[Rhodes22-list] First Sail and Thanks

[Goodness]

Congrats jay!
  I bought a custom heavy duty dual swing axle adjustable sailboat trailer.  I got it for $500.  Keep your eye out for a better trailer then sell the old one.  Mine uses jack stand like supports.  It fits the rhodes well but does deform the hull.  It really is no big deal apparently.
 I love and collect used sailboats and often get them free.



On Sep 12, 2012, at 10:28 PM, "Jay Curry" <jac2 at wavecable.com> wrote:

> Thanks to everyone who responded to my questions regarding trailer 
> positioning. I now know what I need to do. Much of what was suggested, I 
> tried or did on the way from Edenton back to Port Angeles. The effort to 
> correct one situation usually caused others. I ended up settling for the 
> least of the evils and got the boat home fine. I will be moving it backward 
> to a more weight centered position on the bunks. and considering a bow bunk 
> of some kind later that provides support but is shock absorbing as well. It 
> was clear that resting weight on the keel or resting the bow on a roller or 
> rigid bunk were not good ideas. Thanks again.
> 
> We got Dragonfly out for her first sail today. We did not get a chance to 
> sail her when we picked her up or before we got her home. I was considering 
> a Compac before settling in on the Rhodes. Boy am I glad I did not get the 
> Compac. Our first boat was a Hunter 260. The last was a Hunter 33. Both 
> sailed great when the winds were up above 8 knots and even up to 30 knots in 
> the 33 with no real problems. But, both boats, like the Compac were fat and 
> slow. When I saw the Rhodes hull design and sail configuration with the 
> cruising features it had, I thought I had found both a light cruiser and one 
> that would sail fast and easy.
> 
> Today the winds were light and variable. I did not want to go out in stiff 
> winds for the first sail. All I can say is WOW. The boat was quick to 
> accelerate in winds my other boats would have laughed at. She maneuvered 
> easily in almost no wind at all. The balance was excellent. I expected to be 
> sitting some on the water just checking things out. Instead we had a 
> wonderful, easy and pleasant sail.
> 
> I now understand the comments I have seen on the list about 15 to 25 knot 
> winds I previously thought were of little concern. It is clear she will be a 
> handful in stiff winds, but the reefing sails and quick power release 
> features make that something I am looking forward to. I think it is going to 
> be some great fun and that the boat will be very fast even under heavily 
> reefed sails. Know the weather, know the water conditions and then Reef 
> often, reef early and stay safe.
> 
> I could not be happier so far about having the Rhodes. I am still not sure I 
> like the trailer, but the boat is everything we thought it would be and 
> more.
> 
> Happy to be Rhodies.
> 
> Jay & Kathy.
> 
> 
> 
> 
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