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West Wight Potter Mailing List maintainer
dfarrell@ridgecrest.ca.us
List hosted by www.tscnet.com
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Here's my report:
In the 30 years I've been sailing my Potter 14, I have never capsized.
I attribute this record mainly to two things:
1. I am always aware that it can be capsized. (It is, after all, just a 14
ft dinghy with a cabin.)
2. I have managed to avoid severe conditions that I could not handle.
I could add a few more reasons:
3. I can't swim.
4. I've been lucky.
5. I avoid sailing on Del Valle Reservoir and near the Golden Gate.
6. I currently have a 45 lb battery strapped down on each side of the
centerboard trunk, which provides 90 lb of additional stabilizing ballast
as well as power for my 24 V MinnKota. If I should turn turtle, the wetcell
batteries will leak all their sulfuric acid into the cabin, which gives me
additional incentive to avoid a capsize.
7. For the past couple of years I have been using a lateen rig, which has a
lower center of effort and flexible spars that make it less tender than a
stock Potter, and I have only one sheet to release when a gust hits and
only one halyard when I need to lower sails. Since the rig is unstayed, I
can release the sheet and let the sail stream downwind without interference
from sidestays. Like my alternate gunter rig, the main is lowered on a yard
so there is no problem of the sail sticking in a track when being lowered.
8. I rarely carry more than two people in the boat.
Precautions I take, but haven't needed:
1. When the wind pipes up and/or the water gets rough, I tie down the
centerboard and close the hatch.
2. I installed a 1-1/2-inch cockpit drain (but have never taken water into
the cockpit)
3. I filled the area under the forward bunk deck with pour-in flotation
foam and also added some in a space just forward of the lazarette. I intend
to add more flotation under the seats and possibly along the sides of the
cabin. (My first generation P14 does not have a liner.) A previous owner
lined the cabin overhead with cork squares.
4. I installed a folding ladder on the transom.
5. I wear a life jacket at all times when on the water and require the same
of passengers and crewmembers..
You didn't ask, but I haven't fallen overboard yet either.
Harry Gordon
P14 #234, Manatee
Mountain View, CA
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>There has been a certain amount of discussion of late about safety
>precautions against capsizing P-15's, and the lengths to which one should go
>to avoid an inverted state. I have gotten questions on "how safe is the
>P-15 really now, no kidding". I'd guess that as in many other things it's
>the bad news which makes headlines. Soooo -
>
>From those who wish to do so, I'd like to hear:
> Whether you have been seriously in danger of laying a P-15 fully over on
>it's side, i.e., at a 90 degree or worse angle. (By "seriously in danger"
>I mean either that it happened, or that you were saved from such happening
>only by the intercession of a benevolent Neptune, to whom I hope you later
>made appropriate liquid sacrifices<G>)
> If so, what you believe to be the cause(s) of such an unhappy event
> If so, what injuries, psychic or physical, short or long term to persons
>or pets resulted
> If so, what damage to the boat or its equipment resulted
>
> If you successfully avoided such happenings, to what good fortune and
>great intelligence do you attribute this happy state?
>
>Now - if you really don't care to take time away from reading one of the
>books on the recent lists we've seen, please simply send me an email stating
>whether you've ever gotten on your side, damaged your boat, or not.
>
>Negative replies are important, as I'm trying to build a balanced picture of
>the situation for certain newcomers to our community.
>
>Thanks to all, and I hope you'll take a few minutes to participate. Names
>of those who don't participate will be taken, and their email will be
>delayed for 10 minutes<G>. For those who do participate, I will not discuss
>responses with your insurance agents
>
>I've asked for a fair amount of information, but please keep it as brief as
>possible because I hope to somehow summarize what I learn. -- dwf
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