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

[Reuben Mezrich]

Roger
Unfortunately that's correct. You had asked for ideas on how to configure a
centerline Jackline and the Website "Affordable Adventures" has a great
analysis. But yes, I don't yet have my Rhodes 22 and so can't try this
myself.
Someday,
--Reuben
Reuben Mezrich
Pelican Cove in Sarasota and Inner Harbor in Baltimore
Cell: 410-499-8922


On Wed, Nov 25, 2020 at 9:48 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:

> 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
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>
>