[Rhodes22-list] Considering a Recycled R22

Tue Nov 21 13:22:59 EST 2006

Hi Nan,

I purchased a 1990 recycled boat last Spring and here are my thoughts:

a) It was the best decision I've made in years.  I get all the features of a Rhodes (well-detailed on the website) and a two-year new boat guarantee for significantly less than buying new.  I am extremely happy with the boat.

b) The extras I got were: 

Pop top enclosure - I haven't used it yet and probably won't until I do an overnight ... which is probably a few years away.  I have very young children and they're not ready to spend time on the boat.  But when I do get around to an overnight, I'll be glad I have it.

Captains chairs (and accompanying new aft rail) -- to be honest, while most people on this list love their captains chairs, I have found that I prefer sitting lower down.  Maybe as I get more experience, I'll be more comfortable sitting up high, but I find using the tiller extension while in the captains chair to be a little less precise than I'd like.  If I had it to do over again, I might not get the captains chairs ... but maybe in time I'll grow to like them.  But as I write this, the boat is in the water and the captains chairs are in my basement.

Because I have young children, I had Stan install an extra lock to ensure the ladder would not disengage from the railing accidentally.  He has a friction-style lock that could give way if a child leaned against it.

Extra battery and extra solar panel -- I got this to power a GPS and any other electronics that I have yet to install (more about that later).

New cushions and new carpet -- this really helped the cabin feel very fresh and new.

A marine head -- I have yet to use this because I've only done short day sails, but I am glad I have it and have no interest in a porta poddy inside the boat.

Vhf radio and antenna installed -- an absolute necessity.

A new 8hp 4-stroke Mercury outboard.  It is a cranky engine that tends to stall when idling.  Hopefully servicing will correct the idle problem.  I often wish I'd purchased a 2-stroke, since it sounds like they are more reliable.  As Ed will tell you, you can consult the "archives" to see the many debates about 2-stroke versus 4-stroke.

A tiller-engine linkage system for maneuvering inside my marina.  I am glad I bought this (I think of it as a "near necessity") because the engine mount prevents my engine tiller from being able to extend into the cabin (the engine tiller sticks straight up in the air behind the aft railing), so the tiller linkage makes turning the engine far easier.  But another problem with the Mercury outboard is that the linkage mounts to the cowling of the motor (Stan and crew will mount the linkage hardware for you), but the cowling only has one clip securing it to the engine, so there is a fair amount of torque applied to the cowling and it does appear to shift around a little while underway.  I'd try and find an engine that has several clips holding the cowling onto the engine.

I did not get the electric engine mount/lift because I figured that was something that could break down at the least opportune time.  It's an ingenious device, but for me, it just wasn't necessary.  I find the manual lift to be extremely easy to use.

I did not get a trailer or a mast hoist because I planned on leaving the boat in the water all-year round and I don't own a vehicle that can tow a boat.  If I ever need to pull the boat out of the water (to get the bottom painted or to dry out the fiberglass during the winter), my marina can pull the boat out of the water and put it up on stands).  BUT, I am now going to purchase a mast hoist just to have it in case I need to service my radio antenna or eventually get around to fixing my mast light.  A mast hoist may not be a "necessity," but I wouldn't want to try and step the mast without one.  I probably should have bought one when I bought the boat.

I bought a GPS navigation system for two main reasons: 1) If I ever anchor overnight, I was attracted to the GPS's ability to track and make sure you don't drift off of your anchorage.  If your anchor lets loose and you drift a certain number of feet away from your anchorage, an alarm goes off.  That sounded very appealing to me.  2) You can hook up one of the new vhf radios to the GPS and hit a single mayday button that broadcasts your coordinates over the radio while you can turn your attention to saving the boat and your crew.  That also was very appealing to me.  I had thought about having Stan install it, but decided I'd rather be around to make sure I liked where it was being installed (once you start cutting holes in your cabin, you better like where the holes are being cut), so I was going to have a local installer put it in the boat for me.  BUT, again, I have only been doing short day sails single-handed and I have yet to install the GPS.  I wish I had waited to purchase it when I really need it.  Instead of installing a 2006 model in, say, 2008 ... I'd be installing a 2008 model that would be more up-to-date and perhaps even less expensive.  Right now the GPS is sitting in my basement.

I also bought a depth gauge that I wish I hadn't ... I was also going to have Stan install it, but decided to wait for the same reason as the GPS.  But, again, I haven't had it installed yet and don't feel any great necessity to do so.  As Rummy noted, your centerboard can be your depth gauge.  Right now, the electronic depth gauge is sitting ... in my basement.

Other necessities I bought within the first month of owning the boat (I've spent a lot of money at West Marine): a safety kit including flares, air horn, etc, extra life jackets in a variety of sizes, jacklines and a safety harness (that inflates upon impact with the water) for when I'm single-handing.  I can't remember if the anchor came with the boat or if I bought it separately, but I bought anchor rode and a plastic basket to carry it in the lazarette (so I wouldn't have smelly anchor rode in my v-berth).

Most recently, I purchased an American flag and a flag pole for mounting on the aft rail.  It is not a necessity, but it is one of the things I am most proud of on the boat.  And it makes the boat look complete.

Sorry for the long email, but there are a lot of decisions to make and I thought long and hard about everything I would need.  Rummy's advice is excellent -- imagine how you'll be using the boat and use that as your guide.

- Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: nan at npbailey.com
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Sent: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 7:55 AM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Considering a Recycled R22

Hi,

I am in touch with Stan @ General Boats to purchase a recycled boat and
would be interested in hearing some feedback.  Are there any features
that are "must have"?  I thought I would want life-lines but Stan is
suggesting I reconsider.  I am assuming I will have a depth-finder and
compass put in...make sense?  Other thoughts?

I am on the Long Island Sound and hope to use it for day sails and some
overnights with my 10/15 yr old children & friends.

Thanks,

Nan

<http://www.npbailey.com/> 

  <http://www.npbailey.com/> 

Nan P Bailey, MBA, CFP(r), AIF(r)

1875 Palmer Ave, Ste 206

Larchmont, NY  10538

tel. 914.834.9105

fax 914.834.6376

www.npbailey.com <http://www.npbailey.com/> 

nan at npbailey.com

Securities and Advisory Services Offered Through Commonwealth Financial
Network; Member NASD/SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor

__________________________________________________
Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
________________________________________________________________________
Check out the new AOL.  Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more.