[Rhodes22-list] Now electric motor lift

Wed Nov 11 20:49:23 EST 2009

Caesar,

Since my name was invoked, I'll weigh in.  I still harbor some thoughts of owning a bigger boat.  What is keeping me from that is not money - it is practicality.  I think a larger boat would be great because you could go on extended trips - weeks, months - and be very comfortable.  Sounds great, but I can't get that much time off work to do that until I retire so all a large boat would do for me is increase my cost of ownership and tie me to my home waters.  With the R-22 I have a boat that I can go on one-week trips almost anywhere I want to trailer it and be very comfortable.  I say one week trips because we have determined that one week is about the max for us to live on the boat.  After a week, we both are ready to move ashore.  But for that week, the R-22 is very comfortable, sails great and we can trailer it with ease.  We can take it to South Florida for some great sailing trips that would otherwise be impossible.

I have considered a larger trailerable boat but my conclusion after looking at all of them is that they are either too difficult and too large to trailer with ease, or they employ water ballast (which has some potential issues), or both.  I've considered the MacGregor, the Seaward, the Hunter Edge and the Telstar 28 Trimaran.  (The Telstar is a pretty awesome boat, but it is large and heavy.)  These each have their good points, but they are all much larger and much heavier than the Rhodes and bring with them many complications with trailering them.  I've got my trailering with my R-22 down pretty well and it is a simple process (after 8 years of practice).  These others would be multiple degrees of complications by comparison.

I would also love to have a larger boat, but again if you don't have months off work and a willing partner to take months-long trips, it will probably just sit at the dock.  After I am retired I might get a 35' Beneteau or Pacific Seacraft or something similar but then again maybe not.  The cost of ownership would be 3-4 times what I have now, but I could go off on voyages for months at a time.  Not sure yet but will have to see when the time comes.  If my wife does not want to go off for months at a time on sailboat trips then I'll just stay with the R-22. 

Right now I put my sailboat in the water from Oct-Dec and then again from March-June and in the summer use a powerboat (too hot to sail in the summer in S. Georgia) for trips to the beach.  If I had a larger boat I would be paying dockage year-round plus annual bottom jobs.

Last point is regarding the motor - I took Rummy's advice and bought an 8 hp Tohatsu - 2 stroke, electric start with an alternator.  Only weighs 50-something lbs.  The motor is extremely reliable as it starts every time.  It's loud and uses more fuel but it is dependable.  With 6 gallon fuel tanks, I can motor for 8 hours on a tank and usually have two tanks on board.  Not an issue even when I have to motor a lot on occasion.  Also the coast of GA has very strong currents and 8-9 foot tides so it is a challenge to handle this with a small OB motor.  The 8hp does a pretty good job with this - I don't believe that a 9.9hp would be any better at all so this motor is a great choice for this boat.

And that's all I have to say about that...

Bob K

> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:19:04 -0500
> From: czerwonky at earthlink.net
> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Now electric motor lift
> 
> Caesar,
> 
> Totally agree with Rummy. This boat is a dream to sail and maintain - it also has alot of additional capability with dollars and effort. You have the perfect option for best 'real' sailing, even pocket cruising experience. Ask Bob Keller sometime.
> 
> Art
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: R22RumRunner at aol.com
> >Sent: Nov 11, 2009 11:53 AM
> >To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> >Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Now electric motor lift
> >
> >Caesar,
> >Beware of the bigger boat envy. I know many people that have been on the 
> >list that made the move to bigger boats. Many came back to the Rhodes and the 
> > others wish they could. Sail with friends if they have bigger boats, but I 
> > like to single hand whenever possible. Bigger boats require crew and then 
> > you are stuck sailing on their schedules or not sailing at all. That's why 
> >you see many bigger boats that stay tied up at the dock year after year 
> >and never go out.
> > 
> >Rummy
> > 
> > 
> >In a message dated 11/10/2009 5:22:46 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
> >caesarpaul01 at yahoo.com writes:
> >
> >Thanks Rummy.
> >For two more horsepower than you, I'm carrying approximately 50 more lbs 
> >with electric start. Hmm.
> >
> >My sailing skill and practice presently does not allow me to recognize the 
> >difference that extra weight makes. Once the boat is moving because of 
> >the wind I'm happy. If and when I start racing however, it may. 
> >
> >I hope by the time I"m ready for a new motor, I'm also ready for a much 
> >bigger boat.
> >
> >Caesar
> >Gentle Breeze
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >________________________________
> >From: "R22RumRunner at aol.com" <R22RumRunner at aol.com>
> >
> >To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> >Sent: Tue, November 10, 2009 1:40:00 AM
> >Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Now electric motor lift
> >
> >Caesar,
> >The motor is a 8 BHP Tohatsu, 2 stroke without electric start. It's easy 
> >to 
> >start with just half of a pull. It's slightly louder than a four stroke 
> >and burns a little more gas, but I love it. Two thirds throttle will bring 
> >the boat to hull speed around 6 mph. I have never been at a lack for 
> >power, 
> >even in high winds and heavy waves.
> >
> >Rummy
> >
> >
> >In a message dated 11/9/2009 3:48:09 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
> >caesarpaul01 at yahoo.com writes:
> >
> >Rummy,
> >
> >48 lbs! What's the horsepower of that motor, and how well does it move 
> >Rum Runner? On a lake you don't have current to deal with, but at 48 lbs 
> >you 
> >are making us with 100 lbs plus motor think we are carrying excess wait 
> >and horsepower.
> >
> >Caesar
> >
> >
> >
> >________________________________
> >From: "R22RumRunner at aol.com" <R22RumRunner at aol.com>
> >To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> >Sent: Mon, November 9, 2009 10:05:01 AM
> >Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Now electric motor lift
> >
> >Lee,
> >>From the photos I don't see anything that looks unusual. You may have 
> >found 
> >the answer yourself. An electric winch motor draws a lot of amperage. 
> >Your 
> >battery needs to be fully charged and fresh for it to provide sufficient 
> >power to operate the lift. I don't see that 135 lbs would be to much 
> >weight 
> >for the lift motor, but then my Tohatsu weighs in at a hefty 48 pounds. 
> >Try 
> >spraying a little WD40 on the underside of the lift belt.
> >
> >Rummy
> >
> >
> >In a message dated 11/9/2009 10:38:49 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
> >LKUHN at cnmc.org writes:
> >
> >http://old.nabble.com/file/p26268434/At%2BEase%2B10-5-09%2B020.jpg
> >
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