MAKING THE SWITCH

Following are some methods for adding a Lateen rig to a Potter 15. Most of the photos are of my boat, but some clever ideas from others are included as well.

- Paul Stovner

The most common approach is to add a Sunfish rig. And when done you can sail the boat with either of the rigs. First, some useful numbers for this conversion:

• The Sunfish mast is 2.25 inches in diameter

• The mast sits in a hole that is 10.5 inches deep on a Sunfish. It will be set deeper on the Potter.

• Hole size for the mast on a Sunfish is 2.46 inches in diameter.

To make the conversion, a mast sleeve needs to be installed to receive the Sunfish mast. I used standard available Drawn Aluminum Tube 6061 T6 with a 2.5-inch OD, 0.065 wall thickness, and 2.370 inch ID. This gives a little wiggle room so the mast drops down easily. Start with about 3 feet of tube length. (The height from the v-berth to the top of the cabin is about 2’-6.”) The final sleeve length may end up being longer depending on what kind of mounts you use at the top and base.

The mast sleeve needs to be secured at the base on top of the v-berth. It will be the forward of the original compression post. This can be done in a variety of ways. It can be a female version using a 1-inch thick piece of wood with a 2.5-inch hole. Or a male version with a 2.37 (2-3/8-inch) dowel, sanded down to fit. Both will have to be secured to the berth (rivets, bolts, or screws)—some way to secure the mast sleeve so it cannot be pulled up after installation. An “L” bracket will work with the female design. One screw going through the sleeve and into the dowel will work for the male design.