The design began as the HMS 18. When Joe Edwards took over the company from Stewart, he included the outboard motor bracket in the length-over-all measurement, adding a foot to the name and creating the West Wight Potter 19. International Marine has built the boats since the early 1990s.
Design and Construction
All Potter 19s have solid-fiberglass hulls. International Marine later changed the deck construction from plywood coring to balsa while retaining the solid hulls across all examples. Closed-cell foam enclosed in the forward and aft sections makes the boat unsinkable—a meaningful safety feature in a trailerable pocket cruiser that owners routinely launch and recover.
The 300-pound retractable keel lifts vertically into the hull and can be set at various levels. Fully deployed, it gives the boat a draft of 3 feet 7 inches; fully raised, draft falls to just 8 inches. Together with the kick-up rudder, that shallow draft allows the Potter 19 to sail right up onto a beach.
The centerboard is a simple, dependable design with no moving parts. However, some owners of older, mid-1980s boats have reported slight structural problems with the centerboard trunk. Newer boats have a much-improved nonskid pattern on deck, along with handrails on both the raised and lower sections of the cabintrunk.
Rig, Launching, and Handling
The fractional rig carries a good-size mainsail, and a husky bowsprit has always been part of the deck package. The mast section measures 22 feet 6 inches, for an air draft of around 25 feet. A clever mast-raising system allows one person to hoist the stick, and most owners report that they can be sailing within an hour of arriving at the launching ramp.
Lines are typically led aft, and both the jib sheets and centerboard winch are well placed. The mainsheet is less convenient: it angles down from the end of the boom, forcing the helmsman to keep clear.
Under sail, the Potter 19 is well balanced on a reach. Owners report reaching speeds of 5 knots in winds of 10 knots and above. Upwind sailing isn’t its strong suit, however, as the boat doesn’t like to sail much closer than 50 degrees apparent.
The forward chine tends to deflect water aside, keeping the cockpit relatively dry even in choppy conditions. Visibility from the cockpit is also excellent.
Cockpit and Accommodations
Two adults have room to stretch their legs in the cockpit, helping make the boat practical for short coastal hops despite its limited cabin volume.
Below, headroom is just five feet, so the interior is strictly a place to sit or lie down. A galley of sorts is tucked between the berths, with a butane stove to starboard and a sink to port. Stowage includes lockers beneath the berths, sink, and stove, as well as bins behind the seat backs. Newer boats also have a chain locker, a practical addition for crews who choose to anchor.
Sails, Equipment, and Power
New West Wight Potters come standard with five-horsepower, long-shaft Tohatsu outboards. Most used boats carry five- or six-horsepower outboards from various manufacturers. An adjustable motor bracket improves the outboard’s efficiency in the water and makes it easier to lift clear while sailing.
On the used market, most boats carry overlapping genoas rather than working jibs, and many have CDI flexible furling on the headstay. New boats come standard with a 110 percent overlapping headsail. Most owners recommend carrying as large a headsail as you can afford.
Known Issues
The one documented weakness is the centerboard trunk on some older, mid-1980s boats, whose owners have reported slight structural problems. Otherwise, the construction record is straightforward: solid hulls, balsa-cored decks from the International Marine era, and enclosed flotation.
The Verdict
The West Wight Potter 19 is a long-lived, unsinkable pocket cruiser that does a lot with its 18-foot-6-inch length. Its retractable keel, simple centerboard, lines led aft, and one-person mast-raising system make it particularly easy to launch and sail. The relatively dry cockpit and good visibility suit both daysailing and overnight use, and the boat is at its best when reaching.
There are real limitations. The mainsheet arrangement is awkward at the helm, upwind performance is weak, and the centerboard trunk on mid-1980s boats deserves a close look. Five-foot headroom also keeps the cabin firmly in sit-or-lie-down territory.
Pros
- Unsinkable, with closed-cell foam enclosed in the forward and aft sections
- Retractable keel and kick-up rudder allow beaching, with draft reduced to 8 inches
- One-person mast raising and a quick ramp-to-sail turnaround
- Well balanced on a reach, with owner-reported speeds of 5 knots in winds of 10 knots and above
- Relatively dry cockpit with excellent visibility
Cons
- Upwind performance limited to about 50 degrees apparent
- Awkward mainsheet geometry at the helm
- Slight structural problems reported around the centerboard trunk on some mid-1980s boats
- Five-foot headroom restricts cabin use
