Design and Construction
At 18 feet 6 inches overall with a 16-foot 6-inch waterline, the Potter 19 is built around a solid fiberglass hull on every example, while International Marine switched from plywood-cored decks to balsa during its tenure anchor. The retractable keel lifts vertically into the hull and can be trimmed to various levels, and the centerboard itself is a simple, dependable design with no moving parts anchor. Closed-cell foam enclosed fore and aft makes the 19 unsinkable, a reassuring attribute for a boat meant to be sailed off beaches. The lifting keel weighs 300 pounds and when fully deployed draws 3 feet 7 inches; raised, the draft shrinks to just 8 inches, and together with the kick-up rudder the boat can be sailed right up on the beach anchor.
Rig and Handling
The fractional rig supports a good-size main, and a husky bowsprit has always been part of the deck package anchor. A clever mast-raising system lets one person hoist the stick, and most owners report that they can be sailing in less than an hour from arriving at the launching ramp. All the lines are typically led aft, and the jib sheets and the centerboard winch are well placed, though the mainsheet is a bit awkward: it angles down from the end of the boom, forcing the helmsman to keep clear anchor. With an air draft of around 25 feet on a 22-foot 6-inch mast section, the boat is well balanced on a reach, and owners report speeds of 5 knots in winds of 10 knots and above when reaching. Upwind sailing is not the Potter 19's strong suit, it doesn't like to sail much closer than 50 degrees apparent anchor.
Accommodations
Below, headroom is just five feet, but the layout makes use of the volume. A galley of sorts is sandwiched between the berths with a butane stove to starboard and a sink to port, and lockers sit under the berths, under the sink and stove, and in seat-back bins as well anchor. Up top, two adults have room to stretch their legs in the cockpit, visibility is great, and the forward chine tends to deflect water aside to keep the cockpit relatively dry even in choppy conditions anchor. Handrails on both the raised and lower sections of the cabintrunk, plus a much improved nonskid pattern on newer boats, aid movement on deck anchor.
Known Issues
Some owners of older, mid-1980s boats have reported slight structural problems with the centerboard trunk anchor. Beyond that, the principal quirk is the mainsheet geometry, which demands the helmsman stay clear of the boom-end tackle.
Refits and Ownership
Most boats on the used market have overlapping genoas in lieu of a working jib, and many of the used 19s include CDI flexible furling on the headstay anchor. New boats come standard with an overlapping 110 percent headsail and five-horsepower long-shaft Tohatsu outboards, while most used boats carry five- or six-horsepower outboards of varied makes; an adjustable motor bracket makes the outboard more efficient and easy to lift clear when sailing anchor. Newer boats also include a chain locker, a useful addition for those who anchor anchor.
The Verdict
The West Wight Potter 19 is a remarkably capable little cruiser for its length, blending beachable shallow draft with a genuinely unsinkable hull and a solo-friendly rig. She rewards the sailor who keeps her on a reach and carries plenty of headsail, and her trailer-launch simplicity has kept her in production for decades. The mid-1980s centerboard-trunk reports and the awkward mainsheet are the only real caveats against an otherwise clever pocket cruiser.
Pros
- Vertically lifting keel and kick-up rudder allow sailing right up on the beach
- Solid fiberglass hull with closed-cell foam makes the boat unsinkable
- One-person mast raising and lines led aft suit short-handed sailing
- Roomy cockpit and dry ride from the forward chine deflected water
Cons
- Upwind performance limited to about 50 degrees apparent
- Awkward boom-end mainsheet forces helmsman to keep clear
- Slight centerboard-trunk structural reports on mid-1980s boats
- Five-foot headroom below restricts stand-up comfort
