[Rhodes22-list] Beginning of the End - Parts

[Peter Nyberg]

> On May 28, 2017, at 6:27 PM, Goodness <spreadgoodnews at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I would sure like to know who is getting the inventory.  A shame we cant order parts anymore.
> 

I think the subject of parts for Rhodes 22’s is one that merits some discussion here on the list. 

With Stan’s imminent retirement, we Rhodies are apparently on the verge becoming owners of ‘orphaned’ boats.  Nothing Stan has said to us gives me any reason to think that there’s anyone who will be ‘getting the inventory’ (however much may exist). My guess is that going forward, we are going to be on our own.  This will mean finding alternates sources, or in some cases perhaps making our own parts.

In some cases, the sources are already well known.  You could buy sails from Stan, which many people have done to help support the company, but I’m pretty sure that people have also been buying Rhodes specific sails directly from Doyle.  Similarly, we know that Triad makes the Rhodes 22 trailer.  Since the design of the Rhodes specific features of the trailer came from Stan, Triad agreed to only sell Rhodes trailers to GB.  If GB is no longer in the trailer business, hopefully Triad will be willing and able to sell Rhodes trailers to the general public.

The IMF mast is probably a much more complicated situation.  My recollection from my strolls through the list archives is that the mast is made by Dwyer, but the die for the extrusion is owned by Stan.  If Dwyer happens to be in possession of the die, would they be willing and able to use it to create a new IMF mast?  The odds don’t strike me as good.  But I suppose if I found for some reason that I had no option but to downgrade my boat to a standard mast and mainsail, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

There are a few parts on the boat that it seems pretty clear are manufactured by General Boats.  I have in mind things that slide on the IMF mast and boom.  I haven’t looked at any of these things very closely, but my impression is that they are made from Starboard and aluminum with some off-the-shelf stainless steel bits and pieces.  Starboard and aluminum are probably being used because they can be cut and shaped by woodworking tools.  As it happens, I have some woodworking tools, and would probably be willing to attempt to fabricate some of these parts.

That said, I think an outboard motor lift is well beyond my capabilities, so you should hope your’s doesn’t break.

Hopefully, other people have thoughts on this subject.

Peter Nyberg
Coventry, CT
s/v Silverheels (1988/2016)