Ballast

I have concrete ballast and don't have any problems. (My boat's at least 21 years old.) Don't think waterlogging would be a problem - concrete does fine under water and my ballast has been soaked plenty of times, mostly from rainwater. Also, I don't think I would want any heavier ballast because the top of my cockpit drain is now only about 1 inch above the water. I've seen one other R22 where the back of the cockpit was below the water line, and then it never drains completely.

What type of ballast do the new R22's have?

George Staples

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Reading one of the blurbs about the older Rhodes having concrete for ballast. I was wondering what the newer Rhodes have for ballast. Any ideas on what to do if the concrete gets waterlogged?

Risky Business

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As long as we are on a set-the-record-straight morning, ballast on the Rhodes is a mixture of sand, resin and shot that makes the keel indestructible for rock bottom sailors.

The cockpit drain is substantially above the water level to allow sailing with a "normal" crew. Since the Rhodes does not attract normal buyers, a special drain plug is available for $25,000 (which includes a free Rhodes). If you have a boat with the drain below the water level, it is not a Rhodes or you broke your boat or it is diet time again.

General Boats

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Please excuse my ignorance, I think you are saying the newer Rhodes 22 have the ballast in the swing keel in the form of sand, resin and shot. I have a ‘74 with a substance poured in the middle of the hull. Is this the same substance that you are talking about?

Risky Business

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If you have a swing keel you do not have a Rhodes 22. They have always been made with a combination keel/centerboard. The very early Rhodes (which were built by others) did use cement as part of the forward ballast. The mixture referred to in our ballast is primarily for filling the void in the fixed keel around the centerboard trunk. In addition, per the designer’s specs, the same material is used for further ballast under the "head" floor where it also serves as a distribution base for the mast load.

General Boats

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For what it’s worth, whether or not the concrete is waterlogged doesn't matter. When osmosis takes over, give the boat a bottom job. Drill out all bubbles, rinse, let dry for about 6 months, test for dryness, fill with resin mixed with filler. This Old Boat, a good book, tells you how to do it.

As for the inside of the boat, if the fiberglass is broken from the mast support, (under the floor in the head area), take up the floor, cut out all damaged fiberglass that is no longer bonded to the concrete, remove all concrete that is loose, dry out concrete with heat lamp, lay multiple layers of (fiberglass) cloth down and soak the resin to it.

Fix your floor and you’re good to go.

Steve