Author Topic: Sailing (Read 672 times)

Gunthr · « **on:** August 30, 2003, 10:25:29 PM »

My 20 ft Aquasport fishing boat is getting old. Its been pretty seaworthy for coastal fishing, but I want to go farther from shore than is prudent for this kind of boat. I'm going to buy one within the next year.

I need a boat that I can "camp" in. Something 2 people can easily spend a week or two vacation in. I want to be able to go in the Bimini region, about 50 miles east of where I live (across the gulf stream) and other cays and islands in the Carribean within 3-4 hundred miles of Miami. I'd also like to go to Ft. Jefferson, Marguesas and the Dry Tortugas, which are about 70 miles west of Key West, Florida. I would also be trailering this boat to the keys on long weekends.

Does anyone have an idea on whether a Rhodes 22 foot sloop is good for this pupose? I'm thinking seriously about the Rhodes boat because it is trailerable, and it has a centerboard that can be cranked up for shallow water - 13'' draft with board up, 5 feet with board down.

I can get a used one for 11 - 18k depending on condition. No boat can do everything. I need one that is trailerable but big enough for two and seaworthy enough to be out of sight of shore for days at a time...

Rhodes 22

Is this boat ok to cross the gulf stream in?

- I'd appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.

One more thing, is it hard to learn how to sail?

Please suggest books if you know of any good ones

Thorns · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2003, 12:05:29 AM »

And Hangtime said...

Gadfly · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2003, 12:08:28 AM »

Charter one for a weekend before you buy one. I read the website, looks like a nice boat, but a 22' is pretty small for more than day use, no matter what they say.

Tarmac · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2003, 01:37:33 AM »

I'm enrolled for a sailing class next semester here at MSU... I'll let ya know what we use for a textbook.

Nilsen · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2003, 01:53:02 AM »

In late July i ordered a 38 foot X-yacht cruiser/racer for delivery in April...

Plan is to give my kid his sealegs as early as possible, he/she spawns in May

Gunthr · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2003, 10:03:44 AM »

Gladfly - I might be able to go a little bigger, but not much. :/
Reality limits me to a boat that is easily trailerable.

Tarmac - sounds like a fun way to take care of your phys ed requirement

. I may be in a course myself by the time next semester rolls around, but let me know.

Nilson - Best wishes - Sounds like a dream come true

Which boat?

Curval · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2003, 10:11:27 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Tarmac
I'm enrolled for a sailing class next semester here at MSU... I'll let ya know what we use for a textbook.

Ahhh..is this what you choose rather than basket weaving?

I imagine there will be alot of football players in THIS class.

As to the question...I have NO idea. The minute I lose sight of land on a boat I start to hurl. Inshore I'm fine...offshore ain't my bag at all baby.

Nilsen · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2003, 10:19:04 AM »

Sure is a dream my gf and I have had since we met 10 years ago. We have both grown up with sailing and we have used her parents boat alot. We now decided to get our own.

http://www.x-yachts.com/frontend/pages/SEEEMS_674.asp

Gadfly · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2003, 10:56:12 AM »

I have done a lot of sailing when I was younger, from Sunfish on up to 60 footers, and done a lot of power boating in S. Florida and I would be real leary of a 22' boat to Bimini, although not to the Dry tortugas. I have also spent a lot of overnights(weeks, even) on boats, and 22' is again, real small.

I don't want to discourage you, because it can be done, just make you aware of the realities of the Situation.

Gadfly · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2003, 11:02:09 AM »

As an aside, I don't know how much time you plan on actually spending on the water, but if you are like me, you do not really have enough time to get your money's worth out of owning a boat. It is cheaper, and far easier, just to charter. My Dad, on the other hand, has the time, so he owns boats. His current toy:

He lives in Ft. Lauderdale, BTW, so that helps with the time factor. Me, I have drive 4 hours to even look at the ocean. Hopefully he will bring to Texas next year for the tourny season.

SlapShot · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2003, 11:32:27 AM »

I have done a fair bit of sailing and my brother-in-law has a 32 footer sport/racer that is a blast to sail. Have raced in the "Fugawi" race from Hyannis to Nantucket many times ... what a blast.

I have to agree with Gadfly ... 22 feet is pushing it, especially on the open sea. That size boat should only be sailed in good weather and any sight or forecast of bad weather, bring it in. A 32 footer gets tossed around pretty nicely in rough waters, I can imagine what a 22 footer feels like.

ccvi · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2003, 12:46:00 PM »

That one's too big to be fun to sail and too small to live on. Either or, I don't think you can have both in one.

Nilsen · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2003, 01:05:43 PM »

I beg to differ ccvi. I have sailed the boat we ordered, and its rigged for "racing", and is very competitive. Its also large enough to live in for the holidays and weekends.

It is not as good as a slightly larger boat (40-45 foot) but we had to consider the cost to and the the fact that some of the ime i will be sailing it alone or with my gf.

ccvi · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2003, 01:23:59 PM »

If the crew's mass does not have a significant influence on balance, and it's design doesn't allow it to capsize without worries it's no longer a fun sport to sail it but just hard work sport.

Gunthr · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2003, 07:35:41 PM »

I wouldn't mind trying some of that hard work

Looking further into the capability of the Rhodes 22 supports what Gadfly and Snapshot had to say.

The trip to the Bahamas would be in the upper reaches of the Rhodes' 22 envelope. Its been done mulitiple times by people in 22 footers who can wait for good weather in the summer, but not necessarily a pleasant or comfortable trip. I spent several weeks in the Bahamas about ten years ago - crossing the gulf stream with my buddy in his 32 foot sailboat. It was a breeze - but the weather was perfect.

My buddy was a major in the paramedics. That is until a biker friend of his got shot in the leg and my buddy performed a little sidewalk surgury on his friend's thigh to remove the slug, without reporting the gunshot wound to police. He got caught. He lost his job. (I hadn't seen him for years when this happened.)

I have so many good memories of that time in the Bahamas. I'd hang on to a line behind his boat with my snorkle gear while he motored along at a slow troll, until seeing a conch or a lobster, then let go and go down and get our lunch or dinner. We'd have Conchs hanging on clothes lines with fishing hooks pierced into their "foot" to let them get all stretched out after a while, then knock a hole in the shell and cut the aducter muscle and out they come. Lime juice and salt. They squirm in your mouth when you eat the foot - but a lot more tender than what you get at a restaurant. A little coconut rum helps wash them down if you don't like raw seafood.

And the Lobster! And the fish! All for the picking

I'll tell ya, after living on the boat for few days in the tropics, you start getting real lazy. It seeps into your blood. I miss all that. I remember sitting in the shade under a palm tree on a sandy cay for a couple of hours - doing nothing, just sitting there looking at the bright blue aquamarine ocean, listening to the breeze and the gulls. No worries. Content. Nobody else around for miles and miles and miles. That is why I really want to be able to get there in my boat.

So, to summarize, the Rhodes 22 is gonna fill most of my needs for now. I will probably go for it unless is see a good deal on a 26 footer that is trailerable. I think that is about as big as you can go and still be trailerable. So I'll face facts, and knock around the Keys, the Marqesas and the Dry Tortugas in good weather. That isn't too hard to take