Upgrading the Potter 15 Centerboard

When I bought my Potter 15, Blue Knot, in 2014, it already had more than 25 years on its clock.

- Jerry Culik

The hull was in great shape, and it came with two sets of original sails and a nice genoa…but the boat was due for some replacements and upgrades. According to Potter lore, the early boats and those built in the 1990s (and later) all have galvanized centerboards. But boats produced during the economically difficult 1980s were built without galvanizing to save costs. And since the previous owner of my Potter kept it moored in the water on Chesapeake Bay, the centerboard was in pretty rough shape. After consulting the Potter forums for advice, I scraped, beat and ground the rust off, converted the oxide using phosphoric acid, and coated it with epoxy and fairing compound. Then painted it bright orange. My repairs lasted two or three years; and then I was ready to start all over again.

There had to be a better solution…maybe sandblasting? Powder coating? Repurpose a centerboard from an old racing skiff? Buy a new board? Unfortunately for me, International Marine, the builder of Potter 15s and 19s, by this time was no longer a going concern; so buying a galvanized replacement was not an option.

Back to the drawing board…