West Wight Potter Owners Home Port _______________________________________________________________________________________________ |
| Potter 15 Keel Raising Modifications Keel Sheet by Bill Nolen Click onto photos to enlarge! |
John Turpin wrote this about the twin keel control lines
on his P-15 Tetra. "The first time I took Tetra out, I
realized that I needed a way to raise and lower the
centerboard from the cockpit. Ethan, my dear wife and I
kept dragging bottom and this forced us to constantly
unbutton the cabin and untie the board to get us free. If
solo sailing, this could be a tricky operation that might
require a three-handed sailor.
I solved this using the method I saw other sailors here
using. I ran two lines from the centerboard arm into the
cockpit through a pair of hull fairleads. The starboard
line pulls the centerboard into the trunk. The port line is
used to lock the board in the 'down' position. They share
a single cam cleat."
See
http://www.wwpotterowners.com/Modification30.html
on his P-15 Tetra. "The first time I took Tetra out, I
realized that I needed a way to raise and lower the
centerboard from the cockpit. Ethan, my dear wife and I
kept dragging bottom and this forced us to constantly
unbutton the cabin and untie the board to get us free. If
solo sailing, this could be a tricky operation that might
require a three-handed sailor.
I solved this using the method I saw other sailors here
using. I ran two lines from the centerboard arm into the
cockpit through a pair of hull fairleads. The starboard
line pulls the centerboard into the trunk. The port line is
used to lock the board in the 'down' position. They share
a single cam cleat."
See
http://www.wwpotterowners.com/Modification30.html
The single line system installed on my P-15
#1139 Babe. I found that I prefer having the
cam-cleat above the line so I can pull upward to
lock the line in place.
#1139 Babe. I found that I prefer having the
cam-cleat above the line so I can pull upward to
lock the line in place.
One line system on a UK
Potter 14, with a port horn
cleat for line storage.
Potter 14, with a port horn
cleat for line storage.
Showing the one line
modification on P-14 #775
Piglet, my first Potter.
modification on P-14 #775
Piglet, my first Potter.
Lionel L. Galibert has move
the main sail sheet to a aft
set-up, and uses the
cam-cleat on the bridge
deck to control the keel
line. P-15 #2072 KIROLOU
the main sail sheet to a aft
set-up, and uses the
cam-cleat on the bridge
deck to control the keel
line. P-15 #2072 KIROLOU
Several Potter 15 owners have modified their boats to make raising and lowering the
swing keel easier and safer by leading the keel sheet out into the cockpit area where a
cam-cleat is used to secure the sheet. This permits the owner to keep the hatch closed
in bad weather conditions, yet have full control of the raising and lowering of the keel.
swing keel easier and safer by leading the keel sheet out into the cockpit area where a
cam-cleat is used to secure the sheet. This permits the owner to keep the hatch closed
in bad weather conditions, yet have full control of the raising and lowering of the keel.
Do you have a like modification on your Potter 15? If so, send photos and details
to Bill Nolen here.
to Bill Nolen here.
Charley Beck wrote: "I wanted a keel raising line and a hold down line, so I recycled two old jib cam
cleats and color coded the ropes as well. When the blue line is pulled out, it means that the keel is
down and locked in place. When the red line is out it either means that the keel is raised up or it
means "Hey dummy, you forgot to lower the keel again!". I added the single horn cleat as I like a bit
of redundancy built in in case of malfunctions. I will be the first to admit that my mod messes up the
bridge deck area and is not well suited for boats with the original mid-boom swivel cam cleat, but for
my lateen rigged Potterfish, it works very well and the angle of force on the rope is excellent at this
position."
Charley Beck "Sea Bug" P-14 #729
cleats and color coded the ropes as well. When the blue line is pulled out, it means that the keel is
down and locked in place. When the red line is out it either means that the keel is raised up or it
means "Hey dummy, you forgot to lower the keel again!". I added the single horn cleat as I like a bit
of redundancy built in in case of malfunctions. I will be the first to admit that my mod messes up the
bridge deck area and is not well suited for boats with the original mid-boom swivel cam cleat, but for
my lateen rigged Potterfish, it works very well and the angle of force on the rope is excellent at this
position."
Charley Beck "Sea Bug" P-14 #729
