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

[ROGER PIHLAJA]

Reuben,

So, you are just referencing this Affordable Adventures book, you haven’t actually installed this jack line system on your Rhodes 22?

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

> 
> On Nov 25, 2020, at 4:34 PM, Reuben Mezrich <reuben.mezrich at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Roger
> First, John (don't remember his last name) the author of Affordable
> Adventurs goes through an analysis of how tight you want the Jack lines
> and, especially in the case where it is down the centerline, you don't need
> or want it all that tight. Second, it does follow the contour "good
> enough".Third, the port and starboard lines (he uses webbing) are attached
> just outside of the forward aspect of the cockpit, leans against the dodger
> (which he had) and then to the mast. To go forward you unhook from the
> cockpit lines (as you do now), then hook to the port or starboard line, go
> forward to you are abreast of the mast and move your tether to the
> centerline.
> He has nice pictures of how he attaches
> --Reuben
> Reuben Mezrich
> Pelican Cove in Sarasota and Inner Harbor in Baltimore
> Cell: 410-499-8922
> 
> 
>> On Wed, Nov 25, 2020 at 3:18 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:
>> 
>> 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
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>