[Rhodes22-list] Advice on boat purchase

[TN Rhodey]

Kathy,

The J24 and Rhodes 22 are both great boats but for different reasons. The 
J24 is a great racer and  the R22 is a great pocket cruiser.

The J24 will sail circles around a Rhodes 22. It doesn't matter if there are 
light winds, heavy winds, upwind or downwind. The J24 will smoke the R22 
every time. I have a good friend that used to own one so I can speak first 
hand. He now owns a J33 that will smoke the J24.

There are plenty of J24 one design racing fleets for good reason. That being 
said you can still race a R22. I raced mine for 3 seasons in our B Fleet 
while the J boats battled it out in the A fleet. I usually came in the top 
three corrected. You can also cruise 2 in a J24 but it will not have the 
nice gally, poptop, and double berths. The real problem with J24 cabin is 
they are filled up with sailbags. With IMF and furling main the cabin of the 
R22 is not cluttered with sailbags. I keep my spinnaker in the laz or at 
home.

The J24 also has no pop-top. This a huge plus when cruising. The J24 has a 
nice size cockpit but it is open with no coamings or seatbacks. The R22 is a 
dry boat even in heavy weather. the J24 is a wet ride in most conditions.

One thing you didn't mention is towing and or haul outs. The R22 is easily 
trailored the J24 is not.

Good luck,

Wally




>From: kathylong at comcast.net
>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Advice on boat purchase Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2006 
>16:26:20 +0000
>
>This is my first post to the Rhodes22 list so I hope I am sending this 
>email to the correct address.
>I sailed and raced for about 10 years 'when I was young' spring, summer and 
>fall every week on the Navesink River in NJ - blue jays and later 
>lightnings.  Now I am a middle-aged, wife and mother and I would like to 
>get back into sailing.  My husband (a non-sailor) and I have taken the 
>first step by joining the Raritan Yacht Club.  We now have to figure out 
>what type of boat to purchase.  The members of RYC day sail, race and 
>cruise.  (There was no 'crusing' at Monmouth that I remember.)
>If we race it would be mostly for fun.  We have an active crusing program 
>at RYC with neighboring clubs.
>We looked at the J24, but we think it would not be a good cruiser - or not 
>as good as the Rhodes.
>Any feedback on the Rhodes for fun racing, day sailing and cruising 
>(weekend trips)?  The most people we would have on the boat would be four.  
>More typically just 2.
>Any one on this list from NJ?
>
>thank you,
>Kathy Long
>
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