This was 5 years ago, but I plan to launch my Potter 15 there soon before the year is out. Your video will help me get my boat ready. I noticed you didn't use a mast crutch. Thanks for putting this video out.
Nice. I have a Potter 15 as well. Lovely little boat. When I launch/recover, I never have a nice dock to launch next to, and make it easy. I tie about a 15 foot line to the bow, and to the back end of the trailer. I back the boat into the water, and when it floats, I stop, then slowly move forward until the back of the trailer comes out of the water. Then, I stop, get out, and walk back to the trailer, and grasping that line, pull the boat up to me, and walk it to where ever I need to take it to, or climb aboard and use oars, or motor to take it there. Coming in, if necessary, I drive it up to shore, off to one side of the launch ramp area (if possible), Drop an anchor with short scope off the bow, go put my trailer into the water, then go get the boat, and load it. Happy sailing.
@@Flicka20 Yeah. Usually more than that. LOL. I'm usually solo. I live in NM, but grew up near Bakersfield, and Fresno. When we went to the coast, it was usually, Morro Bay, Monterey, or Ventura area. I miss the ocean, but from where I am now, I spend my salt water time, on the Texas gulf.
Thought that parking lot looked vaguely familiar, then I saw Morro Rock. launched many times from there as well as Cuesta -by-the-Sea and the State Park Marina. Good clear video.
Many thanks! It reminds me of the times when I sailed a friend's West Wright Potter. I'm glad they improved the base of the mast. The old cup-like base made it almost impossible to erect the mast on the water. I hoping to pick up one of my own sometimes soon.
Jack, at 8:48 minutes in the video, use placed the sail track stopper in the mast track. Would you mind sharing how you attached a safety line to the stopper? Great idea, as I have lost a couple stoppers over the years. Is the safety line a cable? Thanks
Great work. I just got a WWP15 like yours. Can you give me some details about the outboard specifically the shaft length? Looking at Suzuki 2.5 HP DF2.5S2 , they come in 15 or 20" shafts, any help would be greatly appreciated.
The motor is a 15" shaft mounted on a factory mount. The length would depend on the top of the mount to the waterline. 15" worked ok but since we took it out in the ocean swells there were times under motor when I would have liked a long shaft. On flat water the 15" is fine. The tohatsu was only a few years old and would start cold very well but after a day of sailing it would take many pulls to restart. I took it to a local motor shop and they were able to "tweak" the EPA bullsh*t to make it start really well. The suzuki is lighter but I dont see alot of them on potters. I do see a lot of honda but I prefer having the netural /fwd shift. Enjoy your potter . I did for many years. I now own a 1978Pacific seacraft flicka 20.
@@Flicka20 , Thank you so much for your quick and detailed response. Others have mentioned the Honda with short staff, the Suzuki caught my attention because of it's light weight. Good to know either shaft will work. Time to start looking. Enjoy your bigger boat. Thanks again.
i thank you for your reply. my choice is between compac 16 vs wwp15. my motto for sailing is not to go out in 15 knts or more og wind. can a wwp be reefed down to handle that wind like a compac can?
Take a look at the Montgomery 15 too. It's a little faster than a potter. It has a small keel that hangs under the boat with a centerboard that drops from there. The advantage over the potter is the cabin has a footwell making it so much easier to use. The disadvantage is you won't be beaching it as easy and you will get our feet wet when you step off the bow on the beach.
My closest boat launch doesn't have a pier or any place to tie up once it's off the trailer and in the water....which makes it tricky for a solo launch...I've tried tying it to a stake (the kind for staking a dog or a kite on the beach) until I can move my truck off the ramp. Any other suggestions, especially when there is a strong current and the tide is going out? My 51 y/o gaff rigged WWP 14 was almost free and had been sitting under the trees (covered) for years before I got it.
Must have been a genius that designed that launch! If there was sand close to the launch, I think I would just beach it. I wonder if they ever thought this boat would last 51 years.
@@Flicka20 The old man who sold #327 to me lives on a low bank above an inlet. He used to just drag it down over the grass and mud to launch it to drop crab pots in the deep water outside the channel. Then he'd just pull up the centerboard and drag it back up. The boat ramp at the park is shallow, and the shallow sandy bottom usually keeps it from taking off, and I usually dress to be in the water a bit. I can row it over to the dock across from the ramp to get the sails up. Another great feature is that this little boat doesn't require a deep channel to float . I wish it had a bow sprite like yours to grad onto when I'm in the water.
Hi Rusty. Ginger snap only sailed salt water but when I brought her home I would clean her well with fresh. The way I had the motor on the front I was able to use a 5 gal bucket and flush the motor easily. I would rinse off the rest of the boat and trailer being careful to force water up into the centerboard trunk. My trailer held up well too . The hubs were a oil filled type instead of grease and never had a problem.
15 min at the ramp, but you had a lot of prep work done at home. Thats the key. Im afraid to use a quick pin for the forestay....afraid a line could catch it and yank it out then down goes the rig. I mounted my motor on the trailer too, but only used it like that once before I sold the boat...
Actually, other than filling the outboard with gas there isnt much prep work at home either. I do wash off the salt water very well then I push it into the garage until the next time and all is ready to go.
@@Flicka20 Gotcha. Thank you sir. I got crazy a few days ago and drilled a hole through the “slug” part and put a pin in that allows me to tie a string to that. Overkill! :) Thanks again for the video.
always interesting to see how other people launch their little boats but what i don't get here is why the rush ? 15 minutes, 30 minutes, who cares ... i regard sailing as a relaxing pass-time not a race to get the boat in the water.
So true! but... with a cute Potter you have to hurry or you won't be sailing that day for everyone on the ramp has a question or story about the boat! 😁
There isn't a lot to go wrong with potters. Just do your diligence which is pretty easy for there are lots of sources for Potter info. Depending on hold the boat determines if its a painted steel or galvanized centerboard. I think that changed in the early 90's . Potters are a wonderful boat but like any boat it will require a lot of work depending on the condition you buy.
