deck -- with leeboards,
> no
> >cabin intrusion. If leeboards are unacceptable, there is a proposed hinged
>
> And I thought my idea of just shrinking a P-19 to 16' was radical!
>
> Carbon fiber, Chinese lug rig, folding keel? Doesn't sound like a Potter to
> me. The (US) Potter is a simple to own and maintain sailboat that can take
> an experianced sailor almost any place he wants to go, and yet is
> inexpensive enough that anybody can afford to buy one. I too have wished
> for a P-17as my P-15 left me wanting an indoor toilet for those long days on
> the water. After I traded up to a P-19 I missed the ability to just back
> the thing into the garage when I got home after a (too) long day of sailing.
>
> The swing keel on the P-15 was great for ghosting over the mud flats on
> Tomales Bay, while the extra foot room that we had in the 19 (because of the
> drop keel) was greatly appreciated.
>
> The small sails on the 15 could be rolled out and dried overnight in the
> living room, while being able to go forward on the 19 to change sails or
> handle dock lines (and anchor) was a plus.
>
> Being able to stretch out in the cockpit of the 19 (or sailing with a
> friend) was great, packing up and heading out on a whim was much easier with
> the 15.
>
> The low freeboard on the 15 meant I could dunk my hat to help cool off on a
> hot day, the extra freeboard on the 19 gave a feeling of added safety when
> the chop got big.
>
> Rigging my 15 took about 15 minutes, rigging my 19 took almost an hour.
>
> Going hull speed in a 15 "feels" faster than going hull speed in a 19, and
> can be done when the wind (and chop) are lower. Playing "Victory at Sea"
> (having the chop break over the bow) felt less threatening on the 19.
>
> Towing a 15? Almost any 4 cylinder vehicle. Towing a 19? I tore up two
> clutches in my Toyota truck pulling that ton of boat up the ramps.
>
> The 19 was great for overnighters for the two of us, although not as
> "romantic" as we first thought. Overnighters on my 15 were mostly just me.
> The 15's cabin is big enough for two, but when two of you stay overnight all
> of your junk has to move out into the cockpit (including the portapotty).
> (I've considered buying a 15 with a cockpit tent.)
>
> This is just a partial list of what I liked about each Potter. I too would
> like the factory to seriously consider designing a P17... as long as they
> keep it simple and... I might as well say it, cheap!
>
> Larry