[Rhodes22-list] Ballast ?

[John Shulick]

Capt. Rob,

 I don't believe any Rhodies on da list use hanked on headsails but I might
be mistaken. I believe Mary Lou uses a schaeffer furler which allows for
sails to be changed out as the Capt wishes. I have the same furler for that
reason but have not yet acquired a full suite of sails. This week I'm
sending the main back to the loft to add a 2nd reef point and convert to
full battens. You can roll the main on the boom on a R22 I have been doing
that for the last 4 yrs but partial battens do not lie flat on the boom so
you have to roll the main loosely to minimize creasing.  Full battens
parallel to the boom should solve that. Do you use a strap for a boom vang
when you are reefed? I think part of the Rhodes High wind limitations come
from the hull flair. I have felt the wind shoving the bow around when the
wind catches you on the beam.
I motored in one day in 25 knts and had to work at keeping the bow pointed
where I wanted to go. In 10yrs or so I'm thinking of moving up in size and
the point of all this is to make the admiral (and myself) more comfortable
when the wind starts to sing in the wires. I'm looking for an extra safety
factor
hence the ballast and 2nd reef.


 

Capt. Rob wrote:
> 
> Wow...  this is disappointing to read...
> 
> Is it because of the relatively large amount of freeboard the Rhodes has?
> I've taken my MacGregor V22 out in 20+mph winds (with gusts to 30) on
> several occasions.  I spent a day sailing across the Albemarle with a
> steady 25mph And yes..... I've had people question the actual wind
> strength
> so I checked it with the weather records for my areas.  When the winds
> picks up..I hank on my small jib (25%)  and put two reefs in the main. 
> She
> punches right through.  I try to keep her relatively flat and we pick up
> speed....once she is moving forward I take in on the main sheet just a bit
> we just slice on through the chop ... it is magic.  The Mac is
> significantly smaller boat than the Rhodes.  It has a foot less beam,
> about
> 6" less free board an weighs about half of what the Rhode weights.  The
> interior accommodations are frankly Spartan but she sails really well....
> and fast... and have even gotten her to plane on a run in winds like
> that.....
> 
> So let me ask you Rhodies something.  How many of you use the roller
> furled
> head sail and how many of you have hanked on head sails?  I'm hoping the
> performance deficiencies you are describing here are a result of the fact
> that most of you try to roller REEF your head sail and have not actually
> sailed your Rhodes with a properly sized and properly drafting head sail
> in
> stronger winds.
> 
> I hope this does not sound condescending.  I really don't mean it that
> way.
> Email can sometime read really badly and I don't consider myself a sailing
> expert or anything like that...I really just want some performance data
> for
> the Rhodes for how I plan to set mine up... I'll be using hanked on head
> sails and reef points in my main.
> 
> 
> So for those of you who hank on your head sails... can you get the Rhodes
> to perform well in 25 - 30 mph wind with a smaller head sail and a deeply
> reefed main? (The boom on a Mac can be rolled so I can reef the main as
> much or as little as I want -- but I prefer reef points).
> 
>  I'm in the middle of a Rhodes restoration and would really like to
> understand what I'm going to have when I'm done.
> 
> When I purchased my Mac (three seasons ago) it came with three different
> head sails (25%), (75%), (130%).  It also came with a light air main in
> addition to the working main....  And sailing with this boat's compliment
> of sails is when I fully came to appreciate the importance of a balanced
> rig.  So I'm no longer envious of my roller furled brothers.
> 
> I hope to repeat this experience with the Rhodes.  So if please share if
> you got a story.
> 
> Fair winds,
> 
> The other Rob
> 
> 
> 
> On Sat, Jan 21, 2012 at 10:30 AM, Leland <LKUHN at cnmc.org> wrote:
> 
>>
>> Dennis,
>>
>> 20-30 knot winds are too much wind for the Rhodes.
>>
>> Stan says you can't make headway after 28 knots which is probably
>> accurate
>> since I struggle after 20.
>>
>> The more I sail the more picky I am about conditions.  I usually don't go
>> out if the winds are more than 15 knots.  Where I sail the chop is
>> usually
>> more of a problem than the wind when it gets too breezy.
>>
>> Lee
>>
>>
>>
>>
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