[Rhodes22-list] Rhodes 22 Questions

[DCLewis1 at aol.com]

Folks,
 
We’re still sorting out our new(to us) R22.  I’ve got a few questions  that 
some of you may have dealt with already.  I’d appreciate any  input:
 
- On our cockpit floor about 2/3 towards the stern there’s a metal flange  in 
the floor along the centerline.  The flange is 6" x 6", with a 2 1/8"  dia 
hole in it.  At the bottom of the hole there’s a large nut.  There  is no top on 
the 2" hole and over time water, pollen, etc collects from rain,  hose downs, 
etc.  Should there be a cover over that hole, or a plug in the  hole, to keep 
the water out?  What have you found to be good  practice?
 
- We have the standard UPP package.  There does not appear to be a  safety 
attachment that would bind the motor to the boat if it were to fall of  the 
transom.  Of course, the motor is clamped to the UPP motor mount and we  have 
locks on those clamps.  I’ve seen some boating literature that suggest  a safety 
attachment (I’m not referring to a safety lanyard to kill the ignition,  I’m 
referring to something to keep the motor attached to the boat in the event  it 
literally fell of the transom).  Do you guys ( and gals) use a separate  
safety attachment - perhaps something like a ski lock passed around the stern  
pulpit and through the motor mount - or do you think the standard transom  
attachment is sufficient?
 
- I’ve had a little difficulty getting the head sail from one side to the  
other when tacking.  It will  hang up on the  spreaders/turnbuckles.  Is that 
just an art I have yet to master, or is  there some trick?  For example, should 
I recover part of the head sail on  the roller furler before pulling the head 
sail sheets to move the sail from one  side of the boat to the other?  Should 
I tape the turnbuckles to minimize  hang ups?  Turnbuckle covers?  What works?
 
- About 1/3 of the way down the side of the hull from the bow there is a  
small protrusion in each side of the hull.  They are below the rub rail,  but 
well above the waterline.  What are those things?
 
Thanks for any help or comments.
 
Dave