West Wight Potter

The P15 combo without any added gear weighs around 900 lbs. The P19 combo without added gear weighs about 1900 lbs, on the standard trailer and 2300 lbs on the Baja Trailer. These weights apply to the standard boat/motor/trailer combinations as currently delivered. Based on input from owners, Weight when fully equipped with typical gear is closer to 1000, 2000, and 2400 lbs., respectively.

The Baja trailer is wider with the wheels set on the outside of the boat so that the P19, 250 lbs. heavier, has larger tires, 14” wheels versus 13” longer bunks, and carries the boat 8" lower for easier launching. All added weight is steel. The wider wheel base on the Baja Trailer will create a more stable environment when towing the P19.

After the boat is on the trailer you should secure the keel, remove the outboard motor, lower the mast and secure it, secure or remove all loose gear, and attach tie-down straps to secure the boat to the trailer.

A standard 2" ball will work with either the P15 or P19 trailers. Electrical connection is via a "flat four" connector or a “flat 5” connector if the trailer has brakes.

You can tow a P15 with just about anything with four wheels, practically speaking. Most compact cars work fine, especially if you are towing over relatively flat ground. To tow a P19 safely you need something with a bit more wheelbase and horsepower. Mini-vans, light pickups, and assorted SUV’s are all popular P19 tow vehicles. Consult the owner's manual for your vehicle for towing restrictions and requirements.

The P15 will fit in a typical single car garage. The P19 is a close call in most garages, but if you have a removable or swing tongue on your trailer or a good-sized garage the boat will probably fit.

Generally, yes, but if you keep the boat anchored or on a mooring that is subject to significant wave action you should probably leave the keel down.

Yes, most owners do. It is easier and faster with an assistant, of course.

Not necessarily, but it depends on your own strength. Most boats that have a Genoa also have Genoa tracks and winches. A few owners use the Genoa without winches.

Some owners successfully sail single-handed without any rigging modifications. Most owners who do much single-handing run all lines aft to allow raising, lowering, and reefing the sails from the cockpit. We offer this options which is called the Singlehanders Package and you can find it on the options list for both boats.

The keel winch is located at the back of the cockpit. The keel winch is self-braking. Just turn the handle clockwise to raise the keel and counterclockwise to lower it. The winch will stop when you stop turning it.

Allow an hour or so for the first time. It will take you awhile to figure out how it all works and develop a routine. The setup time decreases significantly with experience; probably to 45 minutes or less for owners who do much trailering.

It will allow one person to raise the mast without much difficulty. If you have an extra person it is easier to raise the mast with the baby-stays installed but without installing the mast support pole.

The baby-stays attach to U-bolts mounted on the cabin top, and keep the mast from tipping sideways while raising it. They should be somewhat loose at all times. They don't do anything while the mast is up, since the mast is supported by the other stays and shrouds.

There are some options that may help: Various headsail options exist, including upgrading the lapper to a genoa for greater sail area. Secondly, upgraded the standard sails to Point Sails Performance Sails will help in light air and heading into the wind. Beyond adding options, the best ways to improve performance are the traditional ones: keep the bottom clean, tune the rig as best you can, remove unnecessary gear and stow all other gear as low in the boat as possible (and securely), and improve your sailing technique.

The theoretical displacement hull speed of a P15 is 4.6 knots, and for a P19 is 5.4 knots. However, Potters have hard chines and relatively flat bottoms, so can plane to speeds somewhat in excess of their theoretical hull speed under the right conditions. A detailed explanation of this is on Judy B.'s Web page at: http://blumhorst.com/potterpages//hullspeed.html

Generally about the same as other boats in their size/weight class. Just about any breeze at all will move them.

Any boat can capsize. Potters are not any more susceptible than any comparable boat, but the fact that they tend to heel very little can instill some false confidence in a new owner.
Wind alone probably won't do it: Potters tend to heel sharply and turn into the wind when overpowered, then come upright with the sails flapping. In the known cases where a boat was capsized, some other factors were involved, usually involving poor sail handling, poor load balance, or similar operator error.

Potters have enough closed-cell flotation foam installed to keep the boat afloat when allowed to fill with water. Regarding the installed positive flotation: It is in the form of closed-cell flowed polyurethane foam and is well distributed and firmly attached to the hull, but it is not comparable to the foam sandwich construction used in (for example) Boston Whaler power boats.

More than most owners can. Potters are regularly sailed on San Francisco Bay, which is not known for light winds. One owner reported a Bay trip with winds at 25-30 MPH and gusts to 35 MPH as "heavy weather sailing," but that "we were definitely not overpowered with the reefs in, and we made most of the trip at less than 12 degrees of heel. Even in the worst gusts, we didn't heel past 20 degrees." The real issue is the pilot's capability, experience, and comfort level more than the boat's capability.

Potters sail best "on their feet," heeling much less than round-bottom boats of similar size. You might heel pretty sharply in gusts but if the angle of heel is near 15 degrees it is probably time to reduce sail.

As delivered, Potters are safe when cruising in protected or semi-protected waters. If you are pushing the limits of the boat some minor modifications may be in order:
•If you routinely sail in strong winds, you might want to add a second set of reef points in the main.
•If your only headsail is a lapper and you do not have roller furling, you may add a standard jib to your sail inventory.
•Harness point attachments with backing plates are available as an option.

Short answer: If you think it might be time to reef, it is. Aside from that, you should consider reefing if the boat is consistently heeling near 15 degrees or you find yourself releasing the sheets frequently to dump wind. Gusty conditions may dictate earlier reefing.
Remember that it is always easier to reef early than late. If you think you might experience high winds or gusty conditions later in the day, you might just want to put in the first reef at the dock.

Yes, but be aware that the boat will be somewhat more tender with the keel up. If there is much wind or chop you will feel more secure with it down.

Electric motors are often found on P15's but not so often on P19's. It really depends on how much motoring you plan to do and under what conditions. Lake sailors may be fine with an electric motor. If you sail out of sight of land or have to run an inlet you probably should have a reliable gas outboard. An option on the P-15 packages is to substitute an electric motor.

The preferred technique is to lock the motor pointing straight ahead and steer with the tiller. In extreme conditions (for example, when towing another boat or fighting a strong crosswise current) you may find that you need to steer with both the rudder and the tiller simultaneously to get good directional control.

The P19 will do about 5 knots with a 5 HP motor. The P15 will do about 4 knots with its standard outboard.

The P19 has a retractable motor mount and the P15 has a fixed motor mount.

Standard for P15's is a 2 horsepower motor; P19’s use a 5 horsepower motor. Both are 4-Stroke engines (environmentally more friendly, no need to mix oil and gas, very efficient). Don't use a larger motor than you need, though: the added weight can make the boat sit too low in the stern for good performance, and won't make it go significantly faster unless you dangerously overpower it.

Generally yes, but it depends on the beginner. Potters are very responsive so they make good training platforms. They also sail flatter (heel less) than many boats, so beginners tend to feel comfortable on them. They are probably the easiest boats to launch and rig in their size class. They are, however, "real" sailboats, with controls and rigging similar to that found on many larger cruisers, so they may be a bit intimidating for a person with little experience and no teacher ready at hand. A person with no sailing experience whatsoever should strongly consider some sailing lessons to gain experience and confidence.

IM does not use a dealer network, preferring to sell direct to the customer. If you live in the Los Angeles area or are willing to travel you can visit the factory to see new boats being made and place your order there. You can also place an order through the IM Web site or over the phone if you can't come to the factory (800-433-4080). We are happy to prepare a quote for you on the boat configuration you are considering.

Direct allows IM to sell their boats for substantially less than if they used a dealer network. When warranty service is needed, IM works closely with the owner and local service providers to resolve the issue. The service providers get paid their going rates for service, so they have no motivation to cut corners.

Short answer: If you are mostly a day sailor and will frequently sail alone the P15 is your boat. If you plan to overnight much or carry a few passengers the P19 is better. But there is no "right" answer; you will have to look carefully at both.
This matter is often discussed on the WWP Forum. You might want to read the discussions there for detailed pros and cons of both boats.

Contact IM for this first; we can often find a local owner for you to call in our customer database. There is also an independently-maintained list of Potter owners available in Bill Nolan's WW Potter Owners Registry, Photos & Articles site (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WWPotter_Owners/). Another possibility is to post a message on the Trailer Sailor/WWP forum (http://www.trailersailor.com/forums/potter). One of these avenues will almost surely turn up a local Potter owner who will gladly show off his or her boat.

Many owners vacation on their boats for a couple of weeks at a stretch. There are reports of people living on their P15's and P19's. It is a matter of personal preference of course, but the Potters have a surprising amount of room inside; much more than generally found on boats their size.

Generally, yes. A little water may come in at the top of the companionway door during a heavy rain, especially if there is wind from astern, but never a serious amount.

The porta-potti has about a 2.6 gallon holding tank and the same size flush water tank. It works as well as any porta-potti, which is satisfactory for weekend or vacation use.

The length and width are satisfactory for an average-sized or even a fairly tall adult. The vertical clearance is minimal but adequate unless you like to sleep with your knees up. The approximate dimensions are 20" high not including the cushion thickness, 24" wide at the opening and narrowing slightly toward the stern, and 78" long, not including the width of the settee.

We offer a cooler as part of the P19 options packages, which fits in the port storage area under the V-berth.

Our driver delivers your Potter from our factory to your door. The driver contacts you when he’s within 24 hours of arrival. There’s an additional charge for shipping, which varies according to the State you live in. Call us at the factory to determine your shipping costs.

Delivery time varies depending upon the time of year you place your order. As you might guess, the volume of orders increases in the Late Winter through Summer, so you can expect to wait in line on our ’Order Board’. Currently our lead time is from 4 to 8 weeks. To avoid the wait, you can select from our current inventory of ready to sail boats.

If you keep your boat in salt water for any length of time you must apply anti-fouling paint to the bottom; otherwise, marine growth will quickly impair the boat's performance. If you keep your boat in fresh water bottom paint is not a strict requirement, but is recommended. Trailer boats stored out of the water don't need bottom paint as a rule. Bottom paint is an option available with your new Potter.

A simple and inexpensive way to safely strike the jib. Ease the jib halyard, pull on the downhaul line and your headsail (Jib, Lapper or Genoa) will come down and gather on the deck.

A perfect option for the cruising or short handed sailor. The roller furling system made by Cruising Design Inc has been given rave reviews throughout the sailing community and has been accepted by the cruising community as a viable alternative to climbing on the forepeak to reduce sail. A simple pull of a line and your Jib, Lapper or Genoa will neatly roll up on the forestay, where it will be ready for another day of sailing. If you would like to leave your sail on at the end of the day, we can install an optional UV cover that will protect your investment from the sun for years to come.

The jiffy reefing system is a set of blocks and lines installed on the boom to reduce the area of the main sail and to adjust for any increases in wind speed. The Jiffy Reefing System consists of heavy duty grommets on the Main sail and lines and blocks on the boom. Simply lower the main halyard, attach luff of main to reefing hook, pull on the reefing line and you’re done.

The premium lay-up option (first introduced in 2003) includes two extra layers of fiberglass on the bottom of the hull and balsa coring on the companionway bulkhead. The premium lay-up adds extra weight in the bottom of the hull and stiffness to the overall boat. It is not a necessity, but a “premium” feature, for the owner who may want heavier construction and feeling of strength and solidity in choppy conditions or a seaway.