[Rhodes22-list] Rhodes22 Questions (perspective buyer)

David Schuster davids@mmfcpa.com
Tue, 4 Mar 2003 08:19:51 -0700


Hi folks, after reading through some of the info here, it seems I have
finally come to the right place! 

My wife and I are in the market for a used day/weekend cruiser. It will
be our first sailboat, and we are novices for sure. We have taken a week
long sailing course so we do have a few basics down. I know I love it
and can't wait to get back into it.

Anyway, I'm wondering if those who own one would recommend the rhodes22
as a beginners boat (relative to the size)? We want some thing stable
and enjoyable to sail, and easy to manage. We also want a boat that is
of excellent quality and will hold up in the long term. Speed and
maneuverability isn't our priority. And of course we want something that
is going to make us happy for a long while. My wife and I hope to sail
mostly on the lakes in the Western part of the US and eventually on the
coast. So obviously it seems logical to look at trailerable boats. The
Rhodes I have seen in used listings and at General Boats are a bit more
expensive than comparable production Hunters, McGregors and Catalinas.
But they seem to posses their own character and quality, and I suppose
that is worth it for us... 

We've got a Toyota 4 runner that I believe could manage the tow. But
what kind of work is involved in trailering this boat? How is raising
and lowering the mast? Is it something you have to muscle, or pretty
straightforward? What about outboard motors? Are there any other
concerns that I should be thinking of? 

Any info or suggestions for a first time shopper would be much
appreciated. All the details and techy jargon is pretty new to me, but
I'm starting to get a handle on it. It seems like there are some
dedicated Rhodes22 sailors here, and I'm exited to hear your thoughts.
Thanks! 

DFS