RE: Shoal Keel

John Haley (haley@geneseo.edu)
Thu, 18 Nov 1999 10:54:09 -0500


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Greetings,

Last year around this time I traded in my P15 for a Precision 18. It has a
shoal keel with centerboard that swings up into the keel. No intrusion on
the cabin. The open space is wonderful. It does not launch as easily as the
P15 but most of the added labor centers around the mast raising. I have
launched on most of the ramps I used with my P15 and have not had a lot of
difficulty. Towing is fine, the hull is not that much more above the trailer
wheel hubs than the Potter was, the keel sits it looks like the darn boat
wants to keel over on cloverleaf's and such on the highway but in reality
most of the weight is in the keel so it is not "top heavy." I can not really
compare the sailing - besides the shoal keel the shape and size of the boat
are very different. I think it is faster, tacks better and is easier to
handle but I attribute that to my own learning curve. The Potter was my
first sailboat and many sailing lessons I learned the hard way on the Potter
I did not have to re learn on the Precision.

The Precision also has a neat "Emergency Dive" feature, the starboard
cockpit locker does not come from the factory with a latch of other closing
mechanism and allows access to inside the boat. So if you go over too far on
that side water gets in the boat. Have not tested the klaxons yet...

When folks see the shiny newer Precision their reaction is "weren't you the
guy that used to have that cute little red boat?"

John Haley
P18
Rochester NY

...................................................
John Haley
Systems Manager
SUNY Geneseo
716.245.5548
haley@geneseo.edu