Rhodes 18 update and query

[JMAC]

So during the last hot spell we had up here you would think that I could find something better to do than to suit up in a tyvek coverall and grind the bottom of my boat! It is a sickness. Although now I have the boat about ready to launch.
I was checking out the mast today and there is a light line that is fastened to a fitting a little more than halfway up the mast on the forward face. Can someone tell me what this line is for? It's 3/16ths at best and is tied off at the bottom of the mast.

[Richard Smith]

I have a 1963 Rhodes 18 - fixed keel - which I restored about 9 years ago. If the line is attached to what looks like an eye at the location you describe, the eye is actually the upper turning point for what would be the spinnaker pole lift. I suspect the line that you describe is actually a remnant - or fixed length/mis-rigged something or other. I have mine rigged so that the lift line goes up through the eye and down to the upper spinnaker pole bridal. The tail end is lead down to a cleat on the side of the mast.

I suppose one could attach a block at that eye, but that would be overkill AND noisy.

I can send you photos if you wish to know more about this or other.

RS

[JMAC]

I'd love to see pictures of your Rhodes. Mine did come with a spinnaker, so I think you have the right answer. The line does go to an eye but it is eye-spliced onto it with metal crimps. The length is maybe 3' longer than the distance to the bottom of the mast.

Also, I'm interested in how you step your mast. I'm going to be lake sailing with the boat and there are no amenities other than natural beauty at the ol' boat launch.

[Paul Scheuer]

Spinaker fitting is probably right. I have such a line as the lifting line to the peak of a rotating bi-pod to raise a 25 ft. mast. I didn't want to use the forestay since it has roller furling.

[Richard Smith]

I did not research your previous Rhodes 18 posts until AFTER I replied to you. I see you have a wooden version - very nice. Mine is fiberglass, but still one of the first and it has a lot of bright work. I guess I'm going to have to figure out how to post pictures to this forum.

In any case, class rules pretty much standardize the rig - at least in the unmodified versions

Don't know if you know, but the fiberglass version of the boat was manufactured by Cape Cod Shipbuilding http://www.capecodshipbuilding.com/. They also were handling the Zephyr aluminum spars for the 18. I say "were" because their website seems to be lacking as many resources for the 18 as it used to. While yours is a wooden boat and spar, I think they could help you out. At least they say so on their home page.

As to stepping the mast, my wife and I do it every time we sail. (We dry sail the boat.) I made a shield for the deck which I place just forward of the partners. (We have also used a flattened 6 pack carton.) She puts her foot just aft of the combing and we place the butt of the mast up against the bottom of her foot. I start at the back of cockpit and walk the mast up to vertical. We then "ooch" the butt of the mast back to the partners and I lift it up & down to the mast step. We have done this numerous times over the past 9 years - including in 10-15 knot breezes - never dropped it yet - or even lost control. Don't know how heavy the wooden spar is as compared to the aluminum, but mine is not that heavy. I figure I could use the same technique if the mast were 10-15 lbs heavier. I have thought of making a device to control the butt of the mast - so that I could single-step it, but I have never gotten around to it.

RS