Sailing the US Loop, should I use my Potter or buy a Nimble Kodiak

[tbodine88]

I have for sometime been thinking about a retirement trip around the Loop, (Gulf coast, Atlantic Coast, St Lawrence River, Great Lakes, Mississippi).
I was planning on upgrading to a Nimble Kodiak. I'd do this since after the trip since she's trailerable I can save slip fees while I have less money due to retirement.




I could do the trip in my Potter.
Advantages:

• I own her out right and have sailed her for years.
• She fits comfortably in my back yard, so storage is not a problem
• at 1,225lbs Easy to tow with my F150
• I can pull her up on many beaches at least in South Texas and camp on barrier islands, thus saving mooring fees in many places
• She has room to sleep four, so I can carry three other hands to help out

Disadvantages:

• Storage aboard is cramped
• Steering is done in the cockpit in the weather, this is fine on warm days the Bimini keeps the sun and most of the rain off

Or I could buy a Nimble Kodiak:
Advantages:

• Steering can be done inside out of the weather
• the Head is more comfortable
• There is standing headroom for anyone 6' and under
• Maybe a knot faster than a Potter 19
• Maybe more comfortable than the potter for long cruises
• Some Have heaters

Disadvantages

• One I have my eye on may cost as much as 37K after I've refurbished her
• Need to clear space in back yard, or store elsewhere
• Should sell or give away the Potter,
• 2 foot draft means beaching is difficult
• At 4100lbs, shes heavy but still towable with an F150. I'd be concerned on tall, steep ramps.
• On the two boats I've seen there is just one other berth besides the V berth
• If the boat has an internal diesel, then you must get used to sleeping in a compartment with diesel fumes.
• Pulling the usually heavier motors for repair is more difficult than a Potter.

Advantages shared:

• Dropping and raising the mast at anchor can be done with equipment on board.
• Trailerable so I can easily move the boats from Launch to Launch by truck

Let me know what you think.

[ForeverDes]

Originally Posted by tbodine88

I have for sometime been thinking about a retirement trip around the Loop, (Gulf coast, Atlantic Coast, St Lawrence River, Great Lakes, Mississippi).
I was planning on upgrading to a Nimble Kodiak. I'd do this since after the trip since she's trailerable I can save slip fees while I have less money due to retirement.




I could do the trip in my Potter.
Advantages:

• I own her out right and have sailed her for years.
• She fits comfortably in my back yard, so storage is not a problem
• at 1,225lbs Easy to tow with my F150
• I can pull her up on many beaches at least in South Texas and camp on barrier islands, thus saving mooring fees in many places
• She has room to sleep four, so I can carry three other hands to help out

Disadvantages:

• Storage aboard is cramped
• Steering is done in the cockpit in the weather, this is fine on warm days the Bimini keeps the sun and most of the rain off

Or I could buy a Nimble Kodiak:
Advantages:

• Steering can be done inside out of the weather
• the Head is more comfortable
• There is standing headroom for anyone 6' and under
• Maybe a knot faster than a Potter 19
• Maybe more comfortable than the potter for long cruises
• Some Have heaters

Disadvantages

• One I have my eye on may cost as much as 37K after I've refurbished her
• Need to clear space in back yard, or store elsewhere
• Should sell or give away the Potter,
• 2 foot draft means beaching is difficult
• At 4100lbs, shes heavy but still towable with an F150. I'd be concerned on tall, steep ramps.
• On the two boats I've seen there is just one other berth besides the V berth
• If the boat has an internal diesel, then you must get used to sleeping in a compartment with diesel fumes.
• Pulling the usually heavier motors for repair is more difficult than a Potter.

Advantages shared:

• Dropping and raising the mast at anchor can be done with equipment on board.
• Trailerable so I can easily move the boats from Launch to Launch by truck

Let me know what you think.

I plan to sail the American Great Loop in a few years, and until May of this year I owned a Potter 19. I've upgraded to a New Horizons 26, and now plan to traverse the loop in it.


The last thing I want to do is pick apart your plan, or discourage you from making the trip, and if you decide to go for it, whether in the Potter or not, I would absolutely love to hear about it.


I don't doubt the Potter could do the loop, but it is hardly a comfortable boat for long term cruising, especially with 4 on board. Whenever I had 4 on board my Potter, even for day sails, we pretty well had to coordinate who was going to be in the cockpit and who was going to be below. Three in the cockpit made steering tricky, and 4 made it nearly impossible.


You'll also need a fuel range of 208 miles along a stretch of the inland rivers leg. That's quite a few jerry cans of fuel. In fact, I'd say just the bare necessities for a 4 person crew, without using either quarter berth for storage would likely take up most of your stowage.


You mentioned the head in the Potter, but consider the privacy issue as well, because the Potter allows almost none, unless you solo, which was my plan for the Potter.


I'm not familiar with the Kodiak Nimble, but is there a reason it has to be either the Potter or the Kodiak? There are plenty of Loop capable boats that can be bought and outfitted for the loop for less than $20k.


My New Horizons is an old boat (1960) in better shape than my newer Potter (2000) was, and I sold my Potter for what the New Horizons cost me. Granted, I had put some dollars outfitting the Potter with solar, extended water tanks, a bigger battery bank, etc, and I'll respend that money again, and then some, on the new (old) boat, but after all is said and done I doubt I'll have even $15k total in a boat much better suited for the Loop. I could do the Loop as the boat is now, but part of my enjoyment of owning a boat is making it "mine".


Regardless of what boat you decide on, good luck and fair winds to you!

[sanibel sailor]

Nimble 25 Arctic? 3600 lb, 16" draft


WWP 19 is a big dinghy, Nimble is a "real boat".



Much of the trip is motoring from what I understand. I would want an inboard diesel.

[gansett]

I inherited and sold a potter once. Not something I'd venture far in. I always admired the Nimbles. And the pilothouse is a nice feature for all-weather cruising. Id use the Nimble

[Jim Cate]

Doing a longish trip with 4 aboard a Potter???

Surely you jest...

Jim

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by tbodine88

I have for sometime been thinking about a retirement trip around the Loop, (Gulf coast, Atlantic Coast, St Lawrence River, Great Lakes, Mississippi).
I was planning on upgrading to a Nimble Kodiak. I'd do this since after the trip since she's trailerable I can save slip fees while I have less money due to retirement.




I could do the trip in my Potter.
Advantages:

• I own her out right and have sailed her for years.
• She fits comfortably in my back yard, so storage is not a problem
• at 1,225lbs Easy to tow with my F150
• I can pull her up on many beaches at least in South Texas and camp on barrier islands, thus saving mooring fees in many places
• She has room to sleep four, so I can carry three other hands to help out

Disadvantages:

• Storage aboard is cramped
• Steering is done in the cockpit in the weather, this is fine on warm days the Bimini keeps the sun and most of the rain off

Or I could buy a Nimble Kodiak:
Advantages:

• Steering can be done inside out of the weather
• the Head is more comfortable
• There is standing headroom for anyone 6' and under
• Maybe a knot faster than a Potter 19
• Maybe more comfortable than the potter for long cruises
• Some Have heaters

Disadvantages

• One I have my eye on may cost as much as 37K after I've refurbished her
• Need to clear space in back yard, or store elsewhere
• Should sell or give away the Potter,
• 2 foot draft means beaching is difficult
• At 4100lbs, shes heavy but still towable with an F150. I'd be concerned on tall, steep ramps.
• On the two boats I've seen there is just one other berth besides the V berth
• If the boat has an internal diesel, then you must get used to sleeping in a compartment with diesel fumes.
• Pulling the usually heavier motors for repair is more difficult than a Potter.

Advantages shared:

• Dropping and raising the mast at anchor can be done with equipment on board.
• Trailerable so I can easily move the boats from Launch to Launch by truck

Let me know what you think.

? planning on the loop why the concern about trailerability.

[ohdrinkboy]

Are you dead set on a sailboat? I would think something like a c-dory would be a good, small loop boat.

[captlloyd]

Originally Posted by ohdrinkboy

Are you dead set on a sailboat? I would think something like a c-dory would be a good, small loop boat.

I agree and 25-30 ft. Powerboats are plentiful and inexpensive.

[PineyWoodsPete]

Four adults on a 26' boat for 6000 miles?? You might soon end up alone! Find one good, reliable, committed crew and it may work out for you in the Nimble. Most boats doing the Loop are Mom and Pop'd, and with much greater storage, tankage, and creature comforts. The Potter is simply out of the question.

[Cadence]

There was someone wanting to do the river portion with a pontoon boat and a tent a week or two ago. I would think a small trawler would fit the bill for you. Small diesel. You aren't going to be doing much sailing in a small boat anyway. Maybe the Hawk Channel if the wind is right and possibly the Chesapeake. Possibly that run from Cape May? you would be doing rivers, ICWs or canals for the greater part. JMHO

[CaptTom]

What you're talking about is what I call the "Greater Loop," not the "Great Loop."

You're combining segments of the Down East Loop and the Great Loop. The problem is the two big rivers. You're going to be going the "wrong way" on either the Mississippi or the St. Lawrence. At least with the St. Lawrence you can play the tides and get some relief.

But it's still an open water trip from Cape May to the Gaspe Penninsula. This is going to be grueling in any boat, but especially in a smaller one.

Anything is possible, just be sure you go in with open eyes and reasonable expectations.

[kmacdonald]

Stick with the boat you have. When the outboard breaks bolt on a new one. Forget about 4 people on either. Two would be OK. Don't over think it. Start out on the Potter and if it doesn't work out get a different boat. You will at least have a better idea what would be best for you and it wouldn't cost a dime more. I saw a potter 19 in Key West that sailed down from the Northeast. Said he was doing the Great Loop.

[thruska]

Check out capt John Wright.
Expert on the great loops

[tbodine88]

Originally Posted by sanibel sailor

Nimble 25 Arctic? 3600 lb, 16" draft


WWP 19 is a big dinghy, Nimble is a "real boat".



Much of the trip is motoring from what I understand. I would want an inboard diesel.

The potter is much better when dealing with the shallow bays of south texas. Easier to extricate when I run aground



on The Real boat, my nimble, the mast is heavier. Has a flush toilet and a storage tank. more on that later

[tbodine88]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

Stick with the boat you have. When the outboard breaks bolt on a new one. Forget about 4 people on either. Two would be OK. Don't over think it. Start out on the Potter and if it doesn't work out get a different boat. You will at least have a better idea what would be best for you and it wouldn't cost a dime more. I saw a potter 19 in Key West that sailed down from the Northeast. Said he was doing the Great Loop.

I like your ideas. I should have listened,maybe. For now I have two boats, A nimble Artic 26 and a Potter 19.