[Rhodes22-list] Rhodes 22 Safety Tether System & Winter Projects

[Reuben Mezrich]

Roger
Remember, I don't have my Rhodes yet...waiting on Stan to finish the
recycling
--Reuben
Reuben Mezrich
Pelican Cove in Sarasota and Inner Harbor in Baltimore
Cell: 410-499-8922


On Wed, Nov 25, 2020 at 4:35 PM Reuben Mezrich <reuben.mezrich at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Roger
> First, John (don't remember his last name) the author of Affordable
> Adventurs goes through an analysis of how tight you want the Jack lines
> and, especially in the case where it is down the centerline, you don't need
> or want it all that tight. Second, it does follow the contour "good
> enough".Third, the port and starboard lines (he uses webbing) are attached
> just outside of the forward aspect of the cockpit, leans against the dodger
> (which he had) and then to the mast. To go forward you unhook from the
> cockpit lines (as you do now), then hook to the port or starboard line, go
> forward to you are abreast of the mast and move your tether to the
> centerline.
> He has nice pictures of how he attaches
> --Reuben
> Reuben Mezrich
> Pelican Cove in Sarasota and Inner Harbor in Baltimore
> Cell: 410-499-8922
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 25, 2020 at 3:18 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Reuben,
>>
>> OK, what about the bow jack line not following the contour of the
>> foredeck and cabin doghouse?  In other words, if the jack line is pulled
>> taut enough from the bow back to the mast to be of any use keeping you on
>> board; then, it will have to angle up from the bow to clear the leading
>> edge of the cabin doghouse.  Isn’t this jack line a trip hazard on the
>> foredeck?  I can see how the port and starboard jack lines could be
>> anchored to the halyard organizer at the mast step.  But, what did you
>> attach them to at the cockpit so they didn’t block access to the side decks?
>>
>> Roger Pihlaja
>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> > On Nov 25, 2020, at 1:59 PM, Reuben Mezrich <reuben.mezrich at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> > Over the past few years the couple who write a newsletter "Affordable
>> > Adventures" discussed ways to run a Jackline down the center of a boat.
>> > Basically they run two shorter jacklines from the cockpit to the mast
>> and
>> > then one from the mast to the bow. You hook on in the cockpit, go
>> forward
>> > till you have to change lines when you get as far as the mast.
>> > Good discussion
>> >
>> https://www.morganscloud.com/2015/12/05/person-overboard-better-jackline-systems/
>> >
>> > --Reuben
>> > Reuben Mezrich
>> > Pelican Cove in Sarasota and Inner Harbor in Baltimore
>> > Cell: 410-499-8922
>> >
>> >
>> >> On Wed, Nov 25, 2020 at 7:17 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
>> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> I thought about a safety tether system using a jack line on the
>> centerline
>> >> of the boat.  But, on the bow, you have the issue of how to anchor the
>> end
>> >> so it doesn’t interfere with roller furler.  In my case, I suppose I
>> could
>> >> have anchored the bow end of the jack line to a thru-bolted padeye I
>> >> installed for the tack on my cruising spinnaker.  It’s far enough aft
>> of
>> >> the bow to not interfere with the roller furler and it’s control line.
>> >> Going aft, you  could anchor the jack line to the halyard organizer at
>> the
>> >> mast step.  But, I want to be able to clip onto the jack line before I
>> >> leave the cockpit and having the jack line end at the mast step leaves
>> >> several hazardous steps with no connected safety harness.  Aft of the
>> mast
>> >> step, you are kind of out of good options.  You can’t anchor the jack
>> line
>> >> to anything on the pop top because it’s not fastened down and not HD
>> enough
>> >> anyway.  If you go all the way aft to the stern pulpit, then the jack
>> line
>> >> runs down the length of the cockpit right at chest level, plus it
>> >> interferes with the boom vang, the tiller, the mainsheet traveler, and
>> >> mainsheets to say nothing of the crew.
>> >>
>> >> By running my jack lines up the port and starboard side decks from the
>> >> cockpit to the base of the bow pulpit, I avoid all these issues.  The
>> only
>> >> disadvantage to my system is that if you go over on the side you are
>> >> clipped into, the tether has quite a bit of slack and can leave you
>> >> hanging.  But my railings are 30” high and I go forward in a crouch so
>> I
>> >> stay low.  Of course, you normally go forward on the windward side of
>> the
>> >> boat.  So, as long as the boat doesn’t broach, you are likely to be OK.
>> >>
>> >> A jack line running up the centerline would be ideal.  So, inquiring
>> minds
>> >> want to know, how did you rig a jack line on the centerline of your
>> Rhodes
>> >> 22?
>> >>
>> >> Roger Pihlaja
>> >> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>> >>
>> >> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
>> >> Windows 10
>> >>
>> >> From: ROGER PIHLAJA<mailto:roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
>> >> Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2020 5:34 PM
>> >> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> >> Subject: Rhodes 22 Safety Tether System & Winter Projects
>> >>
>> >> Tom,
>> >>
>> >> Unfortunately, S/V Dynamic Equilibrium is in winter storage.  I don’t
>> >> think I have any photos of the safety tether system.  It’s a pretty
>> >> standard arrangement for offshore monohull sailboats and I never
>> thought to
>> >> take a picture of it.  I store the boat at the Midland Co. Fairgrounds
>> in
>> >> the unused animal barns and vender buildings.  For Midland Co.
>> residents,
>> >> the price is right, especially considering it’s secure indoor storage.
>> >> But, I don’t have access to the boat until next spring.
>> >>
>> >> This winter’s projects will be to fabricate a new galley table and
>> under
>> >> cabinet sliding doors.  Both of these components are original (1976)
>> and
>> >> delaminating on my boat.  I’ve asked Stan about purchasing a new table
>> and
>> >> doors several times.  But, so far, he hasn’t responded to my queries.
>> I’d
>> >> like to support his replacement parts business. But, when he doesn’t
>> >> respond, what can you do?
>> >>
>> >> Roger Pihlaja
>> >> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>> >>
>> >> Sent from my iPhone
>> >>
>> >>> On Nov 24, 2020, at 5:10 PM, Tom Van Heule <
>> >> tom.vanheule at intrinsicprograms.com> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> Pics Roger? Sounds good.
>> >>>
>> >>> We gotta have a lake michigan r22 summit.
>> >>> There are a few of us that are pretty active.  And I know the least!
>> >>>
>> >>>> On Tue, Nov 24, 2020, 4:04 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Jesse,
>> >>>>
>> >>>> We have a 1” wide nylon strap running up the center of the cockpit
>> >> floor.
>> >>>> It’s attached to thru bolted padeyes with big backing plates on the
>> >> cabin
>> >>>> and lazarette compartment bulkheads.
>> >>>> Then, we have 1/2” double braided nylon rope running down the deck
>> port
>> >>>> and starboard from the cockpit to the bow pulpit.  It’s anchored to
>> the
>> >>>> base of the lifeline stanchions on each end.  The safety harness
>> tether
>> >> has
>> >>>> a carabiner on the end of a 6’ nylon strap.  In the cockpit, you clip
>> >> the
>> >>>> carabiner onto the nylon strap on the floor as you come aboard or
>> leave
>> >> the
>> >>>> cabin.  The carabiner will slide along the strap and let you get
>> >> anywhere
>> >>>> in the cockpit, even hike out on the gunnels.  To go forward, you
>> unclip
>> >>>> from the cockpit and clip onto the 1/2” nylon rope on the side deck
>> you
>> >> are
>> >>>> going to use.  The carabiner will slide along the rope and the
>> harness
>> >>>> tether is long enough to enable you to do almost any task at the mast
>> >> or on
>> >>>> the foredeck.  I have good 30” high rails and stout handholds to hang
>> >> onto.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> We have a firm rule that everyone wears a PFD whenever they are on
>> deck
>> >>>> and the boat is not at anchor or at a dock.  Growing up, since
>> everyone
>> >>>> wore their PFD’s, the boys never had an issue with wearing theirs.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> 22 ft LOA is a pretty small boat for the Great Lakes.  You can’t
>> always
>> >>>> count on fair winds!
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Roger Pihlaja
>> >>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Sent from my iPhones
>> >>>>> On Nov 24, 2020, at 4:10 PM, Jesse Shumaker <
>> >>>> jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> While I'm used to wearing a PFD, that's the first I've heard of
>> >> wearing
>> >>>>> safety harnesses on a Rhodes 22.  Then again, I've yet to take
>> Zephyr
>> >> to
>> >>>> a
>> >>>>> very large body of water.  Hopefully there are some bigger
>> adventures
>> >> for
>> >>>>> Zephyr in my future!
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Jesse Shumaker
>> >>>>> S/V Zephyr
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>> On Tue, Nov 24, 2020 at 11:02 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <
>> roger_pihlaja at msn.com
>> >>>
>> >>>>>> wrote:
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Jesse,
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Yes, we’ve had a few “HOLY SHIT!” moments, primarily when my sons
>> were
>> >>>>>> learning to helm and trim.  By the time they were teenagers, they
>> both
>> >>>>>> regarded S/V Dynamic Equilibrium as their own personal amusement
>> park
>> >>>>>> ride.  But, only when their mother wasn’t on board!  I always told
>> >> them
>> >>>> it
>> >>>>>> only gets really interesting when the small craft warnings are
>> posted!
>> >>>>>> When dad put his safety harness on, their eyes would open wide and
>> >>>> they’d
>> >>>>>> scramble below to find their harnesses. They both knew firsthand
>> that
>> >>>> dad
>> >>>>>> was nuts and there was some fun in store.  I like to wear my
>> harness
>> >>>> over
>> >>>>>> my PFD.  When you’re sailing this aggressively, you frequently get
>> >>>> tossed
>> >>>>>> into hard “stuff”.  The PFD provides some cushioning.
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Roger Pihlaja
>> >>>>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>> >>>>>>> On Nov 24, 2020, at 10:19 AM, Jesse Shumaker <
>> >>>>>> jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> Roger, thanks for the details on the sail trim.  You had
>> mentioned
>> >>>> some
>> >>>>>>> configurations where the boat would tend to heel further rather
>> than
>> >>>>>> round
>> >>>>>>> up if conditions strengthen.  I'm curious, have you had any
>> >> knockdowns
>> >>>> in
>> >>>>>>> cases where the helmsman didn't ease the mainsheet in time or
>> feather
>> >>>> up
>> >>>>>>> into the wind when there's a sudden gust?  I'm always trying to
>> read
>> >>>> the
>> >>>>>>> water for wind, but there are cases when things get busy and I
>> have
>> >>>> been
>> >>>>>>> occasionally surprised by a gust when I was distracted.  I wasn't
>> >> sure
>> >>>> if
>> >>>>>>> you had any memorable HOLY SHIT moments as you alluded to in your
>> >> note.
>> >>>>>> We
>> >>>>>>> always enjoy your advice and tales of adventure!
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>> Jesse Shumaker
>> >>>>>>> S/V Zephyr
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> On Mon, Nov 23, 2020 at 5:39 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <
>> >> Roger_Pihlaja at msn.com>
>> >>>>>> wrote:
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> Hi All,
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> Let me state up front that S/V Dynamic Equilibrium’s sail are not
>> >> OEM
>> >>>>>>>> stock and neither is the roller furler.  I have owned the boat
>> since
>> >>>>>> 1987
>> >>>>>>>> and will tell you what I’ve ended up with after a lot of
>> >>>>>> experimentation.
>> >>>>>>>> The main sail is a very roachy, fully battened, club racing HD
>> >> dacron
>> >>>>>>>> sail.  It has 3 rows of jiffy reef points.  The headsail is a
>> 150%
>> >>>> genoa
>> >>>>>>>> made of Bainbridge’s Cruise-Lam sailcloth in a Bi-Radial
>> >> construction.
>> >>>>>>>> Cruise-Lam is composite sailcloth with dacron outer layers, a
>> Kevlar
>> >>>>>> scrim,
>> >>>>>>>> and a core of mylar.  The sail has a foam luff pad to enable it
>> to
>> >>>> take
>> >>>>>>>> full advantage of the upper and lower swivels on the Harken Unit
>> 0
>> >>>>>> roller
>> >>>>>>>> furler it’s flown on.  As the winds build, my 1st move is to
>> lower
>> >> the
>> >>>>>>>> mainsail’s gooseneck to the lower position.  The next step is to
>> >> put a
>> >>>>>> reef
>> >>>>>>>> in the mainsail.  This configuration allows the boat to be sailed
>> >> with
>> >>>>>> the
>> >>>>>>>> leeward rub rail in the water and virtually no weather helm.
>> >> However,
>> >>>>>> you
>> >>>>>>>> must keep your hands on the sheets and steer to the waves
>> because a
>> >>>>>> gust or
>> >>>>>>>> helmsman error will put the leeward cockpit gunnel under water
>> >> faster
>> >>>>>> than
>> >>>>>>>> you can say, “HOLY SHIT!”!  It will NOT round up in this
>> >> configuration
>> >>>>>> and
>> >>>>>>>> the sails will not distort, spill wind, or save you.  Gusts
>> cause so
>> >>>>>> much
>> >>>>>>>> acceleration that it sets you right down in your seat.  It’s
>> really
>> >>>>>> quite
>> >>>>>>>> addictive!  Roller reefing the genoa down to ~130% will allow the
>> >> boat
>> >>>>>> to
>> >>>>>>>> sail more up right, not scare my wife, and allow the autopilot to
>> >>>> drive
>> >>>>>> the
>> >>>>>>>> boat.  The next step is to put a second reef in the mainsail.  As
>> >> the
>> >>>>>> wind
>> >>>>>>>> builds, leaving the genoa at 130% with 2 reefs in the mainsail
>> will
>> >>>>>> enable
>> >>>>>>>> maximum boat speed with minimal weather helm at the expense of
>> >>>> constant
>> >>>>>>>> required manual vigilance on the helm and sheets.  Roller reefing
>> >> the
>> >>>>>> genoa
>> >>>>>>>> down to ~110% in these conditions will make the boat docile
>> enough
>> >>>> that
>> >>>>>> the
>> >>>>>>>> autopilot can still control it on any point of sail with the wind
>> >>>>>> forward
>> >>>>>>>> of a broad reach.  Roller reefing down to 110% is about as small
>> as
>> >>>> the
>> >>>>>>>> Harken Unit 0 roller furler can reef the sail while still
>> >> maintaining
>> >>>>>>>> reasonable sail shape.  When the genoa is roller reefed down to <
>> >>>> 110%,
>> >>>>>> the
>> >>>>>>>> mainsail needs a 3rd reef in order to balance the helm.
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> In summary, reduce mainsail area or lower the center of effort
>> >> first,
>> >>>>>>>> either by lowering the boom, or reefing.  As the wind builds, the
>> >>>>>> strategy
>> >>>>>>>> of leaving maximum possible sail area forward of the mast will
>> >> reduce
>> >>>>>>>> weather helm, maximize boat speed, and pointing ability.
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> Here on the Great Lakes, there is a lot of light air in the
>> summer,
>> >>>>>>>> punctuated by periods of heavy weather.  I cope by flying
>> cruising
>> >> and
>> >>>>>>>> tri-radial spinnakers during the light air.  I found the 175%
>> genoa
>> >>>> was
>> >>>>>> cut
>> >>>>>>>> too heavy to fly well in light air and the sail could only be
>> reefed
>> >>>>>> down
>> >>>>>>>> to ~130% before the shape was hopelessly compromised.  Remember
>> this
>> >>>> was
>> >>>>>>>> with a Harken Unit 0 roller furler with upper and lower swivels
>> and
>> >> a
>> >>>>>> foam
>> >>>>>>>> luff pad.  The OEM roller furler and sails will not be able to
>> do as
>> >>>>>> well.
>> >>>>>>>> But, my sail shape standards might be higher than yours.  I never
>> >>>> found
>> >>>>>> the
>> >>>>>>>> 175% genoa to be particularly difficult to tack.
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> Roger Pihlaja
>> >>>>>>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>> Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986>
>> for
>> >>>>>>>> Windows 10
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>