[Rhodes22-list] My First Real Look

[John Lock]

At 09:34 PM 9/23/2007 -0400, Michael Ticse wrote:
>4. Rudder. Need a clutch widget to secure rudder in the down position
>and in the up position. Rudder kept on coming up. The previous owner
>had a piece of wood in place that just easilly broke off. Now all I
>see are two screws w/ 1 wing nut on one of them.

Need a picture of the rudder and parts you describe.  Are the two 
screws and wing nut on the forward part of the rudder stock?  The two 
screws and wing nut may be part of the original clutch system for the 
rudder line.  On my boat, the forward rudder line (the one tied to 
the leading edge of the rudder) runs under a small block of plastic 
that is clamped by one screw and a wing nut.  Adjust the "clutch" 
with the wing nut.  I suppose the block could be stainless steel or 
wood as well.

>5. Fuel line: How to run the fuel line under the seat. The fuel hose
>just sits freely from the tank to the top of the stern cushions and
>looks sloppy. What have you guys done? Didn't want to get happy
>drilling holes and regretting it.

I keep a 3.5 gallon tank under the port cabin seat.  The fuel line 
runs under the seat, thru to the lazarette, and continues out a hole 
drilled in the transom.  The hole is drilled well above waterline 
where the fuel line can be easily run out to connect to the engine.

I did two things when installing the fuel line - 1) I slit a spare 
length of rubber hose about 18" long
lengthwise.  Then I pushed that down on top of the raw fiberglass 
edge at the front of the lazarette (under the seat) where the fuel 
line passes into the laz.  This keeps that ragged edge from gnawing 
away at the fuel line and causing problems later.  2) I removed the 
fitting from the engine-side of the fuel line and passed it thru the 
hole in the transom.  The hole is just big enough for the fuel line 
itself (without the connector).  When you replace the connector, the 
fuel line cannot be pulled out in either direction.


>7. What's a comfortable sitting position when on the helm? Couldn't 
>sit in the back next to tiller facing forward. Main sheet traveler 
>hits my shoulder. Otherwise, possibly need a hiking stick to reach 
>tiller when facing port/starboard.

I usually sit on the port/starboard side sorta in the angle of the 
seats.  When I want to lean back I put my feet up on the stern 
cushion and pull out the hiking stick.  As mentioned earlier the 
hiking stick and a coaming box can make a poor man's 
auto-pilot.  Just don't trust it for very long ;-)

Cheers!

John Lock
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s/v Pandion - '79 Rhodes 22
Lake Sinclair, GA
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