[Rhodes22-list] Restoring Older Rhodes 22

Fri Dec 6 11:57:51 EST 2019

Hi All,

As anyone who’s looked at the Rhodes 22 Photo Archive knows, I’ve done a lot of work on my 1976 Rhodes 22 in the 32 years I’ve owned the boat.  Many of the modifications were to facilitate cruising & safety with my family.  Some of my home built modifications were truly over the top with no economic justification whatever, like the homemade stainless steel railings and the Bimini room.  For the most part, I just enjoyed tinkering with and building stuff for the boat.  As I’ve grown older (I’m currently 66 years old), I find I don’t enjoy contorting myself into uncomfortable positions to reach into unreachable spaces while breathing dust and toxic fumes anymore.  Although I’ve logged thousands of trailering miles, trailering the boat long distances with the associated rigging and unrigging is becoming a royal PITA.  Fortunately, over the years, I’ve gradually made S/V Dynamic Equilibrium nearly maintenance free.  I can rig, unrig, launch, and retrieve singlehanded, although it takes quite a while to do it – seemingly longer each year!  These days, I just launch it into my home Sanford Lake and enjoy sailing it with my wife each summer without too much muss or fuss.  The Rhodes 22 is certainly Great Lakes capable; but, my wife doesn’t enjoy blue water sailing on the Great Lakes (she’s scared of the waves & to be out of sight of land).  My 2 sons have long since moved away from home (Gary is 33 years & Daniel is 36 years old) and my 3 grandchildren are still too young for small boat cruising.  So, I tend to get my blue water sailing fix by sailing on other people’s boats.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10

From: Graham Stewart<mailto:gstewart8 at cogeco.ca>
Sent: Friday, December 6, 2019 10:16 AM
To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] hatch on foredeck

Rick:

Well said.

For me restoring the boat was something I actually enjoyed. If I saw it as a chore I would have quit many years ago.  In fact, my Rhodes was the second boat that I did an extensive restoration of. The first was a 19' 1960 mahogany lapstrake boat which  required that I replace everything below the waterline (including steam bent oak ribs) and  transom. That took me 10 years of summer free time with at least one year when I did nothing due to illness. Then, last year I reworked the deck using strips of mahogany. That took most of the year preparing the material during the winter and installing the deck in the summer. None of that activity reflected a sound financial calculation but it looks awesome.

For me the work is like a hobby rather than a task and what hoppy reflects a justified rationale for the use of money or time? I don't follow sports and could not imagine spending hours every weekend watching games on my TV and, in the end, having absolutely nothing to show for it. But for those who do enjoy watching sports the time is well spent.

I do it because it interests me, is a creative outlet, and provides something to be proud of. So I have spent the last 20 plus years of my free time working on two old boats - neither of which has much value even now but are sound, beautiful and will last another 40+ years. Given that I am in my mid 70s 40 years will probably suffice. I love the challenge of doing something that I think is way beyond my competence. Everything I have done I approached as a total novice often not having a clue at the beginning how to actually accomplish what I needed to do.

If this was just about time and money no one would ever undertake a restoration twice. You can't be that naïve twice. It seems to me that anyone I have had contact who had built a boat or done major restoration has done it on multiple occasions.

Messing around in boats is often its own reward - if you are inclined that way.

Graham Stewart
Agile 1976 Rhodes 22
Kingston Ontario

-----Original Message-----
From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Rick Lange
Sent: Thursday, December 5, 2019 11:00 AM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] hatch on foredeck

For some, the greatest pleasure of a trip is the journey.  For others, the
greatest pleasure is reaching the destination.  For the journey types, the
process of rehabilitating an old boat can be its own reward.

Regards,

Rick Lange

On Wed, Dec 4, 2019 at 11:40 AM Todd Tavares <tavares0947 at gmail.com> wrote:

> MJM gave me sound advice early on. I'm paraphrasing here (I saved the email
> but hsve time to look for it)
> He said.... If you consider the time, money and aggravation involved with
> rebuilding and restoring an older boat; especially a Rhodes 22 with all of
> its one-of-a-kind and one-off parts, your time and money would be better
> spent buying a new boat or at least, one that needs less work.
>
> I have taken two Rhodes 22s to the dump. I have videos saved somewhere of
> the guys on the big earth movers racing to see who could crush them first.
>
>
> tavares0947 at gmail.com
>
> On Tue, Dec 3, 2019, 8:53 PM Art Czerwonky via Rhodes22-list <
> rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> wrote:
>
> > The rebuild skills of this group of skippers bodes well for the future of
> > our fleet when GB may eventually not have the capability.  The business
> > model has thrived well under Stan's excellent leadership and business
> > acumen. Think about it, just building one fixture, the boom room and
> covers
> > has been totally satisfying for me, especially having such satisfaction
> of
> > client skippers.
> > Best,Art
> >
> > Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
> >
> >   On Tue, Dec 3, 2019 at 8:37 PM, Jesse Shumaker<
> > jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:   Restorers, thanks for sharing
> > all the hard won experience on the topic of
> > overhauling the foredeck.  Very impressive work on formidable projects!
> >
> > I echo Chris's sentiments.  Count me in as another member of of the
> > S.P.C.R.
> > and A.V.R.A.
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Sent from: http://rhodes-22.1065344.n5.nabble.com/
> >
> >
>
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