[Rhodes22-list] Cockpit Drainage Channel - Cracking

Thu Oct 29 07:27:54 EDT 2026

How did we go from cracking gel coat to turtled sailboats?

Todd T

On Wed, Oct 28, 2026, 9:31 PM Chris Geankoplis <chrisgeankoplis at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hahaha,
> Yeah it was pretty funny, in retrospect. Yeah a hurricane was tracking
> offshore of the Delmarva but wasn’t a threat. David came down from
> Connecticut with a date and had arranged to borrow the boat. I suggested
> Poplar Island and the “pot” to anchor, no fetch and good holding. My bad.
> Seems a couple of heavy cells were spawned and a tornado produced. It drove
> a big motor cruiser probably 20’ high  under the 22’ high Knapp Narrows
> bridge. Quite a site.
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Oct 28, 2026, at 10:59 AM, Graham Stewart <graham at debgraham.ca>
> wrote:
> >
> > I wonder whether he thought this story is as funny as I do.
> >
> >> On 2026-10-28 11:40 a.m., Chris Geankoplis wrote:
> >> Yes it was a tornado. A family friend borrowed the boat for a romantic
> evening. Didn’t work out so well. He learned not to cook fondue in the nude
> when a boat is capsizing. A very teachable moment.
> >> Sent from my iPhone
> >>
> >>>> On Oct 28, 2026, at 9:16 AM, Graham Stewart<graham at debgraham.ca>
> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> The wind must have been incredible.
> >>>
> >>>> On Oct 27, 2026, at 10:11 AM, Lowe, Rob<rlowe at vt.edu> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> That is a crazy story which Chris has retold over the years.  Only
> time I've heard of a Rhodes turtling.
> >>>>
> >>>> Rob
> >>>> ________________________________
> >>>> From: Rhodes22-list<rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> on behalf of
> Ric Stott<ric at stottarchitecture.com>
> >>>> Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2026 12:12 AM
> >>>> To: The Rhodes Email List<rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Cockpit Drainage Channel - Cracking
> >>>>
> >>>> That’s a crazy story Chris. Did you get the mast out too ?
> >>>> Sent from my iPhone
> >>>>
> >>>>>> On Oct 26, 2026, at 2:09 PM, Chris Geankoplis<
> chrisgeankoplis at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>> I had my first brand new (1976) Rhodes 22 for two years until a
> tornado hit the boat while anchored in the “pot” at poPlar Island on the
> Chesapeake. According to witnesses, the boat was knocked down and the mast
> hit the shallow mud bottom and  the boat was slowly “pole vaulted up and
> the mast pushed all the way down into the mud. The next day we returned to
> the turtled boat and undid the back stays, forstay and remaining side
> stays. With a shove the boat righted itself. We climbed in and using a
> couple of 5 gallon buckets, had it bailed out pretty quickly. No structural
> damage, the boat floated evenly and after bailing towed it over to Knapp
> Narrows. I can say with certainty the foam flotation works.
> >>>>> Chris Geankoplis
> >>>>> ‘76 Moonspinner ( at that time)
> >>>>>
> >>>>>>> On Oct 26, 2026, at 11:41 AM, Weiss, Robert L via Rhodes22-list<
> rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> wrote:
> >>>>>> I'm pretty sure the boat is unsinkable. As for a while, Stan had a
> photo online of one completely full of water and still not sunk. (Only Stan
> would do that.)
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Bob
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Dr. Robert L Weiss Jr.
> >>>>>> Director of Music
> >>>>>> First United Methodist Carbondale, IL
> >>>>>> Professor Emeritus, SIUC
> >>>>>> S/V Beach Spring
> >>>>>> ________________________________
> >>>>>> From: Rhodes22-list<rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> on behalf
> of Graham Stewart<graham at debgraham.ca>
> >>>>>> Sent: Monday, October 26, 2026 11:38 AM
> >>>>>> To: The Rhodes Email List<rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >>>>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Cockpit Drainage Channel - Cracking
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> [EXTERNAL EMAIL ALERT]: Verify sender before opening links or
> attachments.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> On my boat the lazerette bulkhead is sealed off but the bulkhead
> under the companion way has what I have always thought was a drain hole. As
> water intrusion below the sole is always possible, if not inevitable, it
> makes sense to me that it is there.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> The purpose of the foam, as I understand it, was to give the boat
> buoyancy should it be swamped so it was “unsinkable “. I have not heard of
> a case where that was actually tested.
> >>>>>> Personally, I would grind out the crack in the lazerette and
> reglass it - especially if your boat is subject to freezing in the winter.
> >>>>>> I would look for cracks or holes in the cabin sole where water
> might get in and fix them.
> >>>>>> If there is a drain hole below the companion way, I would make sure
> it isn’t blocked and then use a tube connected to a shop vac to blow air
> into the cavity for 12 hours or so to dry out the cavity. If the is no
> drain hole I would be tempted to make one. You don’t want water to get
> trapped there.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> If the cabin sole is very soft, you might cut it out to remove the
> old foam and replace it. That is not an impossible job but, personally, I
> would not do it unless the sole is so soft it was cracking.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Not having full flotation makes the Rhodes 22  more like every
> other boat out there. Repairing fibreglass is a pita for sure but not
> particularly difficult.  I would be very reluctant to assume the boat is a
> write off if it is otherwise ok.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Graham
> >>>>>> Agile, 1976
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> On Oct 26, 2026, at 2:10 AM, ROGER PIHLAJA<roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> wrote:
> >>>>>>> Hi Otto,
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> There is floatation foam under the cockpit.  The foam compartment
> is separated from the lazerette by the bulkhead you are asking about.  If
> you check in the cabin, you will find a similar bulkhead at the aft end of
> the cabin back up under the step.  If these 2 bulkheads are compromised, it
> is possible for bilge water to move from the cabin bilge to the lazerette
> and vice versa.  If your cockpit/lazerette bulkhead shows damage; then, it
> is likely your cockpit/cabin bulkhead is damaged as well.  If you have
> water infiltration into the under cockpit foam, this would be very
> serious.  It’s probably not a DIY repair job.  Does your cockpit sole feel
> “punky” or does it oil can?  It should feel as rigid as a concrete
> sidewalk.  You should have the boat surveyed.  This may cost more to repair
> than the boat is worth.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Roger Pihlaja
> >>>>>>> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >>>>>>> Sanford, MI  1978
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> On Oct 25, 2026, at 6:09 PM, Otto Ohngren<ohngreno at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>>>>>>> Hello from Oregon,
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> My Rhodes 22 was manufactured in 1992 and factory refurbished in
> 2012. It is sailed on the Columbia River near Hermiston.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Cracking has developed in the cockpit drainage channel at the aft
> end of the boat along the bottom exterior of the lazarette. The cracks are
> on both sides of the scupper hole. They may be the result of a prior
> freezing event. On the inside of the lazarette the bulkhead seems solid.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Visible from inside the lazarette below the bulkhead is a
> slightly recessed parallel secondary wall, which continues to the bottom of
> the hull. It is positioned near where the scupper plumbing comes through
> the lazarette. The aft end of the cockpit tub floor (my term) is above that
> thin secondary wall. There appears to be flotation material on the other
> side of the wall. The fiberglass fabric making up that secondary wall is
> deteriorated and torn.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> I’m wondering how common these two conditions are, how serious
> are they, and what is the best way to repair them? Are the repairs
> something a versatile owner with no prior fiberglass experience can
> properly accomplish or are they best left to a pro? Qualified marine
> fiberglass professionals, if any, are scant in these parts. I’m going to be
> selling her one of these days and want to ensure these two issues are
> properly remedied.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Any insight or suggestions for the good of the cause will be very
> much appreciated. Photos are attached.
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Thank you,
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> -Otto Ohngren
> >>>>>>>>
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> >>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > --
> > Graham Stewart
> > graham at debgraham.ca
> >
> > Note that I am transitioning my email from gstewart.gm at gmail
> tograham at debgraham.ca. Please update your contact address for me.
> Messages to my old address will still be forwarded.
> >
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