Restoration of the 52' 8 Meter designed by Nick Potter | |
A recently completed building project was the restoration and rebuilding of the 52' Nick Potter designed 8 Meter ANGELITA. ANGELITA was built in 1928 at Wilmington Boatworks in California. She won the Olympics in 1928.ANGELITA's designer, Nick Potter is not so well known as some designers of the golden era of classic boats, but his pedigree was inferior to none. Potter grew up as a boyhood friend of L. Francis Herreshoff and later worked as a designer for L. Francis' legendary father, Nat Herreshoff. Later Potter worked along side his childhood chum, L. Francis Herreshoff, in the Starling Burgess office in Boston. Eventually Potter settled in Newport Beach, California and supervised the construction of many of his designs at the nearby Wilmington Boatworks. Potter became known as the Herreshoff of the West Coast. His lovely double-enders were works of art.
Sadly, Potter left instructions to the executor of his estate that after his death all his drawings be destroyed. In our restoration of ANGELITA, we had to recreate plans from what sources were available. |
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 Angelita 1 - 8 Meter ANGELITA designed by Nick Potter. Built 1930, rebuilt 1997 by William Cannell Boatbuilding.
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 Angelita 2 - ANGELITA's restoration. All the ribs are in place.
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 Angelita 3 - Framing completed.
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 Angelita 4 - Frames and bronze strapping.
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 Angelita 5 - John Maritato caulking "Angelita" Port Orford cedar decks.
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 Angelita 6 - First coat of varnish on "Angelita" deck, and deck joinerwork.
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 Angelita 7 - Rolling out of the boat shop.
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 Angelita 8 - Ready to go afloat.
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