Rhoades Redux
My first Sailboat was a Rhoades Pinguin. I was working at a marina in Savannah GA as a young man. I was fresh out of the army at 19 and had not been around boats before (late 60s). Up by the railways sat an old wooden boat that at first I thought was just a row boat. The owner of the marina said I could have it but only if I rebuilt it. It had to pass muster with him or he would not let me use his docks to launch from. Then he hauled out several sail bags and a beautiful spruce mast from the carpentry shed. My infatuation with the Rhoades Pinguin and my life long love of sailing was born. After replacing a rotting rib near the bow with one hand crafted from oak and completely rebuilding and refinishing her, I sat down with a Chapmans Guide and learned everything I could about such matters as wetted area, lateral resistance, sail handling and MarlinSpike seamanship. She was the best training ground I could have had. At just under 12 feet and with all that sail area, she could be tender in high winds, but once she and I came to an understanding she would put most other boats her size to shame. She was fast enough that my first wife, after running close hauled on a beam reach in 30mph winds, swore she would never sail with me again. Too fast, Too tilted and too much spray. Even though I own a Mac 25, I still sometimes will go down to the bay here in San Diego and rent a small day sailer. Ghosting or running with the drain plug out, I feel 19 again and am grateful to Phillip Rhodes whose wounderful designs introduced the love of the sea to so many. Mike
My first Sailboat was a Rhoades Pinguin. I was working at a marina in Savannah GA as a young man. I was fresh out of the army at 19 and had not been around boats before (late 60s). Up by the railways sat an old wooden boat that at first I thought was just a row boat. The owner of the marina said I could have it but only if I rebuilt it. It had to pass muster with him or he would not let me use his docks to launch from. Then he hauled out several sail bags and a beautiful spruce mast from the carpentry shed. My infatuation with the Rhoades Pinguin and my life long love of sailing was born. After replacing a rotting rib near the bow with one hand crafted from oak and completely rebuilding and refinishing her, I sat down with a Chapmans Guide and learned everything I could about such matters as wetted area, lateral resistance, sail handling and MarlinSpike seamanship. She was the best training ground I could have had. At just under 12 feet and with all that sail area, she could be tender in high winds, but once she and I came to an understanding she would put most other boats her size to shame. She was fast enough that my first wife, after running close hauled on a beam reach in 30mph winds, swore she would never sail with me again. Too fast, Too tilted and too much spray. Even though I own a Mac 25, I still sometimes will go down to the bay here in San Diego and rent a small day sailer. Ghosting or running with the drain plug out, I feel 19 again and am grateful to Phillip Rhodes whose wounderful designs introduced the love of the sea to so many. Mike