I own a 1988 West Wight Potter 19, named Victoria. I like the size – its big enough that I can cruise for many days on it, but small enough to be easily trailered to new destinations. Its shallow draft allows beaching and anchoring where other boats fear to tread. My favorite places to sail so far are Flathead Lake, Montana, and the San Juan Islands in Washington State. The last few years I've been keeping her on Lake Union in Seattle.
NEWSFLASH -
Victoria survives the Seattle Marina fire!
Some of my ideas for a NW Potter burgee.
International Marine still builds this boat and its little sister, the P15. Their web site features some pictures of Victoria!
The Northwest Potter Club is a great group of Potter owners, and in the summer months schedules many events. Their San Juan Islands trip is not to be missed. The "mods" page on that site includes a few modifications I've done to Victoria.
This Old Boat by Don Casey, is by far my favorite book on boat
maintenance. Don explains the techniques in easy-to-understand steps, and
builds your confidence by showing you how to practice each technique on something other than your precious
boat. Buy this! You'll be happy you did! I can't recommend it enough.
I used to not bother listing
Chapman Piloting: Seamanship & Boat Handling on this web page,
because I simply assumed everyone already had a copy! I can't think of a single
more important book for any boater or potential boater to own, whether the boat
is sail or power. It has chapters on safety, regulations, navigation, etiquette,
and so forth. If you could only own one book on boating, this is the one to
have. Its a large-format, gorgeous reference book with many great diagrams. Buy
it!
The Annapolis Book of Seamanship
is another must-have for the book shelf. Its very similar in intent to the
Chapman book, but emphasizes sailing craft and de-emphasizes power craft.
I have an earlier version of this book, and I love it.