[Rhodes22-list] Chris Crispel

[Peter Thorn]

Chris,

R22 is not a blue water boat in any way.  It's a really great trailerable
coastal cruiser and lake boat for protected waters.  Stan would be the first
to suggest R22 is not the best choice for offshore.  However, a few have
done it successfully for short trips.  They watched out for and did not
encounter bad weather.  You gotta watch the weather like a hawk and would
not want to be caught out in a storm big enough to roll the boat.  The boat
is pretty sturdy and would very likely survive an offshore storm better than
the you would.  The huge cockpit could be pooped with a big wave, and that
would certainly reduce stability during the time it would take for the
drains to clear.  If the cabin was hatched up tight, the boat would probably
float itself dry after a while, but during that time it would be more
vulnerable to pooping again with another big wave.  

Crossing the 20' deep Pamlico Sound in 20 knots of headwind a few years ago
the boat did just fine.  The long fetch and shallow water built up 3-4'
short wave length white capping waves that my sailing friends call "square
waves".  These are nothing like big ocean rollers that don't break.   In a
hurry to arrive by dark, we were motoring perhaps a bit too fast, with the
headsail furled and about 40 sqft of IMF main out to reduce rolling.  About
every 7th wave would break over the bow and sheet across the deck.  Most of
the water drained out the scuppers beside the aft end of cabin house, but a
small amount would travel with such wind driven force that it make its way
to the pop top.  The pop top has a pretty good lip, about 1.5" I think, but
some of that water made it past that and into the cabin.  This continued for
the last 20 miles back and when we arrived in Oriental that night the cabin
was pretty wet in side. 

I have since thought that 3/4" plastic backer rod, like that used for
backing caulking in commercial buildings, would work well and prevent the
pop-top cover from leaking if stuffed into the crack between the cabin house
and the poptop cover.  Or, we could have slowed down, taken an extra hour or
so and arrived after dark.  

A sturdy heavy bluewater boat like a 20' Flicka would have been a better
boat to be on that day.  However, on a beautiful light to moderate air day
my R22 can sail a circle around a Flicka.

You have owned many BBs, so I'm sure you know all boats are compromises.
R22 is a great boat, but not the best to be caught in extreme weather that
can happen offshore.  Of course anything is possible.  I read somewhere that
some nut sailed a Potter 19 to Hawaii.   Perhaps he was lucky, but that
doesn't mean it's a good idea.

PT


-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Ronald Lipton
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 6:18 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Chris Crispel

I have not been offshore, but I have been in 4-6 ft waves on Lake Michigan.
The boat handled the conditions much better then the crew. 
One of the advantages of the Rhodes is the variety of sail 
configurations that can be used.
I have sailed with a whisper of genoa and a hint of main.  On the other 
hand
it does not compare with a boat like the Dana 24 which
are designed for offshore sailing, have small cockpits and deep fixed keels.
The Rhodes will do fine if you are caught in bad weather, but it's 
compromises
tend toward comfort and trailering rather than long offshore passages.


Ron


Robert Skinner wrote:
> Chris,
>
> It's sort  of like the dirt track racing adage - "There is 
> no substitute for cubic inches."  When it comes to sailboats, 
> there is no substitute for mass low down.  On the other hand, 
> mass costs speed and fiberglass.  
>
> The R22, like every boat, is a compromise.  She is light enough 
> to tow, sail fast, and produce for a reasonable price - and 
> heavy enough to be remarkably stable.  The beautifully 
> designed hull shape, with plenty of flare and freeboard, 
> greatly contributes to the R22's stability.
>
> That said, you need to get the feel of the boat any way you can 
> to see if she is for you.  You will be surprised at the amount 
> of easily useable interior space.
>
> /Robert
>
> Chris Crispel wrote:
>   
>> Thanks for the kind welcome, Robert.
>>
>> My question still stands about the boat's use for offshore sailing in
>> Panama.  I would certainly like to hear about the boat's behavior in
rough
>> conditions-anything would help
>>
>> Many Thanks
>>
>> Chris
>>     

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