International West Wight Potter 15 Buyer's Guide
The International West Wight Potter 15 on the used market is a 15-foot trailerable pocket cruiser with a 5-foot 6-inch beam and a 475-pound hull, descended from Stanley Smith's 1960 plywood design and built in fiberglass through several ownership changes. More than 4,000 Potters of all sizes exist, and the 15 is the slightly stretched 1980 evolution of the 14-footer. For a shopper, the appeal is a boat that trails behind a compact car, launches in a half-hour, and sleeps two adults in reasonable comfort — but the simplicity that makes it cheap to own also means missing the safety and comfort gear found on larger cruisers.
Layouts on the Used Market
The cabin is a two-berth layout with 6-foot 6-inch bunks and sitting headroom over them, though the aft cabin height is under four feet. There is no galley and only open space for a porta-potti with no privacy. At a viewing, measure the cockpit seating space — it extends well beyond five feet in length — and check how the cabin top nearly meets the hull sides, forcing any forward movement up and over rather than around the side. Most boats have handrails on the cabin top, but lifelines are typically absent.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Auxiliary power is not standard, and most boats carry a transom-mounted outboard bracket with a two-to-four-horsepower motor; a larger motor is a poor choice that overloads the hull. A frequent owner upgrade is a canvas cockpit tent for extended cruising, which turns the open cockpit into sheltered sleeping or living space. Beyond that, the boat's small size keeps equipment lists short, and buyers should expect minimal factory-fitted systems.
What to Inspect
Check the outboard bracket and transom for stress if a motor is fitted, and confirm the engine is within the two-to-four-horsepower range — larger units add too much weight for the 475-pound hull. Verify the retractable steel keel and its lift line, since published keel weights vary from 100 to 165 pounds and the actual unit should match the boat's handling. Look for the absence of lifelines and test the cabin-top handrails and over-cabin forward path for secure footing, since there is no alternative route forward.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. For a viewer, the short list is:
- Confirm outboard is 2–4 hp, not larger
- Inspect keel lift line and steel keel condition
- Test cabin-top handrails and forward over-cabin access
- Check for canvas cockpit tent as a cruising upgrade
- Verify trailer hitch size and tire pressure before towing
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the International West Wight Potter 15. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $4,000 | — |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $11,000 | +175.0% |
| May 26 | 1 | $4,000 | -63.6% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $6,800 | +70.0% |
Where they're listed
International West Wight Potter 15 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 2.
Country view
2 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $5,400 | 2 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Wight Potter Wight Potter 15 | 15' | $ 4,000 | 11 | 4 |
| Drascombe Dabber | 15.5' | $ 4,452 | 8 | 3 |
| International West Wight Potter 15You are here | — | $ 5,400 | 2 | 1 |