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West Wight Potter Mailing List maintainer
dfarrell@ridgecrest.ca.us
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Bob
I hadn't heard of your centerboard mod before, and it is intriguing. I'm
forwarding your post to the WWP list because others are likely to be
interested. It seems worthwhile to close the slot in the front of the
centerboard trunk and to eliminate the "nose" of the centerboard sticking
up in the cabin.
Although my first generaton US Potter has the line cleated in the cockpit,
I believe the newer Potters have the centerboard line cleated inside the
cabin unless they have been modified. Also, mine doesn't have a bridgedeck
but the centerboard trunk (centre-plate case) extends aft into the cockpit.
I presume the "small exit hole" would be in the bridgedeck on the newer
Potters or on the centerboard trunk extension on Manatee
With your mod there would seem to be no need for a slot in the top of the
trunk, which would eliminate the problem of water flowing in through the
slot if the boat were swamped. The slot is also a safety hazard to fingers.
(There was an instance of a child losing a fingertip at the aft end of the
slot when the centerboard swung down suddenly.) A possible minor drawback
would be the slight added drag or possible vibration of the underwater
line, or does the line attach to the plate close to the bottom or even
inside the trunk? Is any purchase needed to provide sufficient mechanical
advantage?
Another advantage would be that the line, if cleated, would support the
centerboard if it should be knocked off its pivot pin. With the standard
setup, the plate falls almost out of the boat before the tackle supports
it. On the other hand, with your setup, uncleating the line when the plate
is off the pin could allow the plate to fall away completely and be lost
unless there is a stop knot in the line.
Cutting the nose off the centerboard could actually improve stability, it
seems to me, since the center of gravity of the plate will be lower.
Regards,
Harry
P14 #234, Manatee
Mountain View, CA
>Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 12:47:38 +0100
>From: Bob Morrison <solent@sealord.screaming.net>
>Subject: My 'A'type Potter.
>To: Harry Gordon <hlg@pacbell.net>
>MIME-version: 1.0
>X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
>X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2615.200
>X-Priority: 3
>
I would like to mention an adaptation which had been made to my 'B' type by
the previous owner which proved to be extremely worthwhile and yet,
although showing it to many other Potterers, no-one ever took it up !. I
assume your US Potters have the same open centre-case in the cabin with a
'nose'-type extension on the top of the centre-plate which has a tackle for
up and down- haul, led through the 'bridgedeck' to a cleat aft of the
centre-board case in the cockpit ?. If this is the case, and similar to
the UK Potters, then this idea may interest some of your members as it
completely solves the problem of the wet stuff splashing up through the
open case and soaking the cabin. Of course, this idea may not be new to
you and I don't want to sound like I'm 'teaching Grandma to suck eggs' but
I'll mention it anyway - just in case !.
The centre-plate had been adapted by the simple method of sawing off the
'nose' and covering the slot of the case with blanking pieces sealed with
appropriate waterproof sealer. Now, if you imagine the centre-plate hanging
vertically underwater - a hole was drilled at the aft edge of the plate
to take a small shackle which had a line attached leading up through a
small exit hole with a block leading aft to be cleated off in the cockpit
somewhere. Old Jack, who I purchased the boat from, and was the
acknowledged Potter Wizard of the Dinghy Cruising Association (and who was
I to argue with him !), reckoned that as he kept the 12v battery at the
base of the mast anyway, its weight would make up more than the weight
removed from the centre-plate. Well, this idea worked perfectly and I
continued for years with his idea. There was no lack of ballast problem
and I certainly did not notice any reduction in sailing qualities plus
more space and a much drier cabin. Please let me know if this is a new
idea to your group - I can vouch for its usefulness.
Yes, I did read about your friend seeking plans for Potter home build. Old
Jack told me this was a perennial problem with which he was plagued for
many years as the rights to reproduce the design were well-guarded. The
new 'E' type which is being marketed (at a ludicrous price, I must say) by
David Keffen who may be able to assist him - although I do not know David
personally. Hope the above may prove useful to somebody. Its getting
warmer and I will hit the wet stuff this weekend with a cruise to Bembridge
on the Isle of Wight.
Cheers. Bob.
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