[Rhodes22-list] coming clean

[R22RumRunner at aol.com]

Way to go Ben. You are always welcome on Lake Hartwell and I will supply  
the rum.
 
Rummy
 
 
In a message dated 4/7/2014 7:49:52 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
benonvelvetelvis at theskinnyonbenny.com writes:


Since the cat’s out of the bag, I’ll go ahead and share with  the list — I’
ve decided to trade in my Rhodes 22.

I’ve been pretty  quiet around here the last couple of years, so for those 
who are new or don’t  remember, I joined the list on Sailnet back in the 
late 90’s.  We bought  a show demo boat from GB in 1998 and have sailed in the 
lakes around New  Orleans ever since.  We’ve had some great trips, exploring 
the  Mississippi Gulf Coast as well as all of the little towns around Lake  
Pontchartrain.  

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina passed almost directly  over our slip.  It 
filled Velvet Elvis with water, and she rolled on her  side for several months, 
but of course, didn’t sink.  I drove her out to  Edenton where Stan helped me 
stretch insurance money.  A friend of mine  drove out with me to pick her 
up after an amazing recycle.  We checked  into the GB Hilton after business 
hours and spent the first part of the night  sitting in the like-new cockpit, 
laying waste to a bottle of Mount Gay.   That night is definitely one of my 
favorite memories.

The last couple  of years, we’ve found ourselves with two additional crew 
members, each of whom  is growing like a weed.  We also found ourselves 
looking to cover more  ground and stay aboard for longer periods of time.  So we’
ve bought a new  Beneteau Oceanis 41.  It’s currently undergoing 
commissioning in New  Orleans.  I’ve not seen it in person, but I have a couple of 
pictures  that were sent to me (attached).  This will probably be confusing, but 
 the new boat will also be named Velvet Elvis.

I’m quite certain that  once the boys grow up and leave the nest, I’ll be 
shopping for another Rhodes  22, so keep the fleet in good shape for me!

Our broker has given us  decent value on the boat as a trade.  I know they’
re planning to do some  overdue maintenance, but they have the boat listed.  
I’ll look for a link  in a little bit, but it’s Murray Yacht Sales in New 
Orleans, if you want to  give it a search.  I glanced at their listing, and 
I know that I can list  lots of features that they don’t have up there.  We’
ll see how good they  treat me before I let them know what they really have.

I’m hoping at  least some of you will make your way through Louisiana and 
go sailing with  me.  I’ve got a good friend who recently moved to somewhere 
mid-South  Carolina.  I don’t know when I’ll be out that way, but I will be 
sooner  or later, and when I do, I’m planning to invite myself sailing on 
Lake  Hartwell.

Happy Sails,
Ben  S






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