WWP opinions?
txmxrider
You may remember me, I'm the newbie who was asking about a trailerable
sailboat a few weeks ago. We decided to go with a small, trailerable boat in
the 15'-17' range, nothing too 'athletic' because we're old farts, and
preferably something with sides and seats because our old butts aren't made
for hanging off the edge of a racer. We're looking for a smallish boat
because it seems like it would be easier for old farts (and possibly senile,
old farts) to assemble at the ramp. And also something easy for old, senile
farts to learn to sail. By appearances alone, the 15' West Wight Potter
seems to have pretty much everything we require and maybe even room for a
portapotty for the Admiral. They also rate high in the "cute" factor, which
also appeals to the Admiral. Anyone here familiar with these boats? I
appreciate your opinions both pro and con. For reference we would be sailing
almost exclusively on inland lakes in Texas with maybe an occasional trip to
the coast once we get some experience and if the boat is capable of sailing
in protected bays.
Thanks in advance for your valued opinions.
--
Everett
'04 KTM 300 EXC (Treefinder)
'75 Kawasaki S3 400 (2-stroke triple)
'74 BMW R90/6 (Gentleman's Express)
Don White
"txmxrider" <txmx...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:RR4qk.21403$LF2....@newsfe09.iad...
I had a Sandpiper 565 mini cruiser until I sold it a year ago. Great little
boat, comfortable, although a bit cramped in the cabin.
Wife wasn't interested and it was a bit much to tow, rig , launch & sail all
by myself.
http://sailquest.com/market/models/spipe.htm
Jere Lull
> By appearances alone, the 15' West Wight Potter seems to have pretty
> much everything we require and maybe even room for a portapotty for the
> Admiral. They also rate high in the "cute" factor, which also appeals
> to the Admiral. Anyone here familiar with these boats? I appreciate
> your opinions both pro and con. For reference we would be sailing
> almost exclusively on inland lakes in Texas with maybe an occasional
> trip to the coast once we get some experience and if the boat is
> capable of sailing in protected bays.
The WWP is an awfully cute boat, and a particularly appealing one for a
few reasons.
But I really recommend walking the docks and visiting the possible
boats in or near the target outlay for your specific purpose(s),
Small and mid-size boats are selling very cheaply these days as no one
wants a boat under 40' any more, and even the beginner's market has
dried up. A season or two ago, we helped sell a sistership at or below
$3.5k. I surveyed the boat and it was one I wouldn't hesitate to take
to the Caribbean for months or years at a time, though I'd have been
conservative on the initial sea trials, staying close enough to
"civilization" to limp in if something I hadn't inspected failed.
Don't get married to any particular boat until you've satisfied
yourself that it will adequately perform for the duties you'd like to
perform in the next 5-7 years. If you are only going to trail, that's
one audience. If you really want to go further, that's an entirely
different one.
--
Jere Lull
Xan-à-Deux -- Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/
zydec...@gmail.com
http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/trailersailor/index.cgi
It is specifically devoted to small trailer sailboats. There are
several WWP owners there.
There is even a specific WWP forum at http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/potter/index.cgi
, but most traffic is in the main forumn.
Todd
Wilbur Hubbard
Good choice, Joe! Looks like you're finally taking my advice to heart and
getting something to sail that you might be able to keep afloat. But, is
there room in there for MsTerry and the pooch?
Wilbur Hubbard
Popeye the Sailor
The WWP 15 is actually 14'. It has a high center of force and is prone to
going on its side.. If you flip it or put it on its side it will fill with
water unless the cabin door is securely on. Tie down the swing keel, if you
put it on its side it will retract into the trunk and then you'll flip. Once
filled with water it will weigh several tons, you'll never get it out of the
water onto the beach or on a trailer. Don't believe the bullshit ads about
it floating high and dry with a 3 inch hole cut in it. It floats with the 2
inches of the cabin top out of the water. Boat wakes have flipped the pig
and people have drowned. Don't believe much of what the Potter folks say
when you bring these things up to them as they are a cult and any negative
(though constructive) criticism is taken as a threat. You'll hear "I been
sailing one for thirty years and that never happened to me" type of
responses.
If you are a skilled sailor the boat will handle unbelievably rough water
for its size and remain dry. Ditch the plastic cleats, get 2 large cockpit
drain holes and be able to pump/bail that cockpit out. Once it fills, you
are toast. The bunk cushions absorb water like a sponge. Don't accesorize
the daylights out of the thing, it's only a dinghy. Put a big inflatable
mattress under the lazarette and keep it inflated so all that volume doesn't
wind up getting filled with water when you lay it down and it goes under.
Don't believe the stuff about "self righting", and tie down that swing keel.
Otherwise it's a pretty good micro cruiser and lots of fun.
Buy a used one
Check out the Neptune 16 http://www.sailingtexas.com/sneptune16b.html it
will outsail the Potter hands down and has more room. Plus it actually self
rights when you lay it down.
Good luck!
mister b
> Thanks in advance for your valued opinions.
I'd look at the Wayfarer. 16', designed to teach Royal Navy cadets how
to sail on the Solent, where the wind does blow. I cut my teeth on an
early wooden variant in the 60's. A great boat. Some owners kit them
out to sail/camp on them. I think Abbott in Sarnia, Ontario was the last
to produce them in fibreglass. I may be wrong about that...someone else
may have the license now...check it out.
John Seager
> seems to have pretty much everything we require and maybe even room for a
> portapotty for the Admiral. They also rate high in the "cute" factor,
> which
> also appeals to the Admiral. Anyone here familiar with these boats? I
> appreciate your opinions both pro and con. For reference we would be
> sailing
> almost exclusively on inland lakes in Texas with maybe an occasional trip
> to
> the coast once we get some experience and if the boat is capable of
> sailing
> in protected bays.
My parents bought one of the earliest WWP's new in about 1968. It was a fun
little boat and, as the designer demonstrated, remarkably seaworthy - he
sailed one from the UK to Norway, IIRC, and survived a force 9 gale.
As for space, my folks once did a 3 week cruise on the upper Thames with a
large labrador and a cat. I think Dad had ideas of writing a sequel to
'Three men in a boat' but the title 'Mum, Dad, a cat and a dog in a boat'
just didn't have the same ring to it! Oh, and yes they did have a PortaPotti
installed in the stern locker for use when the boom tent was up.
You could do a lot worse than a WWP and back in 1968 they were built with
very substantial spars for the tiny sails.
Good luck,
John.
Ernest Scribbler
> get 2 large cockpit drain holes
Where can one purchase such holes?
Richard Casady
Your local boatyard can creat them. [for big bucks, probably] You want
a door, hinged at the top that will open if pushed from the inside,
but not the outside. How big it needs to be is a question. I say make
them as big as will fit. The door goes on the outside and is bigger
than the hole. That way waves can't stress the hinge.
Casady