[Rhodes22-list] Wanna be questions

[The Rhodes 22 Email List]

Thanks  for the responses so far.    Fred, Graham, Mary Lou.    The journey of Enosis and the active list (not just dates for the next regatta) are definitely fun reads, you guys sell the boat well.   I'm sorry about the garbled ??? post.   I tried to save time by pasting a word document.   Apparently Outlook didn't like it.
Ted.   I'd found your Airpower online, and have already been admiring her.   Your bos'n looks like he's having a blast.  The ability to raise the mast and sail solo are important.    
Stan's upgraded construction methods and the foam core were important criteria for me.   I read posts from the farmer (Nebraska?) who tried and failed to rebuild a very soft old Rhodes.   I wish he had posted autopsy photos when he scrapped the hull.   Somebody did that on the little sister of my Bucc (Mutt 15).   It was very informative.   
There was one discussion regarding the centerboard cap leaking below the waterline, and flooding a boat.    How much of a concern should this be?   I get the impression this boat has an actual bilge under the cabin sole, unlike most other designs?  
Since I don't have a varied experience. I welcome any contrasts those of you who are in sailboat hot spots may be able to offer.
Alex


 
> Alex
> 
> I will weigh in with the old Rhodes 22 thoughts. I am a recent Rhodes owner. I bought a 1974 out of a barn last year. I spent 4 months taking every fitting, nut and bolt off and repairing or replacing it as well as completly restoring all the wood and interior to the bare hull so I have a pretty good idea how it was built.This boat had been mostly in fresh water, but did quite a bit of Southern California ?near shore to Catalina and Sea of Cortez extended cruising. Mine does not have all the bells and whistles but I can trailer it anywhere with a Nissan Frontier pickup, rig it, launch it and sail it single handed. I am 6'4" which helps standing up and laying down the mast. The cockpit is big, dry and comfortable. Nothing is in the way so you can get from bow to stern easily in big chop and bad weather. Mine has a conventional main and jib but again I have no issues single handling. I have not been in a big blow or huge waves yet but the lakes in Arizona have very unpredictab!
>  le strong gusts of wind and get big confused chop quickly. I have never felt uncomfortable or unsafe.There is a ton of storage and the swing keel is a breeze to use. I have sailed over 50 years in various oceans and boats around the world.
> I think the comparison to a big old Mercedes may be true. Mine sails well in very light air, handles big gusts safely. It responds and acclerates well. Not a race car but a good all around dry and responsive sailboat. I like mine!
> 
> Fred Haag
> 
> 
> Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S? 5 ACTIVE?, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
> 
> 
>
> Alex:
> I doubt that you will get any detractors for the Rhodes 22 on this list. If
> there are detractors, they probably have gone elsewhere. As you said, every
> boat is a compromise and involves a choice of features and characteristics
> that only you can identify. I love the Rhodes because I want a boat the has
> comfortable accommodation both inside, in the cockpit and on deck without
> being one of those high freeboard floating bedrooms. I want a boat the sails
> comfortably and well but I don't have any inclination to race unless someone
> is coming up behind me in which case my wife says I turn into a frantic
> animal - but what does she know. If racing is your thing and matters more
> than accommodation and comfort some other boat might be your best choice but
> that said the Rhodes is not a cow either and for normal cruising I think
> most people would be quite happy with its performance. If, however, you want
> to use the boat as a small cruiser for trips lasting  weekends or weeks at a
> time, I doubt that you will ever regret having the Rhodes. The swing
> keel/centreboard arrangement alone is wonderful.
> 
> One advantage of the Rhodes is this list. There is a community of people out
> there who have run into every problem and fixed anything that can break. So
> you always have a great source of help for any sailing issue or problem you
> might face.
> 
> You asked about longevity, and given that my boat is now about 35 years old
> perhaps I can give you some perspective on that. First, I should stress that
> newer boats are built much better than the older boats so they should run
> into fewer problems. That said, nothing lasts forever and in my case I have
> been actively and exhaustively rebuilding my boat for about 4 years now and
> still have two years to go. I am on lake Ontario so work is restricted to
> summertime. Some think that is crazy. No, EVERYONE thinks that is crazy. The
> loss of the use of the boat for so long, the expense involved and the time
> taken up cannot be justified for a boat that was worth a few thousand
> dollars when I began. That said I don't regret the decision because I have
> thoroughly enjoyed doing the work - except maybe scraping 35 years of
> antifouling off the bottom and buying a newer boat was not in the cards for
> me. This is my second boat restoration - the first took 10 years - so either
> that proves that rebuilding boats can be its own reward or I just can't
> learn from experience.  I like the design of the Rhodes so much I just doubt
> that any other boat would satisfy me now.
> 
> The point here is that while nothing lasts forever, there is also virtually
> nothing on the Rhodes that cannot be restored to new condition either. The
> only boat that I have seen the people on this list completely write off was
> one that had sat in a field for years while the deck core completely
> disintegrated. I did fairly extensive repair of the core on my deck but it
> was not beyond salvage. Certainly, however, If I were looking at used Rhodes
> 22, or any other boat, the first thing I would check out thoroughly would be
> the condition of the deck core. Newer Rhodes have closed cell foam core so
> deck problems should be much less of a problem if they ever occur. I am not
> sure when the switch from plywood to foam core occurred but I would
> definitely give considerable weight to the deck core material if considering
> a used boat.
> 
> I have the standard mast without mainsail furling and from what I have seen
> in the threads on this list, I would be reluctant to spend the significant
> sum involved in getting this option. It seems to me to be more trouble than
> it is worth but on the other hand I have not had that gear to compare and I
> am pretty sure that having expressed my doubts, others will be prompted to
> express adamant disagreement.
> 
> In general, if you want  a beautifully designed, quality built, cruising
> small sailboat I can't imagine that the Rhodes 22 will ever disappoint. If
> you buy used make sure the boat is thoroughly and knowledgeably inspected or
> get a boat that has been rebuilt by Stan in which case it seems entirely
> unlikely that you will run into any serious problems.
> 
> Graham 
> 
>
>  		 	   		  
> __________________________________________________

> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2015 10:23:15 -0400
> From: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Wanna Be with questions
> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Message-ID: <44084450-3641-4287-AEBC-ACF09ED8D2BA at me.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> 
> Alex,
> 
> Welcome to the Rhodes journey. Like you, I took this journey in the Fall of 2012. Long story short, I picked up my recycled 1991 boat from Stan in March 2013 at the Plant in Edenton. It's one of the best decisions I ever made. Stan is a legend and a first class guy. He won't steer you wrong. Like one of the other guys told me, you might feel like you are taking a leap of faith. 
> 
> This email list is priceless. Your fellow Rhodies are good people. I recommend searching the list for topics of interest. We have covered lots of topics over the years and the conversation tends to be very lively. 
> 
> Setup and launch of this awesome boat can be done singlehanded. I've done it many many many times including New Hampshire, Boston Harbor, Edenton NC, and Florida. Stan's mast raising system is worth its weight in gold. Here are a few videos you might enjoy.
> 
> Video of ramp launch at General Boats Edenton, NC:  https://youtu.be/-0ov9xDLnwk
> Video of singlehanded mast stepping and rigging: https://youtu.be/x99Q7RJGERM
> 
> I can't compare this boat to any others as this is my first sailboat, but she is very easy to jump in the boat and be underway in just a few minutes. I have the IMF main with a 130 roller fulling genoa and I wouldn't trade it for the world. The 175 may be better suited for your conditions. (see archives). 
> 
> I highly recommend the recycled boats from General Boats. Stan and his guys go thru them with a fine tooth comb. It was very hard to tell the difference between my 1991 recycled and a new boat with some very minor exceptions. The recycled boats are about half of the cost of a new hull. However, if you have the resources nothing beats a brand new boat!
> 
> https://youtu.be/KHMTuhTS2Go?list=UUi_uqKX3SGGZ52Not8-SGrA
> 
> Cheers,
> Ted
> 
> S/v Airpower
> Jacksonville, FL
> 
> 
> ------------------------------

> Hi Alex,
> If you are looking for a well-built family cruiser that can take you 
> just about anywhere a small boat could reasonably be expected to go 
> (and then some), you've found it. Much slower than your Bucc but 
> still fun to sail even with the in-mast furling - it's both a major 
> feature and yes, a performance detriment. Haven't seen Portsmouth 
> numbers for a boat with in-mast furling - maybe you'll have to 
> generate some. A very safe boat.  grat in light air but will stand up 
> to a blow. Can deal with chop and big wakes. If you buy an older 
> boat, consider new sails.
> 
> As others have said this list is a major plus.
> 
> Best,
> Mary Lou
> R22 Fretless  (1991, recycled 1998)
> Rock Hall, MD
> 
> At 12:39 AM 3/26/2015, you wrote:
> >
> >
> >Hello Rhodies.   I've
> >been lurking on this list for a couple weeks and cyber shopping for
> >months.  I get to meet Stan in June and
> >finally see the Rhodes 22   I hope to
> >fall in love despite her aged looks.   I
> >also wanted to query the fleet   I've  been sailing on a Buccaneer 
> >18 for over 30
> >years.  I started crewing on the same
> >boat as a kid.     The Bucc is a described
> >in Sailor Anarchy as "a fast boat.
> >Initially very tender, but firms up just before she capsizes"   She 
> >lacks a self bailing cockpit.   Mine is not set up for racing, I just play
> >around.
> >
> >  I'm looking for a couples cruiser I can dock at the local
> >reservoir (southern Ohio) and sail more frequently than my 
> >dingy.    I also hope to take her to Lake KY or the
> >Great Lakes for a long weekend once or twice a year.   I tend to 
> >keep equipment forever, and am looking
> >for a quality boat that will still be serviceable in 20 plus years when I
> >retire.    Therefore I'm avoiding plywood decks and iron
> >centerboards.    I'd like a stable boat I can take my dad out
> >on.   He taught me to sail the Bucc when
> >I was a kid, but is no longer agile.
> >
> >I wanted to give the group a chance to sell me on this boat    My 
> >experience is almost entirely one design
> >on inland waters where few other sailboats play.     My Great Lakes 
> >experience is mostly paddling a canoe down the shore (bits of 4 lakes).    I'm
> >looking at a few other trailer sailors.
> >
> >  Catalina 250 is reportedly very difficult to launch without
> >a full team and plenty of time.    It is
> >more boat then I want.
> >
> >  Hunter 23.5   Day
> >sailor with accommodations suitable for a quickie after sunset, but not
> >necessarily designed for a full weekend.
> >The lack of a real head is a negative.
> >I did like the 23.5 when I saw it in a boatyard.   I haven't seen a 
> >240 yet.  The 250 reportedly makes a lot of leeway.   Not many of 
> >these heavy boats were made..  The 260 is too wide to legally trailer.
> >
> >  Macgregor 26 S (not the motor cruiser) is analogous
> >to a Chevy Impala.   Fast but poor
> >handling, they are inexpensive and plentiful.
> >To misquote Dr. Who: "It's smaller on the inside".    Predictable 
> >necessary upgrades include a
> >roller furler jib, new sails,  an ida
> >sailor rudder,  reseal the fittings and upgrade
> >the head door.    I'd likely also end up
> >rewiring it.     I've
> >rafted up with one.    She kept up with
> >my Buccaneer fairly well, being light and long.   The styling is a 
> >product of the 80's but so
> >am I!
> >
> >  Percision 23:  I
> >haven't seen one.   The reputation is
> >unpredictable quality in a family cruiser.
> >Not many built.     Good performance, but no head.
> >
> >  Rhodes 22.   Appears
> >to be an older Mercedes.    I haven't seen
> >one yet.     The reputation is well engineered
> >but expensive.      Refined
> >handling, but a slow boat.     Relatively good access to the 
> >foredeck may be vital in Lake Erie chop.   Many parts custom to
> >'Mercedes' (GB) which is not a problem as long as Mercedes remains
> >healthy.     I will look at a recycled or
> >recently recycled boat out of the corral.   I doubt I will commission a new
> >sloop.
> >
> >  I'm not expecting an Ultimate 20, but hate to entirely
> >sacrifice performance.  The IMF seems
> >very cool, at the cost of roach and battens.
> >   Does anybody know how it affects Portsmouth
> >numbers, etc.?.    Perhaps Stan can invent
> >'in boom furling'.    Every boat is a compromise.   I
> >appreciate any insight or thoughts from the Rhodes fleet.
> >
> >
> >
> >Alex Cole
> >
> >Urbana Ohio
> >
> >
> >__________________________________________________
> >
> **********************************************