[Rhodes22-list] Buying & Outfitting a Rhode

[David Bradley]

Hello, Caesar.

We did indeed have a beautiful night on Friday, but woke up to a gray day
with forecast of rain.  We stayed right at our slip on Lake Union and
enjoyed the Seattle night skyline.

Ed's advice is good -- the West Marine catalog is a great source of basic
product information.  They have useful overview pages throughout the various
sections.

A chartplotter is simply a larger (more expensive) fix-mounted GPS.  Larger,
higher-resolution display allows you to view more chart detail than
hand-held versions.  Either way, you still need paper charts as well.  The
unit I got is also a depth sounder (you need to install a separate
transducer in the lazarette to shoot through the hull).  I've rigged mine on
a rail-attached mounting ball so it can swivel to each side and be viewed
from either helm position.  Then it can be easily moved into the cabin or
off the boat when not in use.

The radar reflector, as Ed says, is a passive device.  It allows other boats
to better see you on their radar, as a mast and sails do not always reflect
a clear image.  The commercial traffic in the Sound is to be taken very
seriously, and a quick fog rolling through might make it (a) easy to stray
into a shipping lane, and (b) make us invisible to them.  The kinds of
alarms you are suggesting would require you to have your own radar
installation.

Enjoy.  The process of planning and ordering your boat is fun, and
outfitting it from the various catalogs and web sites can keep you busy
through the winter.  Do lots of web searches to shop for best prices, as
you'll find a range of dicsounted prices for many items.  Fisheries Supply
in Seattle is a great store if you are back this way and their everyday
prices are lower than West Marine.

And let us know if you're going to be back in Seattle this Fall for a sail!


Dave



On 8/25/07, Caesar Paul <caesarpaul01 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> David,
>
> Glad to learn from your experience.  I have been inclined to get the mast
> crane, and the experience of you and others on the list makes it a must have
> for me.  I am too old for some of the drama involved in raising and lowering
> the mast with all its appendages, without a sound lifting mechanism.
>
> To be able to stand in the cabin is a key feature of the boat, and the pop
> top enclosure enhances that feature, so I agree with you.
>
> Where did you overnight, and were you blessed with a clear skies and a
> starry night?
>
> Pardon my ignorance, but, what's the difference between a chart-plotter,
> and a GPS?  I think some GPS' come with chart-plotting capabilities.
>
> A Radar Reflector sure ramps up the level and safety and peace of mind in
> the busy Puget Sound, mainly at night.  I assume there is some type of alarm
> that goes off when it picks up an object.  Can you set the alarm to go off
> according to the size of the object?
>
> Arthur: thanks for mentioning the depth guage.  My sailing buddy has one
> on his boat, and it tells us when to tack here on the snake river.  We
> certainly can see the bank, but the guage tells us how much water we have
> under us as we draw near the shore.
>
> Question: Has anyone heard of a new and improved main sail for the Rhodes,
> with a larger sq footage, and vertical battens?  If so, how has it improved
> light air performance of the boat?
>
> Regards,
> Caesar
>
>
>
> David Bradley <dwbrad at gmail.com> wrote:
> Caesar,
>
> We don't have plans to trailer to the inland lakes as we didn't buy a
> trailer. Puget Sound and beyond is our focus. Have had to make some
> investments (radar reflector, chartplotter) to head that way. Too bad
> we've
> had such a lousy August... and now I'm back at work.
>
> If I had the space to store it I would have bought a trailer but couldn't
> justify paying to store it knowing we also had to pay for a slip
> year-round. In hindsight I should have bought the mast crane anyhow. Per
> Stan's advice which I unwisely failed to heed.
>
> We finally got to camp on the boat last night and I've got to say the Pop
> Top Enclosure (PTE) is a must-have if you plan to do any overnights.
> Cockpit filler panels and cushions are also really a nice addition for
> camping.
>
> Dave
>
>
> On 8/25/07, Arthur H. Czerwonky wrote:
> >
> > Caesar,
> >
> > Your enthusiasm is a spark for the veteran list sages. I think you
> should
> > revisit the bulkhead compass question - Brad will tell you in a
> heartbeat
> > about the value of a quick-scan in the airplane cockpit. I'm not sure
> how
> > Stan would deliver the boat (referring to the probable mounting
> location) if
> > you opted to install it later. I suspect it would be as mine, a double
> > bulkhead - an outer bulkhead, then the inner liner. You will get a fine
> > professional installation on this important instrument, sealed
> watertight,
> > if done at the plant, while retrofiting it yourself will be tedious and
> > difficult at best. Any primary fixtures you can get at the plant will be
> an
> > investment well made. I can't remember if you are contemplating depth
> > gauge, like thru-hull to a read-out. If so you will wisely have this
> > installed by Stan's crew. See the sense in this peace of mind?
> >
> > Re the Boom Room, Stan's BR is the one I designed and make for him as
> the
> > approved prototype. I'd frankly put it up against any I have ever seen.
> It
> > is simple, durable, and easy to install/break down. Now in it's sixth
> > design generation, it is a well polished rig. I can't imagine the
> > costs/efforts for anyone to replicate that learning curve. Most
> important
> > priority, and the reason I have done them, is cost. The BR seemed to too
> > many an unachievable luxury. Fie on that!They need to be available,
> > dependable, and affordable to our skippers.
> >
> > The top is for me my bimini. My FIL, at 91, has had more than enough
> skin
> > cancers removed to make UV protection imperative. I am seeing that there
> > are an abundance of Rhoady's that savor the weekend and longer
> overnights on
> > the boat. Why not enjoy them to the fullest?
> >
> > I am willing to install at the plant if preferred, so a boat can go out
> > the door completely fitted. Call me at 404 295-7777 and I can hit the
> fine
> > points important or a curiosity to you. You will find it's not tricky at
> > all.
> >
> > Have a nice weekend,
> >
> > Art
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > >From: Caesar Paul
> > >Sent: Aug 25, 2007 1:32 AM
> > >To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> > >Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Buying & Outfitting a Rhodes
> > >
> > >Hi List Members,
> > >
> > > You are a great help to us wannabes, and to new Rhodes owners. I
> > really appreciate the sound advice that flows from minds, schooled by
> much
> > experience.
> > >
> > > Geankoplis: it is good to have you back. What kind of weather did you
> > come back to in southern Oregon? I like the items on your "must have"
> list,
> > but noted the absence of a VHF Radio and mast head antenna. Any reason
> for
> > that? I am inclined to include it, and have Stan install a mast head
> > antenna. I too like the captain's chairs, it is not a necessity, but,
> > buying a Rhodes for me means having it transported from coast to coast,
> so I
> > am thinking about ordering it.
> > >
> > > David: Glad to learn that like me, you are exploring and enjoying the
> > beautiful north west. I have been to neither locations, but maybe when I
> > get my Rhodes . You have lots of water to sail in in Seattle, but is
> > trailering to these inland lakes somewhere in your future?
> > >
> > > I have done a bit of bending sails, reefing sails, changing sails on a
> > bobbing boat, so I am sold on the IMF and furling Genoa. Are there any
> real
> > advantages to having a bulkhead mounted compass? Donna and I like the
> > marine head, but when we visit Stan we will examine both, do the sit
> test,
> > listen to Stan and make a decision. Do marine heads misbehave often?
> Your
> > steering attachment is neat, I will add it to my list. Do not hesitate
> to
> > give me a call if and when you plan to visit Pullman.
> > >
> > > Dave C. Lewis: There was no need to apologize for the length of your
> > response, for I have read every word more than once. We have decided to
> > visit Stan on the last weekend in October instead of December. I am told
> > that the chances of sailing and overnighting on the Rhodes is better at
> this
> > time.
> > >
> > > I appreciate your thoughtful and balanced opinions on the many
> > decisions one has to make in outfitting a boat. I don't think I would
> need
> > a large bulkhead compass anytime soon.
> > >
> > > I will be trailering and there is a pump-out facility not far from my
> > home. I have seen marine head in Dave Bradley's boat, my wife has not.
> We
> > will look at both at Stan and decide.
> > >
> > > I can see the wisdom in getting and using the boat in order to better
> > decide on what kind of sailor one is going to be, and what one really
> needs.
> > >
> > > I would like to know more about Art's boom room. Art did you make it
> > yourself? Is the green top a separate cover? How does it compare with
> > Stan's in terms of set up, take down and storage? That might be a tricky
> > question, but it does look great.
> > >
> > > Does anyone have any experience with the "new" main sail with vertical
> > battens that I have read about somewhere? How does it affect or improve
> > sailing performance of the boat, and equally important, how does it
> affect
> > IMF function?
> > >
> > > I quite enjoy this list, and to think that I will enjoy the boat
> > more. Hmm.
> > >
> > > Cheers
> > > Caesar
> > >__________________________________________________
> > >Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
>
>
>
> --
> David Bradley
> +1.206.225.7793
> dwbrad at gmail.com
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>



-- 
David Bradley
+1.206.225.7793
dwbrad at gmail.com