[Rhodes22-list] R 22 Instrumentation(and other goodies), long

[Robert and Sandra Fuller]

I realize I am late in joining this discussion but after vacation I had some trouble registering the new Rhodes that Elton delivered in mid-January.  Just got out for a shakedown sail this afternoon. Beautiful day in upper Sarasota Bay, but only 4 knts. of wind. Surprised to see a manatee in 65 degree water.
I am a novice sailor and my admiral wants the boat sailed flat unless she is distracted by being at the helm (which I take as a very positive sign),  Just wanted to share with the list the features I chose and my initial impressions.
The most distinctive piece of equipment on my new boat is the Thetford porta-potty! So regardless of what wretched excesses follow, they don't include putting a marine head in my day-sailer! Note well:preceding written with tongue firmly in cheek.  Just thought I'd start out by enflaming - er, igniting a little interest.  P-P does suit my needs though.
New boats have a keel a few inches longer than their predecessors, but the difference is not apparent to the naked eye. Doubt if I am going to be able to tease out any improved handling or pointing because the new sails are too big a confounding variable.  Went with the 175 genny because -as a new sailer- I couldn't detect  decreased efficiency when partially furled. And found the old 175 easy to pole out with a length of pvc in very light air.
Plastimo compass, Contest 101, bulkhead mount, gives excellent visibility from the back of the boat; as do the large #'s on Raymarine knotmeter,St40. I had a handheld GPS on the old boat and find the convenience of the knotmeter well worth it.  I learned to use the GPS while riding around on a bicycle and found trying to use it while sailing just as awkward as using it while on a bike.I had no problem with the old hand-held ICOM vhf, so I stuck with ICOM(M302) with mast antenna. It is plenty loud enough to be heard outside the cabin.
The most wretched excess -and coolest toy on the boat- is an Echopilot(bronze) forward looking sonar.  Did I need it? Of course not.  Lots of skinny water around here but in a year of (careful) sailing, I had one soft grounding.  But is it fun!  Because of angle of reflection to the transducer, the distance it can "see" ahead is dependant on the depth of the water.  Today, in 8' to 10' of water, it was showing depth about 20' in front of the boat. And just ahead of the boat in about 4'. I will have to get a lot more experience before I can say anything about accuracy and reliability - let alone the durability of Echopilot stuff.  But based on today, it looks like poking into shallow waters is going to be a lot more interesting.  Got it @ WestMarine last year and can't find it in the 2006 catalogue, but Echopilot has several web sites.
A pretty wretched excess -and proof Stan will put what you want on the boat if he can't bring you to reason- are the small Lewmar ST winches he installed for me.  Again, have I needed them in the past?  Ha!  I can't say I have really need a winch handle.  But some things are for go and others for show. So far these have definitely been in the latter category.  A couple of my sailing buds have murmured "nice winches", in the tone you usually say "nice legs".
Predictably, what drew the most compliments was the gin pole and the ease with which Elton & I dropped one mast & raise another.  An old salt down the street is rescuing a 24 footer he salvaged and is talking about borrowing it.
Lots of goodies, so I guess I better stop typing and start sailing.
Bob F.