Even though the Potter 19 is sell built I have less confidence in it to handle rough seas. When I have sailed one if felt like sailing a box and had so much windage. I love the Potter 14 & 15 however. I have sailed the C22 in rough seas with no issue and I feel the M15 is a fabulous boat. I have little experience with the R20, but from what I have heard I understand she is sea worthy and has nice performance.
I don't know...because we've only so far used 10 out of 1,000 possible small boats in this little comparison and the poll only allows me 5 boats at a time ;-) I promise the M-17 will make an appearance.
The Bride and I spent many hours sailing the Catalina 22 in San Francisco, and knew it to be a well founded steady vessel. Not much if any experience with the others.
Love my m15, and the boat can take a lot. But she’s small enough, lively enough n wet enough that i think the skipper will hit a wall. In just 20-25 i come back from even a short sail exhausted- one is always on the helm n always reacting unlike bigger, heavier boats. Flip side of the responsivenesses that is so great in normal winds… not that the trip to hawaii was a downwind run w double jibs winged out to suport self steering, not a claw off a lee shore
Folks maybe don't know an M15 has sailed to Hawaii from LA?
Seriously, the most capable boat on the list.
Yes, Little breeze , I recommend the book: "Little breeze to the west", it was one of the reasons I bought an M17.
http://msog.org/yarns/hawaii15.cfm
My recollection is that's correct, but it was significantly modified including keel and ballast.
The boat had double forestay and used thicker wire. Also hand running backstay.
Hull, keel, centerboard and ballast were stock.
Of these boats, only the R20 has entered and finished R2AK! (also a monty 17 I believe)
I feel the heavy swing keel on the C-22 could cause a problem in heavy seas.
They're all capable. This is a case where the skipper is the bigger factor than the boat -- by far.
All of them can handle rough weather. It comes down to how good a sailor the captain is. Cheers, Norm
Even though the Potter 19 is sell built I have less confidence in it to handle rough seas. When I have sailed one if felt like sailing a box and had so much windage. I love the Potter 14 & 15 however. I have sailed the C22 in rough seas with no issue and I feel the M15 is a fabulous boat. I have little experience with the R20, but from what I have heard I understand she is sea worthy and has nice performance.
Why did you NOT use the M17??
I don't know...because we've only so far used 10 out of 1,000 possible small boats in this little comparison and the poll only allows me 5 boats at a time ;-) I promise the M-17 will make an appearance.
You have the patience of an angel, Josh. I can only imagine the restraint in that reply! 🤣
The Bride and I spent many hours sailing the Catalina 22 in San Francisco, and knew it to be a well founded steady vessel. Not much if any experience with the others.
Potters are pretty stable, high chines keep out a lot of water, and are responsive. Since I never sailed a Catalina 22, I can't respond on that one.
Love my m15, and the boat can take a lot. But she’s small enough, lively enough n wet enough that i think the skipper will hit a wall. In just 20-25 i come back from even a short sail exhausted- one is always on the helm n always reacting unlike bigger, heavier boats. Flip side of the responsivenesses that is so great in normal winds… not that the trip to hawaii was a downwind run w double jibs winged out to suport self steering, not a claw off a lee shore
Does the question pertain to the class of boat or these particular boats? Because here, only the Catalina appears to be easily reefed.
My Monty reefs in seconds, not minutes.
Yep! If it takes more than thirty seconds to reef a M15/17 or a Sage 15/17/SC the boat is incorrectly rigged.
I see reefing clews on the M15 and the ranger. Looks like that monty might have 2 reef points?
Depends on what the owner ordered. Historically it is about 50/50 single/double reef.
I've always recommended having a double reef main. A boat set up this way will easily handle 25+ knots (the real danger is waves not wind).