[Rhodes22-list] R 22 Instrumentation(and other goodies), long

[Bob Weber]

Congrats Bob and Sandra,  St. Petes used to be my summer stomping ground and 
you are right there is plenty of skinny water.  I will be in Clearwater 
March 17 - 19 taking a class.  I don't know if I will have any free time but 
would like to see the new addition to your family.  Let me know how that 
weekend look for you.

Bob Weber

Odyssey Sailing School
S/V Ruba


>From: "Robert and Sandra Fuller" <BobandSandy at tampabay.rr.com>
>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] R 22 Instrumentation(and other goodies), long
>Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2006 20:58:22 -0500
>
>I realize I am late in joining this discussion but after vacation I had 
>some trouble registering the new Rhodes that Elton delivered in 
>mid-January.  Just got out for a shakedown sail this afternoon. Beautiful 
>day in upper Sarasota Bay, but only 4 knts. of wind. Surprised to see a 
>manatee in 65 degree water.
>I am a novice sailor and my admiral wants the boat sailed flat unless she 
>is distracted by being at the helm (which I take as a very positive sign),  
>Just wanted to share with the list the features I chose and my initial 
>impressions.
>The most distinctive piece of equipment on my new boat is the Thetford 
>porta-potty! So regardless of what wretched excesses follow, they don't 
>include putting a marine head in my day-sailer! Note well:preceding written 
>with tongue firmly in cheek.  Just thought I'd start out by enflaming - er, 
>igniting a little interest.  P-P does suit my needs though.
>New boats have a keel a few inches longer than their predecessors, but the 
>difference is not apparent to the naked eye. Doubt if I am going to be able 
>to tease out any improved handling or pointing because the new sails are 
>too big a confounding variable.  Went with the 175 genny because -as a new 
>sailer- I couldn't detect  decreased efficiency when partially furled. And 
>found the old 175 easy to pole out with a length of pvc in very light air.
>Plastimo compass, Contest 101, bulkhead mount, gives excellent visibility 
>from the back of the boat; as do the large #'s on Raymarine knotmeter,St40. 
>I had a handheld GPS on the old boat and find the convenience of the 
>knotmeter well worth it.  I learned to use the GPS while riding around on a 
>bicycle and found trying to use it while sailing just as awkward as using 
>it while on a bike.I had no problem with the old hand-held ICOM vhf, so I 
>stuck with ICOM(M302) with mast antenna. It is plenty loud enough to be 
>heard outside the cabin.
>The most wretched excess -and coolest toy on the boat- is an 
>Echopilot(bronze) forward looking sonar.  Did I need it? Of course not.  
>Lots of skinny water around here but in a year of (careful) sailing, I had 
>one soft grounding.  But is it fun!  Because of angle of reflection to the 
>transducer, the distance it can "see" ahead is dependant on the depth of 
>the water.  Today, in 8' to 10' of water, it was showing depth about 20' in 
>front of the boat. And just ahead of the boat in about 4'. I will have to 
>get a lot more experience before I can say anything about accuracy and 
>reliability - let alone the durability of Echopilot stuff.  But based on 
>today, it looks like poking into shallow waters is going to be a lot more 
>interesting.  Got it @ WestMarine last year and can't find it in the 2006 
>catalogue, but Echopilot has several web sites.
>A pretty wretched excess -and proof Stan will put what you want on the boat 
>if he can't bring you to reason- are the small Lewmar ST winches he 
>installed for me.  Again, have I needed them in the past?  Ha!  I can't say 
>I have really need a winch handle.  But some things are for go and others 
>for show. So far these have definitely been in the latter category.  A 
>couple of my sailing buds have murmured "nice winches", in the tone you 
>usually say "nice legs".
>Predictably, what drew the most compliments was the gin pole and the ease 
>with which Elton & I dropped one mast & raise another.  An old salt down 
>the street is rescuing a 24 footer he salvaged and is talking about 
>borrowing it.
>Lots of goodies, so I guess I better stop typing and start sailing.
>Bob F.
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