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Summary of Contents for West Wight Potter POTTER 15
- Page 1 WEST WIGHT POTTER 15 USER'S GUIDE International Marine 904 West Hyde Park Boulevard Inglewood, CA 90302-8803...
- Page 2 You have purchased one of the best known trailerable cruising vessels available. We invite you to spend a few moments in the following pages to become better acquainted with your new West Wight Potter and at any point, if we can assist, do give us a call— 1-800-433-4080.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents Getting Your New Boat Ready ........4 Safety Equipment ............5 Anchors................. 5 Trailering Made Easy ........... 6 Launching (Getting the Potter Wet) ......7 Hoisting the Sails............8 Jib and Jib Sheets Set-up ..........10 The Two Rules of How to Sail........11 Sailing Away—the Fun Part........ -
Page 4: Getting Your New Boat Ready
Getting Your New Boat Ready When your new Potter first ar- rives (after a quick hose-down with a sponge and soapy de- tergent), climb aboard and get a feel for your new boat's cockpit and cabin. Before your first launch, several items may need to be assembled on a one- time-only basis. -
Page 5: Safety Equipment
Safety Equipment Ensure that all safety equipment has been obtained and is on board. Provide one US Coast Guard approved personal flotation vest for each person on board, plus at least one throw- type seat cushion for the cockpit. Many types of flotation vests are available and it is impor- tant that each person sailing has one that is correctly sized—especially smaller children, on whom adult vests would be useless. -
Page 6: Trailering Made Easy
Trailering Made Easy Your Potter can be a joy to trailer, with the light towing weight and low trailering height. The high-speed tires and wheels on your trailer are supplied with grease wheel fittings (bearing buddies) to ensure ultimate serviceability when backing your trailer into the water. Using a hand grease gun with an automobile-type fitting (available from your hardware or automotive store), apply grease through the fitting in the center of the wheel until the visible diaphragm moves outward slightly. -
Page 7: Launching (Getting The Potter Wet)
Launching (Getting the Potter Wet) Launching your new Potter in the water is easy compared to other similarly sized boats, but for the first several launchings you will want to take extra time to ensure everything is cor- rect. Assuming you have prepared your Potter as discussed in the Getting Ready section, you will be generally concerned with pushing the mast up into place, backing the trailer into the water, raising the sails, and—the exciting part—sailing away! Usually the mast is raised while the boat is on the trailer, right before backing into the wa-... -
Page 8: Hoisting The Sails
WARNING: Leaving the trailer winch hook connected while backing down your launch ramp will keep the boat from accidentally sliding backward off the trailer, should the trailer bolsters or boat bottom be slippery, or should the launch ramp be excessively steep. Now, with your assistant walking beside the trailer holding the end of the front dock line, continue backing your trailer until the trailer wheels are under water—usually about the point where the water is just under the rear car bumper—at which time, hit your car brakes... - Page 9 Mainsail With your boat pointed into the wind if possible, place the 3" sliding bar of the flexible fit- ting on the front of the boom into the mast-slot opening, located close to the mast base. Let the sliding bar drop down below the opening, then tie or shackle the loose end of the line from the right side of the mast to the top of the sail.
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Page 10: Jib And Jib Sheets Set-Up
Jib and Jib Sheets Set-up Next, raise the jib (front sail) by connecting the clips provided on the sail to the forestay, the wire running from the top of the mast to the bow (front of the boat). With the sail connected to the forestay, connect the jib halyard to the free end of the line on the left (port) side of the mast to the top of the sail, and pull tight. -
Page 11: The Two Rules Of How To Sail
The Two Rules of How to Sail Whether you are a first-time sailor or a seasoned veteran with years at sea, your sailing skills will mostly concern the two rules of how to sail. The two rules apply to all sailing conditions and have no exceptions. - Page 12 CAUTION: At this time, double-check that your keel is in its full down position. With the boat pointed as appropriate, pull in the sheets until both the jib and mainsail stop flapping. You are now at full speed, with perfect sail adjustment; however, constant atten- tion to this adjustment is important.
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Page 13: Balance
Your boat will be stable and upright if you follow Rule 2 and have the sheets as loose as possible without the sails flapping. In stormy or heavy wind conditions, hold the sheets lightly in your hands, so that any unusual wind change can be countered by releasing the sheets quickly from their respective cam cleats. -
Page 14: Motoring (Forget The Sails, Full Speed Ahead)
For the Potter 15, a 2.5–3.5 HP motor is typical. If you have not yet purchased your motor, make sure the motor you get is as small as possible, which is important for several reasons: •... -
Page 15: Heading Home With Your Boat In Tow
Should you have specific questions regarding motors not supplied with your Potter, we will be pleased to advise you to ensure a proper boat/motor match. Heading Home with Your Boat in Tow Before getting your boat out of the water and onto its trailer, take the sails down and raise the keel (the reverse of the procedure for lowering the keel). - Page 16 Reefing Points Reefing points include five equally spaced metal grommet holes and associated reinforce- ments, located in a row about ⅓ the way up from the bottom of your mainsail. In heavier winds, take five short lengths of rope (3'–4' each), and, threading through each grommet hole, pull down and tie that portion of the lower sail to the boom (see Figure 8a).
- Page 17 Genoa Sail* This is the largest front sail and is used in light air conditions and for greater speed. Raise this sail just as you would your standard jib. Genoa Tracks and Blocks Included in this option are blocks which slide in position front to back along stainless steel tracks mounted on both outer sides of your Potter.
- Page 18 Spinnaker Sail* This large, balloo n-type sail is used mainly for sailing downwind, and is characterized by its billowing shape pushing out in front of the boat. All Potter spinnakers are multi-colored and easily recognizable. The spinnaker raises just like the standard front sails, but on its separate mast-hoisting line, and with the sail control...
- Page 19 Boom Vang* The boom vang consists of an adjust- able line with a reduction-type lock- ing block between the base of the mast and a point angling upward to approximately one-third of the way back on the boom. Designed to place a downward force on the boom, and correspondingly flattening the main- sail, the boom vang is especially use-...
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Page 20: Tips
Canvas Items* We also have a wide range of canvas items available for the Potters 15 and 19. These in- clude a complete boat cover, sail cover, bimini top, and dodger. All are made with Sunbrella material, and all are specifically designed for the Potter boats. Tips As you use your Potter, you will find special ways to save time with launching and retriev- ing while perfecting your skills in sailing. - Page 21 Maintenance tips When cleaning your boat, do not wax as this may provide a surface which will collect addi- tional dust and dirt. Use regular dishwashing detergent or soft compound on the more diffi- cult spots. For the rub rail, use soft scrub. Once or twice a year, use a marine silicone cleaner/sealer to seal the fiberglass, and treat the outside wood with teak oil to keep it look- ing good as new.
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Page 22: Warranty
The following warranty applies to all new boats: LIMITED WARRANTY West Wight Potter 15 & 19 All fibreglass parts (Hull, Deck, and Liner) are guaranteed against any defects in workmanship for a period of 3 (three) years from the original date of purchase, to the original owner listed by the manufacturer/ factory. -
Page 23: Basic Sailing Terms
Basic Sailing Terms MAST Parts of the Boat fore: toward the front FORE aft: toward the back BATTENS MAINSAIL bow: "fore" end stern: "aft" end port: left side starboard: right side DECK COCKPIT CABIN cabin: part you can get inside of BOOM cockpit: where you control the boat from TILLER... -
Page 24: Glossary
Glossary aft: rear of the boat battens: thin sticks placed in pockets on a sail to reduce unwanted sail movement belay: [verb] make fast by wrapping around a cleat bitter end: the end of a rope that is tied off block: a pulley or combination of pulleys used to direct lines boom: a horizontal pole, attached to the mast, that extends under the foot of a sail and to which the sail connects;... - Page 25 halyard: a line used to raise (hoist; haul up) a sail. (Compare to sheet and vang.) head: top point (corner) of a sail. Alternately, a toilet located on a boat; however, the Potter doesn't have room for this kind of a head. headsail: the sail in front of the mast;...
- Page 26 reef: [verb] to reduce a sail's exposure to the wind by reducing the sail's area: folding, roll- ing, or wrapping part of the sail and securing it out of the way rigging: collectively, all the sails, supports, and lines used to catch wind so as to make a sailing vessel move;...
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