[Rhodes22-list] Cockpit Drainage Channel - Cracking

Chris Geankoplis chrisgeankoplis at gmail.com
Fri Oct 30 22:14:55 EDT 2026 

Oh, something shiny!
Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 30, 2026, at 6:47 PM, Todd Tavares <tavares0947 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 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
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> -------------- next part --------------
>>>>>>>>>> A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
>>>>>>>>>> Name: image2.jpeg
>>>>>>>>>> Type: image/jpeg
>>>>>>>>>> Size: 86879 bytes
>>>>>>>>>> Desc: not available
>>>>>>>>>> URL: <
>> https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Frhodes22.org%2Fpipermail%2Frhodes22-list%2Fattachments%2F20261025%2F680715b7%2Fattachment.jpeg&data=05%7C02%7Crlowe%40vt.edu%7C812d7f282c7b400f958c08df33e0a05c%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C639286711997546083%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QO2wSGU4E%2FdgZFZH0FCPx6A2Z7d1sQoKEEUDN2gOG%2BY%3D&reserved=0
>> <
>> https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Frhodes22.org%2Fpipermail%2Frhodes22-list%2Fattachments%2F20261025%2F680715b7%2Fattachment.jpeg&data=05%7C02%7Crlowe%40vt.edu%7C812d7f282c7b400f958c08df33e0a05c%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C639286711997561270%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IfVoSClkcI50P78xjL7RMltujJ42a15E6CmtDPNPsFo%3D&reserved=0
>> <
>> http://rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/attachments/20261025/680715b7/attachment.jpeg
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> -------------- next part --------------
>>>>>>>>>> A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
>>>>>>>>>> Name: image3.jpeg
>>>>>>>>>> Type: image/jpeg
>>>>>>>>>> Size: 152733 bytes
>>>>>>>>>> Desc: not available
>>>>>>>>>> URL: <
>> https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Frhodes22.org%2Fpipermail%2Frhodes22-list%2Fattachments%2F20261025%2F680715b7%2Fattachment-0001.jpeg&data=05%7C02%7Crlowe%40vt.edu%7C812d7f282c7b400f958c08df33e0a05c%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C639286711997571145%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=fOOkBlXcF09ufLyU4ceyGIRarPHiOL9BndzgP%2BE8IKM%3D&reserved=0
>> <
>> https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Frhodes22.org%2Fpipermail%2Frhodes22-list%2Fattachments%2F20261025%2F680715b7%2Fattachment-0001.jpeg&data=05%7C02%7Crlowe%40vt.edu%7C812d7f282c7b400f958c08df33e0a05c%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C639286711997580481%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=8wE9uo04sixh4j%2BGf3h7ka%2B40un6%2BDZhNNjufTmTMMI%3D&reserved=0
>> <
>> http://rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/attachments/20261025/680715b7/attachment-0001.jpeg
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> -------------- next part --------------
>>>>>>>>>> A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
>>>>>>>>>> Name: image4.jpeg
>>>>>>>>>> Type: image/jpeg
>>>>>>>>>> Size: 127888 bytes
>>>>>>>>>> Desc: not available
>>>>>>>>>> URL: <
>> https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Frhodes22.org%2Fpipermail%2Frhodes22-list%2Fattachments%2F20261025%2F680715b7%2Fattachment-0002.jpeg&data=05%7C02%7Crlowe%40vt.edu%7C812d7f282c7b400f958c08df33e0a05c%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C639286711997589901%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=nOwiUki3xgwpE1O43YFS8otLtlQFrdlUEqyLIRa8BPM%3D&reserved=0
>> <
>> https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Frhodes22.org%2Fpipermail%2Frhodes22-list%2Fattachments%2F20261025%2F680715b7%2Fattachment-0002.jpeg&data=05%7C02%7Crlowe%40vt.edu%7C812d7f282c7b400f958c08df33e0a05c%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C639286711997599147%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=x4bwgTZQmcJBRTHLrFuh5jlbuDKJAj2J24A3ikDMibE%3D&reserved=0
>> <
>> http://rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/attachments/20261025/680715b7/attachment-0002.jpeg
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> -------------- next part --------------
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> -------------- next part --------------
>>>>>>>>>> A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
>>>>>>>>>> Name: image0.jpeg
>>>>>>>>>> Type: image/jpeg
>>>>>>>>>> Size: 89352 bytes
>>>>>>>>>> Desc: not available
>>>>>>>>>> URL: <
>> https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Frhodes22.org%2Fpipermail%2Frhodes22-list%2Fattachments%2F20261025%2F680715b7%2Fattachment-0003.jpeg&data=05%7C02%7Crlowe%40vt.edu%7C812d7f282c7b400f958c08df33e0a05c%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C639286711997608425%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Pz3EAK1eqQGNngj9cI1dOM9OF54QbLnaDWljoGgyM40%3D&reserved=0
>> <
>> https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Frhodes22.org%2Fpipermail%2Frhodes22-list%2Fattachments%2F20261025%2F680715b7%2Fattachment-0003.jpeg&data=05%7C02%7Crlowe%40vt.edu%7C812d7f282c7b400f958c08df33e0a05c%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C639286711997617802%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BvG7eJ2HMLSp0khl1UpkBf4IE43bDOY1XELmE9Fl2Ik%3D&reserved=0
>> <
>> http://rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/attachments/20261025/680715b7/attachment-0003.jpeg
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> -------------- next part --------------
>>>>>>>>>> A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
>>>>>>>>>> Name: image1.jpeg
>>>>>>>>>> Type: image/jpeg
>>>>>>>>>> Size: 121660 bytes
>>>>>>>>>> Desc: not available
>>>>>>>>>> URL: <
>> https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Frhodes22.org%2Fpipermail%2Frhodes22-list%2Fattachments%2F20261025%2F680715b7%2Fattachment-0004.jpeg&data=05%7C02%7Crlowe%40vt.edu%7C812d7f282c7b400f958c08df33e0a05c%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C639286711997627002%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TvWlJ41PNfeMEgdghbzzFapWRDAccS%2Bi0JRhzJ%2F8GSw%3D&reserved=0
>> <
>> https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Frhodes22.org%2Fpipermail%2Frhodes22-list%2Fattachments%2F20261025%2F680715b7%2Fattachment-0004.jpeg&data=05%7C02%7Crlowe%40vt.edu%7C812d7f282c7b400f958c08df33e0a05c%7C6095688410ad40fa863d4f32c1e3a37a%7C0%7C0%7C639286711997636202%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=OqtXnDFXcN8zT323YQo9mFj15ApM08%2BE6SuN%2FvIFk2M%3D&reserved=0
>> <
>> http://rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/attachments/20261025/680715b7/attachment-0004.jpeg
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> -------------- next part --------------
>>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>> 
>>> -------------- next part --------------
>>> A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
>>> Name: graham.vcf
>>> Type: text/vcard
>>> Size: 436 bytes
>>> Desc: not available
>>> URL: <
>> http://rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/attachments/20261028/38ff372c/attachment.bin
>>> 
>>

More information about the Rhodes22-list mailing list