[Rhodes22-list] Rhodes 22 Safety Tether System & Winter Projects

[ROGER PIHLAJA]

Reuben,

OK, what about the bow jack line not following the contour of the foredeck and cabin doghouse?  In other words, if the jack line is pulled taut enough from the bow back to the mast to be of any use keeping you on board; then, it will have to angle up from the bow to clear the leading edge of the cabin doghouse.  Isn’t this jack line a trip hazard on the foredeck?  I can see how the port and starboard jack lines could be anchored to the halyard organizer at the mast step.  But, what did you attach them to at the cockpit so they didn’t block access to the side decks?

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 25, 2020, at 1:59 PM, Reuben Mezrich <reuben.mezrich at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Over the past few years the couple who write a newsletter "Affordable
> Adventures" discussed ways to run a Jackline down the center of a boat.
> Basically they run two shorter jacklines from the cockpit to the mast and
> then one from the mast to the bow. You hook on in the cockpit, go forward
> till you have to change lines when you get as far as the mast.
> Good discussion
> https://www.morganscloud.com/2015/12/05/person-overboard-better-jackline-systems/
> 
> --Reuben
> Reuben Mezrich
> Pelican Cove in Sarasota and Inner Harbor in Baltimore
> Cell: 410-499-8922
> 
> 
>> On Wed, Nov 25, 2020 at 7:17 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I thought about a safety tether system using a jack line on the centerline
>> of the boat.  But, on the bow, you have the issue of how to anchor the end
>> so it doesn’t interfere with roller furler.  In my case, I suppose I could
>> have anchored the bow end of the jack line to a thru-bolted padeye I
>> installed for the tack on my cruising spinnaker.  It’s far enough aft of
>> the bow to not interfere with the roller furler and it’s control line.
>> Going aft, you  could anchor the jack line to the halyard organizer at the
>> mast step.  But, I want to be able to clip onto the jack line before I
>> leave the cockpit and having the jack line end at the mast step leaves
>> several hazardous steps with no connected safety harness.  Aft of the mast
>> step, you are kind of out of good options.  You can’t anchor the jack line
>> to anything on the pop top because it’s not fastened down and not HD enough
>> anyway.  If you go all the way aft to the stern pulpit, then the jack line
>> runs down the length of the cockpit right at chest level, plus it
>> interferes with the boom vang, the tiller, the mainsheet traveler, and
>> mainsheets to say nothing of the crew.
>> 
>> By running my jack lines up the port and starboard side decks from the
>> cockpit to the base of the bow pulpit, I avoid all these issues.  The only
>> disadvantage to my system is that if you go over on the side you are
>> clipped into, the tether has quite a bit of slack and can leave you
>> hanging.  But my railings are 30” high and I go forward in a crouch so I
>> stay low.  Of course, you normally go forward on the windward side of the
>> boat.  So, as long as the boat doesn’t broach, you are likely to be OK.
>> 
>> A jack line running up the centerline would be ideal.  So, inquiring minds
>> want to know, how did you rig a jack line on the centerline of your Rhodes
>> 22?
>> 
>> Roger Pihlaja
>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>> 
>> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
>> Windows 10
>> 
>> From: ROGER PIHLAJA<mailto:roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2020 5:34 PM
>> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Subject: Rhodes 22 Safety Tether System & Winter Projects
>> 
>> Tom,
>> 
>> Unfortunately, S/V Dynamic Equilibrium is in winter storage.  I don’t
>> think I have any photos of the safety tether system.  It’s a pretty
>> standard arrangement for offshore monohull sailboats and I never thought to
>> take a picture of it.  I store the boat at the Midland Co. Fairgrounds in
>> the unused animal barns and vender buildings.  For Midland Co. residents,
>> the price is right, especially considering it’s secure indoor storage.
>> But, I don’t have access to the boat until next spring.
>> 
>> This winter’s projects will be to fabricate a new galley table and under
>> cabinet sliding doors.  Both of these components are original (1976) and
>> delaminating on my boat.  I’ve asked Stan about purchasing a new table and
>> doors several times.  But, so far, he hasn’t responded to my queries.  I’d
>> like to support his replacement parts business. But, when he doesn’t
>> respond, what can you do?
>> 
>> Roger Pihlaja
>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Nov 24, 2020, at 5:10 PM, Tom Van Heule <
>> tom.vanheule at intrinsicprograms.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Pics Roger? Sounds good.
>>> 
>>> We gotta have a lake michigan r22 summit.
>>> There are a few of us that are pretty active.  And I know the least!
>>> 
>>>> On Tue, Nov 24, 2020, 4:04 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Jesse,
>>>> 
>>>> We have a 1” wide nylon strap running up the center of the cockpit
>> floor.
>>>> It’s attached to thru bolted padeyes with big backing plates on the
>> cabin
>>>> and lazarette compartment bulkheads.
>>>> Then, we have 1/2” double braided nylon rope running down the deck port
>>>> and starboard from the cockpit to the bow pulpit.  It’s anchored to the
>>>> base of the lifeline stanchions on each end.  The safety harness tether
>> has
>>>> a carabiner on the end of a 6’ nylon strap.  In the cockpit, you clip
>> the
>>>> carabiner onto the nylon strap on the floor as you come aboard or leave
>> the
>>>> cabin.  The carabiner will slide along the strap and let you get
>> anywhere
>>>> in the cockpit, even hike out on the gunnels.  To go forward, you unclip
>>>> from the cockpit and clip onto the 1/2” nylon rope on the side deck you
>> are
>>>> going to use.  The carabiner will slide along the rope and the harness
>>>> tether is long enough to enable you to do almost any task at the mast
>> or on
>>>> the foredeck.  I have good 30” high rails and stout handholds to hang
>> onto.
>>>> 
>>>> We have a firm rule that everyone wears a PFD whenever they are on deck
>>>> and the boat is not at anchor or at a dock.  Growing up, since everyone
>>>> wore their PFD’s, the boys never had an issue with wearing theirs.
>>>> 
>>>> 22 ft LOA is a pretty small boat for the Great Lakes.  You can’t always
>>>> count on fair winds!
>>>> 
>>>> Roger Pihlaja
>>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my iPhones
>>>>> On Nov 24, 2020, at 4:10 PM, Jesse Shumaker <
>>>> jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> While I'm used to wearing a PFD, that's the first I've heard of
>> wearing
>>>>> safety harnesses on a Rhodes 22.  Then again, I've yet to take Zephyr
>> to
>>>> a
>>>>> very large body of water.  Hopefully there are some bigger adventures
>> for
>>>>> Zephyr in my future!
>>>>> 
>>>>> Jesse Shumaker
>>>>> S/V Zephyr
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Tue, Nov 24, 2020 at 11:02 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com
>>> 
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Jesse,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Yes, we’ve had a few “HOLY SHIT!” moments, primarily when my sons were
>>>>>> learning to helm and trim.  By the time they were teenagers, they both
>>>>>> regarded S/V Dynamic Equilibrium as their own personal amusement park
>>>>>> ride.  But, only when their mother wasn’t on board!  I always told
>> them
>>>> it
>>>>>> only gets really interesting when the small craft warnings are posted!
>>>>>> When dad put his safety harness on, their eyes would open wide and
>>>> they’d
>>>>>> scramble below to find their harnesses. They both knew firsthand that
>>>> dad
>>>>>> was nuts and there was some fun in store.  I like to wear my harness
>>>> over
>>>>>> my PFD.  When you’re sailing this aggressively, you frequently get
>>>> tossed
>>>>>> into hard “stuff”.  The PFD provides some cushioning.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Roger Pihlaja
>>>>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>> On Nov 24, 2020, at 10:19 AM, Jesse Shumaker <
>>>>>> jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Roger, thanks for the details on the sail trim.  You had mentioned
>>>> some
>>>>>>> configurations where the boat would tend to heel further rather than
>>>>>> round
>>>>>>> up if conditions strengthen.  I'm curious, have you had any
>> knockdowns
>>>> in
>>>>>>> cases where the helmsman didn't ease the mainsheet in time or feather
>>>> up
>>>>>>> into the wind when there's a sudden gust?  I'm always trying to read
>>>> the
>>>>>>> water for wind, but there are cases when things get busy and I have
>>>> been
>>>>>>> occasionally surprised by a gust when I was distracted.  I wasn't
>> sure
>>>> if
>>>>>>> you had any memorable HOLY SHIT moments as you alluded to in your
>> note.
>>>>>> We
>>>>>>> always enjoy your advice and tales of adventure!
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Jesse Shumaker
>>>>>>> S/V Zephyr
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Mon, Nov 23, 2020 at 5:39 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <
>> Roger_Pihlaja at msn.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Hi All,
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Let me state up front that S/V Dynamic Equilibrium’s sail are not
>> OEM
>>>>>>>> stock and neither is the roller furler.  I have owned the boat since
>>>>>> 1987
>>>>>>>> and will tell you what I’ve ended up with after a lot of
>>>>>> experimentation.
>>>>>>>> The main sail is a very roachy, fully battened, club racing HD
>> dacron
>>>>>>>> sail.  It has 3 rows of jiffy reef points.  The headsail is a 150%
>>>> genoa
>>>>>>>> made of Bainbridge’s Cruise-Lam sailcloth in a Bi-Radial
>> construction.
>>>>>>>> Cruise-Lam is composite sailcloth with dacron outer layers, a Kevlar
>>>>>> scrim,
>>>>>>>> and a core of mylar.  The sail has a foam luff pad to enable it to
>>>> take
>>>>>>>> full advantage of the upper and lower swivels on the Harken Unit 0
>>>>>> roller
>>>>>>>> furler it’s flown on.  As the winds build, my 1st move is to lower
>> the
>>>>>>>> mainsail’s gooseneck to the lower position.  The next step is to
>> put a
>>>>>> reef
>>>>>>>> in the mainsail.  This configuration allows the boat to be sailed
>> with
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> leeward rub rail in the water and virtually no weather helm.
>> However,
>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>> must keep your hands on the sheets and steer to the waves because a
>>>>>> gust or
>>>>>>>> helmsman error will put the leeward cockpit gunnel under water
>> faster
>>>>>> than
>>>>>>>> you can say, “HOLY SHIT!”!  It will NOT round up in this
>> configuration
>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> the sails will not distort, spill wind, or save you.  Gusts cause so
>>>>>> much
>>>>>>>> acceleration that it sets you right down in your seat.  It’s really
>>>>>> quite
>>>>>>>> addictive!  Roller reefing the genoa down to ~130% will allow the
>> boat
>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> sail more up right, not scare my wife, and allow the autopilot to
>>>> drive
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> boat.  The next step is to put a second reef in the mainsail.  As
>> the
>>>>>> wind
>>>>>>>> builds, leaving the genoa at 130% with 2 reefs in the mainsail will
>>>>>> enable
>>>>>>>> maximum boat speed with minimal weather helm at the expense of
>>>> constant
>>>>>>>> required manual vigilance on the helm and sheets.  Roller reefing
>> the
>>>>>> genoa
>>>>>>>> down to ~110% in these conditions will make the boat docile enough
>>>> that
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> autopilot can still control it on any point of sail with the wind
>>>>>> forward
>>>>>>>> of a broad reach.  Roller reefing down to 110% is about as small as
>>>> the
>>>>>>>> Harken Unit 0 roller furler can reef the sail while still
>> maintaining
>>>>>>>> reasonable sail shape.  When the genoa is roller reefed down to <
>>>> 110%,
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> mainsail needs a 3rd reef in order to balance the helm.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> In summary, reduce mainsail area or lower the center of effort
>> first,
>>>>>>>> either by lowering the boom, or reefing.  As the wind builds, the
>>>>>> strategy
>>>>>>>> of leaving maximum possible sail area forward of the mast will
>> reduce
>>>>>>>> weather helm, maximize boat speed, and pointing ability.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Here on the Great Lakes, there is a lot of light air in the summer,
>>>>>>>> punctuated by periods of heavy weather.  I cope by flying cruising
>> and
>>>>>>>> tri-radial spinnakers during the light air.  I found the 175% genoa
>>>> was
>>>>>> cut
>>>>>>>> too heavy to fly well in light air and the sail could only be reefed
>>>>>> down
>>>>>>>> to ~130% before the shape was hopelessly compromised.  Remember this
>>>> was
>>>>>>>> with a Harken Unit 0 roller furler with upper and lower swivels and
>> a
>>>>>> foam
>>>>>>>> luff pad.  The OEM roller furler and sails will not be able to do as
>>>>>> well.
>>>>>>>> But, my sail shape standards might be higher than yours.  I never
>>>> found
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> 175% genoa to be particularly difficult to tack.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Roger Pihlaja
>>>>>>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
>>>>>>>> Windows 10
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>> 
>> 
>>