[Rhodes22-list] Why I Love My Boat/More Velvet Elvis Pics

[Wally Buck]

Ben, Sad to see. Good luck with the clean up.

Wally


>From: <benonvelvetelvis at theskinnyonbenny.com>
>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>To: R22 List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>,
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Why I Love My Boat/More Velvet Elvis Pics
>Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 18:20:41
>
>Nice compilation, Bill.
>
>You know something?  We shouldn't be so grouchy about that question.  I 
>enjoyed
>reading all of that again, although I could quote some of them verbatem.
>
>On being unsinkable....
>
>I don't know if I mentioned or not, but when I took the post-Katrina 
>pictures of
>my R22, she still had a cabin and lazarette full of water.  She was heavy 
>to the
>point of being unstable, but I thought I was good until I had a chance to 
>get
>back with a bilge pump and generator, as there was no power yet.
>
>By the next weekend, she had managed to roll onto the side.  Water poured 
>in, as
>the storm had taken my hatches.  When I got back, she was laying sideways 
>at 90
>degrees to normal.  The keel was just below the water.  Starboard side was
>completely sunk, and port side high and dry.
>
>Thus, I know emperically that the R22 is unsinkable, but that it can flood 
>to the
>point where it is not self-righting.  Obviously, this point is a lot more 
>water
>than you will ever get if you can keep your hatches and lazarette shut.  A 
>few of
>us (not me) have examples of a swamped cockpit that drained right away.
>
>I have some old fashioned photos of the crew righting the boat with airbags 
>and
>pumps bigger than any of us should ever need.  But I have some camera-phone
>quality photos of the damage that I'm left with.  Warning -- it isn't 
>pretty.
>
>See the Velvet Elvis damage photos from this page:
>
>http://theskinnyonbenny.com/pgHome.php
>
>
>Ben
>
>
>
>
>On Wed, 05 Oct 2005 19:14 , Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> sent:
>
> >Rick,
> >
> >Everyone who asks this question thinks they're the first to think of it.
> >
> >We got so bored with it, we started collecting replies for a time like
> >this.  I think I collected 50 before I got bored with that.
> >
> >Following are some of the replies.  No time to select, just cutting and
> >pasting.  All from real people.  All from this list.  Going back to 1999:
> >
> >Oh!  Here's a good one.  From me in 2001:
> >
> >Jack,
> >
> >I thought people would have sent more stuff by now, but while I 
>understand
> >deadlines, you understand sailing.  You have requested information at a 
>bad
> >time for people trying to get in that one last sail.  Had you asked in 
>the
> >middle of the winter we would have sent enough information to fill
> >Soundings.
> >
> >I have been collecting answers from people on the list to the "Why do you
> >love your boat" question for the past 3 years. They all come from 
>different
> >people, geographically disbursed, names available on request, but if 
>quoted
> >and named please check with the original sender.  I have cut and pasted 
>some
> >answers, and placed brackets around each sender's quotes so you will know
> >where one ends and the next begins.
> >
> >I think I can fairly speak for virtually everyone that both the boat and 
>the
> >Spitzers are terrific.
> >
> >First I'll include something I recently sent to the list.  This truly
> >reflects the way I feel about my boat.  You may quote me.
> >
> >
> >(I take offense at the common locution that confuses buying a larger boat
> >with "moving up".
> >
> >A Chevy is not a "move up" from a Porsche.
> >
> >I can afford any boat I can sail, but I choose the Rhodes-22.  It is the
> >perfect boat for me.  It is the Rolls-Royce of boats that fit my needs.
> >
> >I understand that people with kids, or who think they will sail around 
>the
> >world, buy larger boats in an attempt to compromise competing 
>requirements.
> >I have many friends who have done this.  Sometimes it works out.  
>Sometimes
> >it doesn't.
> >
> >But in my view, that is a "move different" not a "move up".
> >
> >For the way I like to sail, the Rhodes is a little jewel I treasure.  As 
>far
> >as I'm concerned, I've moved up as high as I can go.)
> >
> >
> >(Frankly, I think the boat has the best camp cruising accommodations for 
>one
> >or two people of any 22 foot production boat of similar displacement that
> >can be easily trailered. The galley unit itself provides a lot of storage
> >space. If the standard settee arrangement were substituted, you would 
>have
> >to fill it up with storage containers and ice chests to provide the same
> >storage space with far less utility and convenience.  The drawer under 
>the
> >companionway step would by itself store a week's worth of canned foods 
>for
> >more extended cruises. Sitting headroom with the pop top down is 
>comparable
> >to other similar sized boats. With the pop top enclosure, one has full
> >standing headroom in a well ventilated, bug proof and weather tight 
>cabin.
> >The cockpit hardware layout makes single handing as easy as any sloop rig
> >with an overlapping headsail can be. The neutral, balanced handling, and
> >superior comfort of the cockpit make a day at the helm a lot less tiring 
>and
> >stressful than say a Catalina or Hunter. Plus that large cockpit is far 
>more
> >comfortable than most for day sailing with a crowd.
> >Any small boat will represent a balance of design compromises based on 
>the
> >designer's vision of the boat's function. Cabin space vs. cockpit space,
> >headroom and interior volume vs. hull drag and sailing performance, size 
>and
> >weight limitations for trailering and launching. The prospective buyer 
>has
> >to choose the design that represents the best set of compromises for his
> >intended use. For extended solo cruising one might pick a Flicka over the
> >Rhodes; for competitive racing a J-boat or Sonar. But as a general 
>purpose
> >22' sailboat that can do most everything well, the Rhodes is hard to 
>beat.)
> >
> >(We bought our 1976 Rhodes 22 in the spring of 1987.  At the time, I'd 
>been
> >sailing 8 years & my wife, Deb. had been a sailor for about 4 years.  The
> >Rhodes 22 wasn't our 1st sailboat.  My wife & I knew what we wanted in a
> >boat.  We looked for a year before finding our Rhodes 22.
> >
> >1st of all, we live on Sanford Lake in the central lower peninsula of
> >Michigan.  Our boat had to be suitable for the lake we live on.  Sanford
> >Lake is a manmade lake with a surface area of about 6000 acres.  Like 
>most
> >manmade lakes, the lake is long & skinny.  The lake's long dimension is
> >oriented basically north/south.  Good windward sailing ability is 
>essential
> >on this lake.  There are plenty of shallow areas & stumps, so shoal draft
> >with kick-up centerboard & rudder was important.  With it sitting in a 
>slip
> >in the backyard all summer, the boat's major use has always been 
>daysailing.
> >The huge open cockpit, plenty of on-board storage, large ice chest, 15 
>gal
> >on-board water supply, great galley, & on-board head make her a great
> >daysailer & good for entertaining guests.
> >
> >In 1987, our two sons Daniel & Gary, were 4 & 1 years old respectively.
> >Little ones have intrinsically short attention spans & will tend to spend 
>a
> >lot of time below with their toys.  The Rhodes 22 cabin ventilates pretty
> >well to keep it cool & has a couple of different sleeping areas to keep 
>two
> >little boys separated when it's nap time.  ("That's my side of the 
>bunk...No
> >it isn't!")  The main cabin is very versatile.  You can put one kid at 
>the
> >table with a coloring book & the other one on the cabin sole with his
> >MicroMachine cars.  (I still have at least one MicroMachine rolling 
>around
> >down in the bilge somewhere!)  Or, you can stow the table & open up the
> >entire main cabin sole.  Or, one of them can go quietly read up in the
> >V-berth.  The large amount of cupboards & hatches in the cabin add to the
> >possibilities for an endless variety of make-believe games.  The lower 
>half
> >of the companionway hatch board can be installed in the hatch & left 
>open.
> >Now, the cabin is an enclosed playpen & you can see & hear what's going 
>on
> >down there.  Of course, Deb. & I were also concerned about safety & 
>things
> >like built-in foam floatation, roller furling sails, good nonskid decks, 
>a
> >good toerail, & the intrinsic safety of 9 stays on the standing rigging 
>were
> >important features.
> >
> >I frequently went sailing with only Daniel & Gary when they were little.
> >I'm an engineer & pretty handy at building things.  I designed & built my
> >own set of 30" high double railings from 3/4" nominal diameter, schedule 
>40,
> >stainless steel pipe.  The boys quickly learned there were several 
>ironclad
> >rules about life aboard the boat:
> >
> >PFD's are always worn on deck - adults & kids - no exceptions.  They 
>could
> >take off their PFD down below in the cabin unless it was very rough.
> >Wearing PFD's got to be just like putting on a seatbelt in a car.
> >
> >When they were little & we were underway, the cockpit was the only place 
>the
> >boys were allowed without an adult with them.  The cockpit was completely
> >enclosed by my custom-made double railings.
> >
> >Maybe I was just lucky, but the boys never really balked at these safety
> >rules.  Violation of either rule resulted in instant confinement down 
>below
> >for the duration of the cruise  followed by a week of no boating when we 
>got
> >back to shore.  Each boy "tested" the rules just once & found that Dad
> >wasn't kidding.  They quickly got to policing each other - things like
> >stopping the other if he forgot to put on his PFD & started to go 
>topside.
> >Other than sailing on the Great Lakes when it was really rough, I never 
>had
> >to put them in safety harnesses to keep them within their boundaries.  
>When
> >it was rough enough that Dad snapped on his safety harness, believe me, 
>the
> >boy's eyes were as big as saucers & they wanted their harnesses on right
> >now!
> >
> >But, I had bigger plans for our Rhodes 22 & little boys grow up.  Daniel 
>&
> >Gary are currently 17 & 14 years old.  We've raced our Rhodes 22 & 
>cruised
> >it thousands of miles on every Great Lake except Lake Superior & numerous
> >inland lakes & rivers.  For racing, I wanted good sailing performance,
> >particularly in the predominantly light air we get around here in the
> >summer.  I needed good trailerability.  When the boys were young, I 
>needed
> >the ability to step & unstep the mast singlehanded.  Now, with the boys 
>in
> >their teens, we're into hard core wilderness beach camping.  We need a 
>boat
> >that is truly seaworthy & capable of being self sufficient for periods of 
>a
> >week or more.  The standing headroom under the poptop, large water 
>supply,
> >pop top canvas enclosure, enclosed standing headroom boom room, & great
> >galley make the boat capable of much more extensive cruising than any 22
> >foot boat has any right to claim.  The boys have grown up with our Rhodes 
>22
> >& we've had a lot of wonderful adventures with the boat.  By the way, GBI
> >sells a starboard V-berth extension & cushion that makes the V-berth
> >suitable for big people.  This extension & cushion installs over the head 
>&
> >allows the starboard V-berth sleeper to slide back about 24 inches.  This
> >frees up the foot space in the bow for the feet of the port side V-berth
> >sleeper.  It works for my two sons & allowed us to keep our Rhodes 22
> >instead of buying a bigger boat.  The same can be said for the enclosed 
>Boom
> >Room.  It's an expensive option; but, MUCH cheaper than a bigger boat!
> >
> >So here I am, 46 years old with two teenage sons & a 24 year old Rhodes 
>22.
> >We go to the boat shows every year & are not particularly tempted by any 
>of
> >the sailboats we see there.  I would buy the same boat today, well maybe 
>a
> >few years newer.  I purchased a used boat to keep costs down & have
> >extensively modified her to suit my specific needs.  The Rhodes 22 is 
>just a
> >great little boat.  The construction & engineering are 1st rate.  The 
>boat
> >has held up well to a lot of hard use over many years.  Yes, it's 
>expensive
> >compared to similar sized boats.  GBI isn't after the new boater market.
> >The Rhodes 22 is for sailors that know what they want & aren't looking to
> >trade up in a couple of years.)
> >
> >
> >(Rhodes vs. Catalina 22 --
> >
> >I can give you a few differences that make a difference.
> >
> >1. foam flotation. The Rhodes 22 is unsinkable. It has foam in the fwd
> >area under the bunks and it has foam under the cockpit. It works, as at
> >least one list member had the bad luck to find out. One other list
> >member witnessed a Catalina 22 sink on an inland Lake. He can chime in
> >and tell about it.
> >
> >2. the shrouds. The Rhodes has an abundance of shrouds which make it a
> >very sturdy rig. There are two backstays, six side stays and a forestay.
> >You can loose your forstay and the mast will not come down. Same applies
> >to side stays. One of the list members had the misfortune of being a
> >rookie and not securing his shroud as he tightened the turnbuckle. It
> >caused shroud failure later in the year. The mast did not come down,
> >even with multiple failures.
> >
> >3 strength and girth. The Rhodes weighs in at around 2,900# and has 700#
> >of ballast. Last time I looked the CAtalina 22 was 1,850#, of which 550#
> >was ballast. Even if you allow 200# for all the goodies we carry as
> >standard equipment, when you do the math, there's at least 700# more
> >fiberglass in the Rhodes 22.
> >
> >4. 7'4" cockpit. The Rhodes has the largest cockpit of any sailboat I
> >know of up to 30'. You can truly lounge around when the wind is not up
> >and you're drifting around.
> >
> >5. Well tuned rig. The Rhodes 22 will not let you get into trouble. Even
> >if you get hit with a major puff, the boat rounds up into the wind and
> >saves your bacon. It has a very well balanced helm and does not take two
> >hands to control the tiller. Some boats will challenge you when on a
> >beat with the amount of rudder pressure. Not the Rhodes 22.
> >
> >6. IMF furling. Lots of boats have a headsail furling system, but very
> >few have a mainsail furling system. The Rhodes 22 has that available,
> >and most owners have it. It allows you to roll up your mainsail inside
> >the mast with the mainsail furling line. This comes under the heading of
> >safety, since reducing sail is a major factor. The IMF has another
> >feature that I call the first reef point. Under normal conditions, the
> >mainsail furling tube is at the top of the mast and the mainsail reaches
> >all the way up. When it gets a bit strong, I lower the gooseneck and
> >boom by pulling a pin and bringing the assembly down to near cabintop
> >height. This has the effect of lowering the mainsail's center of effort
> >by something like 2'.
> >
> >The Catalina 22 has some benefits as opposed to the Rhodes 22. It is
> >lighter, and therefore easier to trailer. The mast is not as big, nor
> >does it have the IMF of the Rhodes, so it is easier to hoist. I'm sure
> >as a Catalina owner, you could add to this list of benefits.
> >
> >
> >
> >I think I covered most of the highlights as to differences between the
> >Catalina 22 and the Rhodes 22. If you have not yet visited their
> >website, go to http://rhodes22.com/. It is a fun site, with lots of
> >information on the Rhodes and General Boats. )
> >
> >Jack -- Same guy, different answer:
> >
> >(You will be getting numerous answers on this one. AS for me, it was a
> >case of wanting a very large cockpit for day sailing. It was only after
> >I had the Rhodes that I discovered all the other nice features that
> >attract others. I wanted a boat that I could take friends out for a sail
> >and not have an uncomfortably crowded area. The Rhodes 22 has the
> >largest cockpit of any 22 foot boat that I know of.
> >
> >It doesn't hurt that it is one of the very few boats in this size range
> >that has foam flotation that ensures that your boat won't sink, even if
> >holed. Matter of fact, that's a major feature for some owners.
> >
> >The engineering that has gone into this boat must be seen to be
> >appreciated. You should visit the Rhodes22 website and read all the
> >factory propaganda, make notes and ask the questions that come to mind.
> >I have Intermast Furling (IMF) which means that the mainsail rolls up
> >inside the mast with the ease of a furling jib. Of course the Rhodes has
> >a furling jib too. So if you are concerned about safety and the ability
> >to reduce sail in a blow, the Rhodes shines.
> >
> >The mast is a very heavy duty unit, and the rig is secured by 9 shrouds,
> >which means that if one fails, it is not a catastrophic failure most
> >boats would have occur. The mast can stand up with just the side stays.
> >Of course you would have to reduce the sail area or douse completely,
> >but there have been instances where sailors have lost one or two stays
> >and sailed in.  This boat is built and rigged to be as safe as possible.
> >
> >The Rhodes 22 carries 300 square foot of sail in the 170% genoa and the
> >100 sq ft mainsail. She can ghost along in very little wind. Yet that
> >massive amount of sail can be doused in seconds with the furling system.
> >She can perform with the best of the boats in this size range. The
> >standard rigging is of very high quality and placement has been worked
> >out for maximum effeminacy and ease of sail. As an example, check out the
> >mainsheet system and the traveler. The traveler is mounted to and
> >between the two backstairs. Unconventional at first glance, but very
> >pratical because the traveler and the mainsheet system is out of the way
> >of normal use in the cockpit. You can easily control the mainsail with
> >this arrangement.
> >
> >The seats are very comfortable and are open beneath, for easy storage
> >and comfrotable seating. The deck and gunnels are comfortable to walk or
> >sit on, while the built in toe rail provides safety. There are grab
> >rails or handrails at the right spots for safety. The lazerette storage
> >area is the full width of the boat and is lockable. The motor bracket is
> >decades ahead of anyone elses's and is an exclusive design of General
> >Boats. Your average 5 year old can raise or lower a 10 hp engine, so it
> >should be no problem for an adult.
> >
> >I have not mentioned the cabin as yet. You will find a very comfortable
> >cabin with well over 6' headroom when the pop top is up. You can sail
> >with the pop top up with no problems, and in the event that you feel the
> >weather is too extreme, you can lower the pop top easily. That would
> >allow for you to lower the sail by about a foot or so as the whole
> >furling rig will slide down to lower the center of effort. I call this
> >my first reef point because it effectively brings the boat back on her
> >lines. With the pop top up, you can stand and cook at the galley, use
> >the sink and do those domestic chores I steer clear of. The head is
> >useable and (depending on the year of the Rhodes) may have a tri-fold
> >door that makes for more room. You can have a hatch just above the head
> >that is useful for several reasons. The setee is comfortable and it
> >converts into a nice double berth. The v-berth is not adult friendly,
> >but fine for kids.
> >
> >You can load up options that make the boat feel larger than any 22'
> >boat. We have the pop top enclosure that makes for weatherproof camping
> >aboard. It has windows that roll up and screens to keep the no-see-um's
> >out. We also have the bimini top, which makes fornice day sailing in
> >sunny hot weather. Additionally, you can rock the bimini forward to mate
> >up with the pop top enclosure and keep the cabin dry while leaving the
> >companionway open.
> >
> >You can go all out and get the cockpit filler cushons which make the
> >cockpit a very large bed. You can enclose that with the boom tent. Many
> >of us have some of the options listed, and have used tarps and made
> >their own items to make more use of the boat.
> >
> >That sums up my opinions of why we ahve a Rhodes 22. I had a Chrysler 22
> >some 20 years ago that I loved, but when I got back into sailing, I
> >discovered the Rhodes 22 and did not try to find a Chrysler. For one
> >thing, I did not want to deal with an 800# swing keel, the pivot, the
> >cable or the winch associated with it and most other 22' boats. I like
> >the shoal keel/ centerboard combination. I did not mention Phillip
> >Rhodes, the designer or why the hull has the shape it does. You can read
> >about that at the Rhodes22.com site. )
> >
> >Jack -- Same guy again -- he's really been on the list for a long time --
> >he's quiet now, but these are things he would have wanted you to know:
> >
> >(I think everyone on the list has heard of just how pleased xxxxxx xxxxxx
> >has been with the wonderful treatment and continued support you all have
> >given her. I would like to add that while I had bought my Rhodes from a
> >local owner, I was afforded all the support I could ever ask for.
> >
> >I visited Edenton and purchased the mast raising system for the General
> >Boats team. While there, I toured the factory and was given explanations
> >for just about every phase of their boatbuilding operation. While I had
> >purchased a few parts and a kit, I was treated as if I had bought two
> >brand new Rhodes 22's.
> >
> >Anyone looking to purchase a new or recycled boat from General Boats can
> >count on nothing but the best treatment and support. Speaking from
> >experience, I can assure everyone that the recycled boat is a much
> >better deal than purchasing from a priviate individual. While the Rhodes
> >is well built, after 12 years of minimum maiintenance, my boat needed
> >some help. With my factory tour behind me, I appreciated what went into
> >the building of this boat. I could accomplish the needed work, but had I
> >bought a recycled boat instead of the one I purchased, I would have been
> >sailing a lot more early on.
> >
> >Thanks again for all the support and the wonderful boat,)
> >
> >
> >
> >(My wife Ellen and I purchased a new Rhodes last year. If we were buying 
>all
> >over again, we would do the same thing. The only thing that would change
> >our minds about that is if we thought we wanted a boat of a significantly
> >different size.
> >
> >We have the IMF main and would not want to be without it. The system 
>works
> >flawlessly and, together with the roller furling genoa, makes
> >single-handling the boat easy and safe.  As for other features, we
> >especially like the bimini and the captain's seats.  I don't think we 
>could
> >do without the bimini for long, and once we steered from the captain's
> >seat, none of us (including our two kids) wanted to steer from any place
> >else--visibility is excellent, and if you sail from the leeward side you
> >get a good view around all 175% of the genoa, which is helpful in
> >high-traffic areas.  We have two cabin top hatches and like them both;  
>the
> >one over the enclosed head makes its use easier, and the one between the
> >main cabin and the v-berth, in addition to providing some ventilation,
> >allows a nice view a night and provides an interesting, enclosed place 
>for
> >the kids to stand while underway.  But I think that many people might be
> >happy with a single hatch.  Ventilation in general is good;  we added a
> >solar-powered vent in the v-berth which helps a lot on stuffy nights.
> >There are pros and cons to the enclosed head;  we would choose it again,
> >but a good case can be made for a porta-potti, and there is at least one
> >owner who has arranged a porta potti that can either be removed or pumped
> >out from the deck. We have the mast hoist system and there is no way I
> >would want to raise and lower the mast without it. It works exactly the 
>way
> >it is supposed to, and even though my pulse does pick up a bit during 
>those
> >few seconds while the mast is being raised and before that headstay is
> >secured, there's no reason for it--the system works like a charm.
> >
> >We had GB install the compass on the portside cabin bulkhead. We had
> >agonized over the merits of that location vs. a slip-in companionway 
>board.
> >We found the bulkhead position to be just fine and that it does not
> >interfere with the use of the bulkhead as a backrest. But there are many
> >owners devoted to the companionway location.
> >
> >If there were other instruments you think you'd like to have, I'd suggest
> >having GB install them as well.
> >
> >We are adding the cockpit filler cushions for this season so that we can
> >spread out a bit more at night.)
> >
> >(Sounds like Joy is a lot like my wife.  I used to go up to the bow
> >of my Compac 16 to raise the jib while she manned the tiller.  She was
> >very nervous with me up there and power cruisers with big wakes going by.
> > For her, the safety and simplicity of operating the Rhodes was it's most
> >endearing feature. For some reason, the flared hull isn't often
> >mentioned, but is a unique standard feature.  It keeps you drier, stops
> >you from healing beyond a certain point and gives you added deck space.
> >     I must have been looking at the Rhodes 22 and other boats at boat
> >shows (Michigan City, IN & Strictly Sail / Chicago) for the last 15
> >years.  I almost
> >bought a used Pearson 30 in marvelous condition.  Elton talked me out of
> >it.  I'm glad he did.  I bought a used (1989) Rhodes 22 in 1998 and
> >upgraded to a brand new one in 1999.  In fact, I think I have the first
> >dark green hull they ever produced.  I sail on Lake Michigan out of New
> >Buffalo, MI.
> >     This boat offers more "big boat" features than any other boat of
> >it's size that I've ever seen while retaining the good features of a
> >small boat.  I wanted to make sure it could handle the chop on Lake
> >Michigan without bobbing around like a cork.  No problem.  I also wanted
> >to be able to trailer it so I could take it home between seasons. I can
> >putter around on it there and not have to run to the harbor every time I
> >want to work on it.
> >     When I first launched and motored to my slip, most of the other
> >sailors with larger boats (Hunter 27 & Catalina 30 for example)
> >congregated around my boat and marveled at the huge cockpit.  It was
> >bigger than those of much larger boats.  Don't take my word for it, check
> >for yourself.  Even if you have a large boat, you still spend a majority
> >of your time in the cockpit.  Think about it.  It really is important.
> >     The mast hoist system is a dream.  The first time I used it by
> >myself I was really nervous, but it works every bit as well as 
>advertised.
> >     The roller furling main & jib are wonderful.  We'll be sailing along
> >on a hot day and decide to take a swim.  Five seconds later, the sails
> >are in and we're in the water.  Back in the boat (the flat step ladder is
> >really nice) and we're sailing again in no time.
> >     The Captain's Chairs are also a great feature.  They're incredibly
> >comfortable and provide a superior view of surrounding activity than you
> >can get from the cockpit (without standing or stretching all the time).
> >My wife sits in the other one and constantly swivels to get the best
> >angle of the sun.
> >     The pop top is terrific.  I'm 6'2" and I can stand straight up with
> >room to spare.  I'll hand my wife the tiller and go below for a cold
> >beverage.  Then, I'll just stand there awhile with my arms on the deck,
> >in the shade with a nice breeze and a full panoramic view, while she
> >sails.
> >     I could go on and on.  The boat has so many nice little "creature
> >comfort" features like the mainsheet traveler being out of the way, the
> >space beneath the cockpit seats, the outboard motor mount, the keel /
> >centerboard design, etc...
> >     I guess you could say we like the boat.)
> >
> >
> >Jack -- Same guy from a different answer --
> >
> >(I think the Rhodes 22 would be a good first boat for you for a
> >number of reasons.  First, the manufacturing plant is right in your
> >backyard.  You won't find a more customer service oriented company than
> >General Boats.  Second, it is one of the simplest most user friendly
> >sailboat designs I've ever seen.  Third, it would be hard for me to point
> >to one feature that makes it a good first boat, which is really the
> >point.  It is the combination of so many features that makes it a good
> >first boat.
> >
> >...
> >
> >This boat offers more "big boat" features than any other boat of
> >it's size that I've ever seen while retaining the good features of a
> >small boat.  I wanted to make sure it could handle the chop on Lake
> >Michigan without bobbing around like a cork.  No problem.  I also wanted
> >to be able to trailer it so I could take it home between seasons. I can
> >putter around on it there and not have to run to the harbor every time I
> >want to work on it.)
> >
> >
> >(The boat defintely saved us from a couple of my rather basic sailing and
> >seamanship errors.  I filled the cockpit with water because I had not
> >sufficiently tightened the motor pivot and the motor suddenly turned,
> >giving us a bad angle on that following wave--the water had bailed out
> >almost before I realized what had happened.  I put the boat over at about 
>a
> >65-70% angle of heel (whatever it was--it caught my attention) because I
> >failed to cleat the furling line at a pre-determined spot before taking 
>out
> >the main (and also because I failed to instruct my crew about exactly how
> >the anchor rode had been secured to the boat and its canvas bag).
> >
> >I suppose that in the back of my mind I had been wondering how far to 
>rely
> >on the claim that the Rhodes was noncapsizable under sail. What I can say
> >now is that I really, really worked hard to flip the boat over with a 
>full
> >main out--maybe it can be done, but I couldn't do it;  the boat rounded 
>up
> >and virtually bounced back upright.)
> >
> >Jack, the following guy is a woman -- there are many active female owners 
>on
> >the list, some more serious sailors than a lot of the guys:
> >
> >(It's not so much that it's interpreted as SPAM. It's just that you feel 
>a
> >bit like a broken record... "it's a great boat, it's a great boat, it's a
> >great boat..." If you've lurked for a while it becomes pretty obvious 
>that
> >the owners are a pretty satisfied bunch. We also throw fine parties.
> >
> >One thing that doesn't always get said (and I was remiss in my response 
>to
> >Gail in not mentioning it) is that the folks at GBI are fine folks to 
>deal
> >with. Every boat, new or recycled, becomes a semi-custom boat. One of the
> >things we liked best about buying our recycled R22 was that we were 
>dealing
> >with a small family business, the original manufacturer of our boat and
> >that we had a lot of choices on the options on a USED boat. The Rhodes 22
> >seems to fit several niches in the sailboat market. If you, as a 
>potential
> >buyer, are in one of those niches, I don't think anything else will suit
> >you as well.
> >
> >If, in your lurking, you find you have questions, fire away. The more
> >specific the better. Certainly, if you are thinking about a R22, you need
> >to know "is it as good as the website says" but if you ask that question
> >here you are asking it of the converted, the people for whom the niche 
>was
> >right, the people who will say, "it's a great boat, it's a great boat, 
>it's
> >a great boat...". )
> >
> >(The boat was built and designed for what you have in mind, it was built 
>and
> >designed in the NY area for the Long Island sound / Chesapeake area. 
>That's
> >where it got it's large sail area for light winds and shoal draft.  Phil
> >Rhodes
> >did a good job on the hull form and the boat handles chop well and the
> >fair-hull makes it a dry ride. It is also a safe boat that will round-up
> >when
> >overpowered. I have the boat out long after the power boats go home. The
> >motion is very nice under sail. It is only a 22 foot boat and 3000 
>pounds,
> >when
> >chop becomes waves it will ride over them instead of pounding through, 
>but
> >the
> >hull form seem to keep most of the slap out of it. 2 people are fine for 
>a
> >weekend, 4 become tight.)
> >
> >(Would recommend checking the GB site (rhodes22.com) for the latest
> >information.  Believe the last time I looked re-cycled were in the 18 to
> >22K range depending on age and condition.  We have the IMF(no problems) 
>and
> >the 150 jenny.  We like the combination and feel that any loss of IMFsail
> >shape (believed minimum unless you are a dedicated racer) is and 
>acceptable
> >trade off for ease of handling. (Must add that with developments in 
>flaking
> >systems, standard sail handling has become quite easy these days.) May be
> >that over the years I've become lazy but the IMF is easy to work with and
> >the furling jenny likewise.  In our south Florida waters wind conditions
> >generally are good and the combination gives us a great ride.  On windy
> >days we just reef the jenny (and sometimes the main) or drop the pop top
> >down and lower the boom.  The combinations seem endless and we generally
> >find a combination that we find acceptable for the wind conditions.  We
> >have been out sailing in winds up to 30mph - with reduced sail of course 
>-
> >and moved along quite well.  I generally don't like to be out when things
> >get over 20mph but that is a personal preference.  As most any sailor can
> >tell you tho, you eventually will encounter a fast moving front that will
> >not give you much warning.  We have encountered a few thunder storms over
> >the years that we just couldn't get out of the way of and rode them out 
>in
> >great shape on the R22.
> >
> >As a relatively lazy guy, I would recommend a recycled or new from GB.  
>The
> >recycled come with a new boat guarantee - hard to beat - and a buy back
> >arrangement if you decide to move to a new one - even harder to beat. )
> >
> >Jack -- I may have quoted this guy before...I'm losing track.
> >
> >(I absolutely love sailing the Rhodes. There are so many reasons why it's
> >hard to know where to start, but here goes.  First, it's easy.  I had 
>some
> >sailing experience before the Rhodes, but not that much.  With roller
> >furling genoa, inner mast furling main, and all lines going back to the
> >cockpit, I've had no problem taking the boat out by myself, even when the
> >wind is up.  It is easy to deploy and furl the sails to any extent 
>needed,
> >easy to get a more-than-decent sail trim without endless adjustments.
> >Second, while the boat readily gets up to hull speed (theoretically 5.99
> >knots) in around 10 knots and up, it's even nicer (given the often
> >uncooperative summer wind on the Chesapeake Bay) that it gets up and at
> >least jogs when there is almost no wind--even when the wind is only 
>around
> >4 or 5 knots, the boat sails;  the 175% genoa can generate power from
> >seemingly very little wind.  Third, it's comfortable.  The cockpit is
> >really big, the seats are genuinely comfortable for long periods.  I also
> >have the captain's seats, which I thought were a little hokey before I 
>had
> >them but now can't live without them--the visibilty is just terrific.  We
> >also have the bimini, which is another thing I wouldn't want to do 
>without.
> >While it's true that when you don't want it, you'd like it to disappear,
> >when you need it, you really need it.  It makes the two hours waiting for
> >the wind to pick up on a boiling August day more than bearable, actually
> >pleasant. And the pop-top is also great--we keep it up most of the time
> >when the wind is under 15;  it's a great place to stand and lean while
> >underway, and it makes it easy to move in and out of the cabin.  Fourth, 
>it
> >is easy to keep control of the boat when the wind picks up.  When the 
>boat
> >begins to feel as though it is overpowered with full sails, I merely 
>lower
> >the boom and can handle considerably more wind before feeling the need to
> >reef a bit (on the ease of which see # one above)--which means I can keep
> >more sail out longer, with confidence. Confidence is also increased by 
>the
> >solidity of the boat, for lack of a better word.  This may seem odd to 
>say,
> >but it doesn't bend or flex when you walk on it, say, to go forward to 
>set
> >out fenders or retrieve an anchor. And given the traveler arrangement on
> >the backstays, I don't worry about jibing in brisk wind--naturally, I 
>keep
> >the mainsheet under control and ease the boom across, but the traveler 
>bar
> >arrangement insures that if I get caught off guard or relax the sheet
> >prematurely, the resulting impact will be absorbed.
> >
> >In short, I think the Rhodes is a boat that makes it easy and comfortable
> >to get on with fun sailing without a lot to worry about, but it also 
>offers
> >enough opprtunity to tinker and adjust as you wish.)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Hope this helps,
> >
> >Bill Effros
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >__________________________________________________
> >Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
>
>
>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list